R-Truth is finding creative ways to prove to Damian Priest, Finn Balor, Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio that he can be an indispensable member of the Judgement Day.

Truth has been on a mission to become a full-fledged member of the faction despite most of the group’s dismissals. However, that could change in storyline after the former two-time WWE United States Champion has shown that he is a money-maker.

On the January 15 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, Priest had a backstage segment with Truth ahead of their tag team match. The man currently in possession of the Men’s Money In The Bank briefcase confronted Truth about selling one of his new collaborative t-shirts with Judgement Day. However, the former WWE United States Champion calmed his concerns when he gave Priest a stack of cash from the proceeds.

Truth also noted that everyone in the group would get a cut of the profits and that he made a new collaborative t-shirt for ‘Tom and Nick Mysterio.’

WWE has released new merchandise on the WWE Shop called “The Judgment Day & R-Truth Three Amigos T-Shirt,” featuring Truth and “Dirty Dom” for $32.99. This marks the third t-shirt since the storyline between Truth and Judgement Day began, which may show the success of their collaboration. 

Finn Balor Very Happy With R-Truth Selling T-Shirts

Later in the show, Truth teamed with The Miz to take on Priest and Balor. Before it could start, Truth gave Balor and Mysterio a handful of $100 to share the success of their t-shirt sales. It’s worth noting that McDonagh, who was at ringside, didn’t get anything because, in the storyline, he lost his spot in the group to Truth.

Judgment Day would defeat the “babyfaces” after Priest landed South Of Heaven on Truth. Despite giving them issues, both Balor and Mysterio were elated after the match and thankful for Truth.

In a Twitter post, Balor shared a backstage video of himself and Mysterio looking at the money that Truth gave them. While expressing their happiness, Mysterio mentioned that McDonagh didn’t get his money cut. 

Balor responded, “He don’t deserve a cut. His name is not on the shirt.” While that comment could be in jest, this could lead to more implications for the group.

Will Judgement Day accept R-Truth?

In the tag team match, WWE fans noticed Priest was unhappy after landing the South Of Heaven on Truth. In the backstage segment between them, he noted that the rest of the group was not thrilled with Truth’s antics. As the former WWE United States Champion becomes more involved with the faction, this could lead to internal issues between Judgement Day.

McDonagh is already having issues with Truth, but Mysterio and Balor may also get fed up with the ongoing antics. This could lead to Priest being put on the spot to handle Truth, and he may be conflicted. The group has had issues, but this longtime WWE veteran could be the catalyst for Judgement Day finally butting heads. 

Currently, it seems the group will continue trying to get along with Truth as he shows his worth. However, it seems only a matter of time before something will push them too far. 

Wrestling factions can go through a lot of changes in their lifetimes. Groups and and remove members, often violently. 

WWE Hall of Famer Edge (Adam Copeland) and Damian Priest launched The Judgment Day as a duo, but it did not stay like that for long. Today’s incarnation is one of the most dominant forces in WWE, but the group looks quite different from what Copeland originally had in mind. 

Judgment Day grew to be one of the biggest draws in WWE. With Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio, the group is featured heavily on WWE television. Although they never took a turn into the supernatural realm as was originally rumored for the stable, they certainly took on a new life of their own.

While speaking to Sam Roberts on the Not Sam Wrestling podcast, Copeland spoke about the original concept for the Judgment Day.

Original Plan For WWE’s Judgment Day Stable

The Rated R Superstar says the Judgment Day came about when he was approached about starting up a ‘New Brood,’ the Attitude Era’s gothic trio of  Edge, Christian and Gangrel. The Brood helped put Edge and Christian on the map when they first arrived on the scene in WWE, so maybe Copeland could do something similar for one of WWE’s rising stars. 

“Well, you know, with the initial inception of the Judgement Day, I really I wanted it to be these underutilized talents that I thought could be far more than what they were being utilized for. Rhea Ripley is a star and Damian Priest is a star and Finn Balor’s a star.

So initially, it was brought to me like, ‘Hey, we want to kind of start a New Brood,’ or something that feels somewhat like that. I’m like, ‘Who would it be?’ I was like, ‘Ripley and Priest.’ ‘Well, we want it go be four.’ So, it’s like.. Balor! Okay, well, then it was like, ‘We want somebody really huge.’ I was like, okay.. all right.. and then I got a text two weeks later. ‘How about Balor?’ I’m like, ‘Yep! amazing idea.’ [Laughing]”

Edge was kicked out of Judgment Day when Finn Balor made his way to the stable. After that, the Rated R Superstar and his former stable went their separate ways. 

As Judgment Day remains a stable on WWE programming, they still have Edge to thank. They might not publicly thank the man who helped start the faction, because he is with AEW now, but they know where the genesis of that sable came from.

The Judgment Day stands as one of WWE’s best factions, as they took over in 2023. Judgment Day also added JD McDonagh to their ranks in recent memory. However, a recent glitch occurred when a member of the faction faced a big logistical problem while trying to attend the December 29th WWE house show.

Judgment Day Member’s Issue in Canada

During the December 29th WWE house show at the Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Judgment Day’s dynamic was on display. Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest actively participated in the event, while Dominik Mysterio provided corner support for Ripley.

However, JD McDonagh was notably absent from the scene. Finn Balor took to Twitter, sharing an image of The Judgment Day backstage in Canada. In the accompanying caption, he revealed McDonagh’s absence, attributing it to paperwork troubles that prevented him from joining the Canadian event. 

”The only reason JD ain’t here is cos he didn’t have paperwork to travel to Canada.. the lucky SOB! @ArcherOfInfamy @RheaRipley_WWE @DomMysterio35 @jd_mcdonagh #wwetoronto”

The incident shed light on the logistical challenges faced by WWE Superstars, showcasing the intricate details behind their appearances. We can only hope that they straighten this out, so JD McDonagh doesn’t have to miss any more events outside the United States.

The only reason JD ain’t here is cos he didn’t have paperwork to travel to Canada.. the lucky SOB! @ArcherOfInfamy @RheaRipley_WWE @DomMysterio35 @jd_mcdonagh #wwetoronto pic.twitter.com/Uix23J5TAh

— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) December 30, 2023

Judgment Day is known for their family vibe, and this new video drop from WWE shows that in full HD. The WWE stable recently had a Secret Santa gift exchange between each other, and it created a great Christmastime video.

During the festive season of gift-giving, the Judgment Day crew decided to participate in a Secret Santa gift exchange, and WWE’s cameras captured the heartwarming moments. Each of them actually put thought into their gifts, so this wasn’t a kayfabe segment meant for an angle. 

Judgment Day’s Secret Santa Gifts Revealed

Finn Balor drew Rhea Ripley’s name, and he got her a Stranger Things bag, a book about women with tattoos and a beanie with “Mami” on it. Rhea Ripley got Damian Priest as her Secret Santa and gave him some Australian candy and a boomerang that she must have brought back from her recent trip Down Under.

Dominik Mysterio shared the holiday spirit by giving Finn Balor a Louis Vuitton hat. The moment that Louis Vuitton logo was seen, it captured attention, making all of us think about Dirty Dominik’s new WWE contract. 

JD McDonagh drew Dominik Mysterio’s name, and he gave him some custom gold pens, with his name inscribed on them. He received some heckling over the gift, after trying to blame Finn Balor for the gift idea. Balor then revealed that he told JD to get Dominik a Rolex watch, but he’s too cheap. 

To complete the gift exchange, Damian Priest gave JD McDonagh a very thoughtful present. He explained that every member of the Judgment Day was given a steel bracelet, a symbolic gesture meaning that they are officially in the stable. Now, JD has one, too.  

Some fans may forget that Judgment Day was originally just Edge and Damian Priest, meaning Priest is the only OG member of the stable. That gift of a steel bracelet obviously meant a lot to JD McDonagh. 

What’s Next For Judgment Day In WWE

Judgment Day is getting a little break from the road, along with the rest of the WWE roster. There is little rest for them, though, because Dominik Mysterio is booked to wrestle CM Punk in Madison Square Garden on December 26th. Odds are, he will have his Judgment Day family with him at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

? ? ?

It's Secret Santa time for The Judgment Day! Who gave the best present? ? pic.twitter.com/TrXVywuODP

— WWE (@WWE) December 24, 2023

WWE confirmed the WrestleMania 39 match between Edge and Finn Balor during Monday Night Raw. 

Edge came out for a promo segment where he talked about how he wanted to finish his feud with Balor tonight/ The Judgment Day came out to the stage but wouldn’t get any further. Edge knew why, and he knew if he chased after them, they would just jump him. 

He said he would give Balor what he wanted, a WrestleMania match. Edge said he’s tired of wasting his time, which is running out, on them for the last year and a half. He said every week, he has left him laying and even made him say that he quit.

Memory Lane

He recalled Beth Phoenix being hit with a chair. Edge thinks there is one way for it to end, and that’s Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania. Balor said he’s been to hell, and it spit out a demon. This led to a brawl. 

As previously reported, WWE had plans to do Edge vs. Balor at the Royal Rumble in the Hell in a Cell match where Balor would portray his demon character, but it was nixed due to Edge filming a Hollywood project. 

Mick Foley may be something of a cuddly teddy bear these days, but the three-time former WWE Champion is ready to raise some hell as part of The Judgment Day.

This April will mark one year since the group debuted, and initially consisted of Edge and Damian Priest.

At WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022, Rhea Ripley was added to the group, and Finn Balor’s entry not long after would see Edge be ousted as leader.

It was at September’s Clash at the Castle Premium Live Event that Dominik Mysterio joined the group, after betraying Edge and his father Rey Mysterio.

Foley’s Judgment

Mick Foley’s days in the ring are long behind him, but the WWE Hall of Famer has expressed a (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) interest in joining the faction.

On YouTube, Foley donned a distinct purple and black flannel to seek “gainful employment” as a member and referenced his decades of experience in the industry.

Foley also acknowledged his moniker as ‘King of the Death Match’ and mentioned reaching the New York Times bestseller list twice.

While praising the group’s various skills (including the abs of Finn Balor,) Foley requested his son Dewey to draw more tear ‘tattoos’ on his face.

Dewey instead wrote the word ‘Help Me’ on his father’s forehead (a not to Al Snow) and a more ‘phallic’ piece of ink on his other cheek.

Judgment Day at WrestleMania

The Judgment Day is yet to publicly respond to Foley’s resume, but with or without the Hardcore legend, they’ll be kept pretty busy at WrestleMania.

After becoming the first woman to win a Royal Rumble match from #1, Rhea Ripley will challenge SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair this April.

On next week’s Raw, Edge and Finn Balor will have a confrontation, and it has been rumored that a Hell in a Cell match between the two will take place at WrestleMania.

There have been rumors that Dominik Mysterio will face his father Rey next month in the father and son’s home state of California.

WWE superstar Finn Balor shared some encouraging words for Dominik Mysterio’s development in the company.

Mysterio has risen as one of the biggest heels in the WWE. He made the change at Clash at the Castle on Sep. 3, 2022, when he betrayed his father, Rey, and Edge. Two days later, he would align himself with The Judgement Day(Balor, Rhea Ripley, and Damien Priest) to become a faction member. After several months of working with The Judgement Day, Dominik has started to get out of the shadow of his father.

In an interview with The Bump’s Kayla Braxton and Matt Camp, Balor spoke highly about Dominik’s transformation as a heel talent. While expressing his thoughts, Balor stayed in character during the interview.

“You know, it kind of makes me sad a little bit that Dominik hasn’t received the support from his family. The fact that he’s growing and achieving so much in a short time, but without that backbone or family support, it’s quite incredible, said Balor.

He continued, “…At the same time, you know my family has always supported me, so I take that kind of for granted that people should be supported by their family and the fact that Rey has continuously not shown support, not shown interest in his sons development and career, it’s quite saddening. So myself, Damian(Priest) and Rhea(Ripley) all been a shoulder for Dom to lean on and I think he’s stepped out of his father shadow in such a short time and I think he’s going to make his father pay.”

Will Dominik Challenge His Father At WrestleMania 39?

It seems the WWE is looking to have Dominik face his father at WrestleMania 39, but it’s unclear in what way. Dominik and The Judgement Day have antagonized his father since he joined them. On the Feb. 24 episode of Friday Night Smackdown, Rey came close to attacking his son but chose to walk away. It’s possible WWE could be setting up a father vs. son match at WrestleMania 39. However, the company has also teased that Santos Escobar may assist Rey in dealing with his son.

During a backstage segment on the Feb. 24 episode, Escobar and Dominik had a brief confrontation about respecting Rey. Before Escobar could do anything to Dominik, Rhea stepped in the way, and the “couple” walked away. It’s possible the WWE can have a tag team match with Escobar and Rey against Dominik and Priest, as Priest is not involved in a match for WrestleMania 39.

Wrestling fans will have to wait and see how the ongoing story of Rey and Dominik will develop on the road to WrestleMania.

WWE star Finn Balor is apparently planning to make new additions to The Judgement Day faction.

The Judgment Day faction comprises of Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Damian Priest and Finn Balor since last September and they have been one of the mainstays in the programming.

Since Mysterio joined the group, the sinister stable has rarely shown any signs of bringing in additional members. Balor recently discussed the idea of adding more members during the latest edition of WWE’s ‘The Bump.’ It seems that the fans might witness some fresh faces in Balor’s dark stable after the WrestleMania 39 Premium Live Event.

Finn Balor could be expanding The Judgement Day

“We are always planning,” he said.” “The Judgment Day are always planning; we’re always plotting, we’re always scheming. I’m always texting with Damian, we have a group chat with me, Damian, Rhea, Dom. We’re plotting, we’re figuring things out. And trust me, once we get ‘Mania behind us, The Judgment Day will be expanding.”

The Judgement Day was originally created by the WWE Hall of Famer Edge when he portrayed a darker gimmick. He then recruited Damien Priest and Rhea Ripley in order to elevate their position on the roster. However, Edge’s idea backfired when he added Finn Balor to the group. Priest and Ripley turned on ‘The Rated-R Superstar’ ousting him from the group. The latest addition to the heel faction was Dominik Mysterio. He had joined the group after brutally attacking his father Rey Mysterio and Edge.

Finn Balor recently challenged Edge to a match at WrestleMania 39. We are yet to hear what ‘The Rated-R Superstar’ has to say regarding it.

We will have to wait and see what Finn Balor has in store for the fans.

Edge and Finn Balor will seemingly go one-on-one at WrestleMania 39 after the former Universal Champion issued a challenge this week.

Balor and Edge have been on opposing sides for over half a year now, after the Rated-R Superstar was ejected from the Judgment Day in mid-2022.

At Extreme Rules last October, Balor got an I-Quit match victory over Edge, who returned at the Royal Rumble last month to eliminate Balor.

WrestleMania 39

On last night’s Raw, Balor was interviewed backstage with the Judgment Day at his side and said he’s not done with Edge.

The first-ever Universal Champion issued the challenge to a match at WrestleMania, which Edge has yet to respond to.

It’s been reported that WWE planned on Edge Vs. Balor at the Royal Rumble but nixed the idea due to Edge’s commitments to the upcoming Percy Jackson series on Disney+.

WWE and Edge felt that with the Hall of Famer not being able to appear on Raw in the run-up to the Royal Rumble, the match would not have received proper booking.

It has been reported that the match in January was scheduled to take place inside Hell in a Cell, but there is no confirmation if this is the plan this time around.

The Judgment Day at WrestleMania

While Edge Vs. Balor has yet to be made official, it is expected to be confirmed for WrestleMania, which will be a busy night for the Judgment Day.

By winning the 2023 Women’s Royal Rumble match, Rhea Ripley earned herself a match at WrestleMania, and will challenge SmackDown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair this April.

Though it has not been confirmed, many expect Dominik Mysterio to face his father Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 39.

WWE had plans in place to bring back The Demon version of Finn Balor, but it didn’t end up happening.

It was originally reported by WrestlingNews.co in December that WWE was going to do Edge vs. Balor at the Royal Rumble as a way to further the Judgment Day vs. Edge feud that has been going on for almost a year now. 

Original Plans

However, that was nixed due to Edge being away with a filming project and his schedule not allowing him to make appearances on WWE TV leading up to the bout. 

Originally, WWE wanted to do a Hell in a Cell match at the show. Fighful Select provided more details on WWE’s plans for The Demon, Balor’s alter ego, to make a return based on internal plans. 

People that Fightful spoke with “felt as if the Demon persona didn’t fit during the current iteration of Judgment Day, and were against it in this situation.”

There were others who felt the match would have needed something special and Balor portraying the Demon would’ve done just that. 

Although Balor has used the persona seven times in WWE on the main roster, he last portrayed it when he lost to WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns at WWE Extreme Rules last year. 

WWE’s next Hell in a Cell match may be a matter of weeks away according to the latest report from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

In late 2022, it was reported that WWE was planning a Cell match between Edge and Finn Balor, that was scheduled to take place at the Royal Rumble PLE.

That match didn’t happen, and both men competed in the Men’s Royal Rumble match which was won by Cody Rhodes.

In the Observer, it is explained that WWE did plan on the Hell in a Cell match last month, but Edge’s acting commitments kept it from happening.

It is added that the match is a “possibility” for WWE WrestleMania 39 in April.

Edge and Balor will be on opposite teams for next week’s Elimination Chamber event, where they will team with Beth Phoenix and Rhea Ripley respectively.

Hell in a Cell at WrestleMania

While the Hell in a Cell match has been a WWE staple for over 25 years, the match has only happened three times at WrestleMania.

At WrestleMania 15, The Undertaker defeated the Big Boss Man, extending the Phenom’s WrestleMania winning streak to 8-0.

It wouldn’t be until WrestleMania 28 that the Cell returned to WWE’s biggest event, when The Undertaker defeated Triple H.

At WrestleMania 32 in 2016, The Undertaker once again emerged victorious inside the Cell, this time against Shane McMahon.

The Future of Hell in a Cell

The Hell in a Cell match is one of the more graphic stipulations WWE uses, though matches over the past decade have been somewhat lacking.

Fans have taken issue with the Hell in a Cell match having a PLE, believing it has lessened the significance of the structure.

Last year, it was reported that the Hell in a Cell PLE is “completely dead” in an edict by WWE’s Head of Creative Triple H.

A veteran of nine Cell matches, the Game believes that match should be used when it makes sense, rather than WWE forcing a Cell match “just because it’s October.”

Monday Night RAW kicked off with Edge and Beth Phoenix in the ring. Edge said that Judgment Day is his fault. He talked about how he only said “I quit” at Extreme Rules because Rhea Ripley assaulting Phoenix. Judgment Day, minus Ripley, made their way to the ring.

Bálor told Edge it was time to make him say “I Quit” again. Dominik Mysterio told them that he’ll treat them like he does his dad if they don’t back off Judgment Day. They all exchange barbs and Phoenix said she came to beat Ripley’s ass, but since she wasn’t there how about Bálor and Ripley face them at Elimination Chamber.

Dominik Mysterio Screams for Mami

Bálor said they will only if she and Edge make it to Elimination Chamber. They begin circling the ring when Angelo Dawkins comes to assist Edge and Phoenix. Mysterio attempted to leave only to be met by Montez Ford. Ford tosses him into the ring where Phoenix puts him in the Glam Slam, while he screamed for “MAMI!”

After the match, Phoenix sent a message to Ripley via Twitter. She posted a picture of a close up of Mysterio screaming “MAMI!” with the caption that reads, “missed you this week, Rhea!” She also made the image her Twitter avi.

Ripley quote tweeted her nemesis and declared that she was “dead meat walking.”

• Creed Brothers Wrestle Before Raw

Elimination Chamber will be live on Saturday, February 18 at 8 PM ET from Montreal, Canada.

Finn Balor was once the name and face of WWE’s NXT brand, but losing the NXT Championship was hardly a sad moment for the Judgment Day member.

Balor, who debuted for WWE in 2014, captured the title from Kevin Owens in Japan at WWE’s Beast in the East event in July 2015.

The Irish Superstar would hold the title for 292 days, a record that was only broken in 2020 by Adam Cole.

Winning the Gold

Balor’s victory inside Sumo Hall in Tokyo would at the time be Finn’s biggest victory as part of WWE.

While speaking to Rob Armstrong for BT Sport, Balor recalled his ascension to the throne of WWE’s gold brand.

“That was one of the most full-circle moments that I’ve had in my career because not only it wasn’t in Japan, but it was in Ryogoku, which was Sumo Arena, where we wrestled for New Japan quite a lot. I actually had my final match for New Japan, in that arena, in the paint.”

Finn Balor.

Balor’s victory would end the 142-day reign of Owens, who won the title from Sami Zayn at February 2015’s NXT TakeOver: Rival.

Career Highlight

Balor’s reign on top would end off-screen at an NXT Live event in Lowell, MA at the hands of Samoa Joe.

In the interview, Balor spoke about how special the title loss off-screen meant to him.

“We’d done that on a house show. That was something that was so rare, and I remember this sheer surprise and shock of the people in the front row that just couldn’t believe what they had witnessed on a house show.

“After [292 days], I had been champion, and Joe pins the champion at a house show in Lowel. That was a special night. That, for me, is probably the coolest moment of my career.”

 “That was one of my favorite nights of my career.”

Finn Balor.

Joe would lose the title to Shinsuke Nakamura before later winning it back, and along with his brief 2021 victory is the only three-time NXT Champion.

h/t – eWrestlingNews

Will The Judgment Day one day walk down the ramp on Monday Night Raw glistening with gold? Perhaps, but that’s not something the group needs.

The Judgment Day was founded by Edge earlier this year and the Rated-R Superstar recruited Priest and Rhea Ripley.

After Finn Balor joined, the group turned on Edge and welcomed Dominik Mysterio as a member at WWE Clash at the Castle in Cardiff.

Championships

While all four members of The Judgment Day have held gold in the past, none have won a championship as part of the faction.

Speaking on The Archive of B-Sox show, Priest said that the group’s success without titles just goes to prove how impressive all four members have been.

“How do you become a focal point of the show not being a champion? That makes you just that much more valuable, and I think that’s where we’re at right now. Let’s make this show revolve around us. Let’s be the main thing on this show, without even having championships.”

Damian Priest

While The Judgment Day is yet to hold gold, Rhea Ripley recently teased going after Bianca Belair and the WWE Raw Women’s Championship.

The Future

The Judgment Day has been around for less than a year, but Priest is optimistic about the future.

Speaking about his tenure with the group so far, the former U.S. Champion said that The Judgment Day is just getting started.

“It’s been awesome. It’s been a roller coaster, yes, but we’re ending it at the highest point. We all feel like we’re not even where we need to be yet, which is crazy. The things that we look forward to, the things that we talk about, and what we want to accomplish, we’re just getting started.”

In recent weeks, The Judgment Day has been feuding with the O.C. (AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows, and Mia Yim.)

h/t – Sportskeeda

The Judgement Day have steadily grown to be one of WWE’s most dominant, and menacing, factions. Throughout the year, the stable has undergone some leadership changes, with Finn Balor now poised atop the hierarchy. The group itself has also expanded over the months, with the additions of Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and most recently, Dominik Mysterio.

Dominik quickly rose through the ranks of WWE alongside his father, and former WWE Champion Rey Mysterio — later capturing the SmackDown Tag Team Championships with him. The young, bright-eyed star would soon gravitate towards to a much different, darker place though. Following a tag team bout at Clash At The Castle in September, Dominik attacked his allies: Rey Mysterio, and WWE Hall of Famer Edge. Two days later, Dominik unveiled his new allegiance to the Judgement Day, effectively turning heel.

Dominik Turns To The Dark Side

Judgement Day leader Finn Balor recently spoke about Dominik’s drastic character change, praising his ability to adapt so quickly. “[It’s beautiful] to see Dominik kind of into the role so seamlessly,” Balor told BT Sport’s Rob Armstrong, “because people forget he kind of debuted about a year before he turned heel, and he was learning on the job.”

“He wasn’t doing that much training, and I mean that with the greatest amount of respect, but he had a couple months training I think with Lance [Storm] and little bits here and there with his dad and stuff, but not an immense amount of training to be in the deep end on live TV for WWE. He was only kind of adapting to that, and then he was thrown this huge curveball where he’s now turning on his dad and playing a completely different character.” “The way he’s stepped into that character, it’s incredible to watch.”

The former WWE Universal Champion continued on, recalling Dominik’s first promo as an official member of the Judgement Day. “I remember the first night that he was going out to do a heel promo and going up to him to try and calm him down a little bit. ‘Okay dude, don’t worry, it’s gonna be cool.’ He says, ‘I’m cool, bro. Don’t worry.’ I said, ‘You know what you’re gonna say?’ He says, ‘Nah, I’ll figure it out.’ He went out there, just super chilled and that’s how he is.”

“I think he’s gonna be a huge star for us,” Balor proclaimed.

AJ Styles is set to battle Finn Balor tonight at WWE Survivor Series WarGames.

• WWE Survivor Series 2022 Preview

Finn Balor tried for weeks to recruit the Phenomenal One to Judgment Day but Styles declined. Balor and the Judgment Day then beat AJ down but Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson made the save. The Good Brothers returned to WWE to reform The O.C. and battle against Judgment Day.

Rhea Ripley has been the x-factor in the rivalry so far but The O.C. recently added Mia Yim to the group to even the odds. Mia Yim and Rhea Ripley will both be competing in the Women’s WarGames match tonight at WWE Survivor Series.

AJ Styles on His Match Against Finn Balor Tonight & The Good Brothers Returning to WWE

AJ Styles was a guest on WWE’s The Bump show earlier today ahead of the premium live event tonight in Boston. Styles said that he’s pissed off and is going to take it out on Finn Balor tonight at Survivor Series.

The Phenomenal One was also asked about Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson returning to the company during the interview. AJ couldn’t decide which Good Brothers moment was the best and said they were ready to take care of business in WWE.

Styles was asked why he has such a tight bond with the Good Brothers and he referenced their time together in Japan.

Since taking over main roster creative, Triple H has brought back several former WWE stars and also repackaged wrestlers already on the roster, including Finn Balor. He has been pushed strongly as part of The Judgment Day alongside Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, and Dominik mysterio Mysterio. 

Balor is just the third man to win the NXT Championship twice, winning it first in 2015 and again in 2020 when he moved back down from the main roster in between runs. Balor was in the main event of many a Takeover events. 

Although Vince McMahon pushed Balor at points, including when he was first called up to the main roster and became the inaugural Universal Champion, Balor’s push by McMahon came to an end earlier this year. 

Triple H on Finn Balor

WrestleVotes told GiveMeSport that Triple H views Balor as a ‘reclamation story’ after how he was booked by McMahon. 

“They’ve always, always really liked each other. Seeing what Finn has been over the last few years, Hunter sees almost like a reclamation project, but one that he can get behind because of their personal relationship.

Hunter’s first real big name was Fergal, so they’ve always had a relationship and worked well together. Hunter has always believed in him. When Finn got injured, after he won the title at SummerSlam 2016, he was checked on him daily, like keeping the relationship tight, even though he left NXT.”

Balor vs. AJ Styles in a singles match has been booked for this Saturday’s Survivor Series premium live event. 

Finn Balor spent weeks trying to recruit AJ Styles to the Judgment Day but the Phenomenal One declined.

Balor decided to attack AJ Styles and the Good Brothers (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) returned to the company to make the save. Mia Yim has since returned to the company and joined The OC in their battle against Judgment Day.

On last week’s edition of RAW, Finn Balor attempted to accept Seth Rollins’ Open Challenge but The OC interrupted.

On this week’s episode of RAW, Finn faced Seth Rollins in the main event. The match was originally supposed to be a non-title bout but Byron Saxton announced it was for the United States Championship a couple of hours before the red brand went on the air.

The Judgment Day was ringside for the match and once again The OC got involved. The two factions brawled through the crowd as Rollins and Balor trade strikes in the ring. In the end, Seth hit the Stomp for the pinfall victory. Austin Theory attacked Seth after the bell and beat him down to close the show.

AJ cut a backstage promo earlier on RAW and challenged Balor to the match. The Phenomenal One added that their rivalry will come to an end at the PLE. WWE made the match official during the main event on social media.

Announced Card for WWE Survivor Series WarGames so far:

• Finn Balor vs. AJ Styles
• Women’s WarGames Match: Damage CTRL, Nikki Cross, Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair, Asuka, Alexa Bliss, Mia Yim, and an unknown superstar
• SmackDown Women’s Championship: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Shotzi

WWE star Finn Balor has given high praise to Chris Jericho. 

After signing with WWE in 2014, Balor has crossed paths with a who’s who of the industry’s best wrestlers, such as John Cena, Roman Reigns, and even several wrestlers who are AEW stars. Chris Jericho received high praise from the former WWE Universal Champion.

Finn Balor Praises Chris Jericho

While speaking with Josh Martinez of the Superstar Crossover podcast, Balor discussed Jericho’s legacy in the pro wrestling business after a pre-recorded prompt from the current ROH World Heavyweight Champion. 

“Chris Jericho is not only an AEW legend, not only a WWE legend, or a Japanese wrestling legend. He’s a legend of this business. He’s an incredible performer. He’s been able to adapt and change his character to suit multiple generations, and I feel like he is a treasure of this industry.”

Balor and Jericho previously faced each other in WWE and share a similar pro wrestling journey with experience working in Japan. 

Jericho recently successfully retained the title against Bryan Danielson on the October 12 edition of AEW Dynamite. On the flip side, Balor is coming off a win over Edge in an I Quit Match at Extreme Rules on October 8.

Transcription via Fightful

Finn Balor believes that his and AJ Styles’ unspoken competitive rivalry needs addressing in the ring on WWE programming. 

Their pre-WWE careers have some similarities as both stars arrived in WWE with over a decade of experience under their belts in the business and after stints as the leader of the Bullet Club faction in NJPW.

They’ve only faced off in singles action once on WWE TV, which came in 2017 at the TLC pay-per-view event. Balor was victorious in this bout. Styles had accepted with less than two days’ notice after Balor’s original opponent Bray Wyatt was medically unable to compete.

Finn Balor on Potential AJ Styles Feud

While speaking with the New York Post, Balor noted that he feels there’s potential for a big rivalry with his and Styles’ pasts.

“I feel like for 20-plus years, myself and AJ.’s careers ran side by side and never really overlapped with each other. The one match we did have (at TLC 2017) was by pure happenstance. I was scheduled to wrestle Bray Wyatt, but I think Bray came down with an illness and was pulled by WWE medical from the event and then we had the match with AJ.

“That’s really the only interaction we’ve had up until very recently. I feel like me and AJ. have a big story to tell and a lot to prove to each other as well. I feel like we have an unspoken competitive rivalry, and I feel like that need to be addressed in the ring. I respect everything that AJ.’s done in his career. I’m very excited that the opportunity of the next couple months could lead us to that singles match with AJ.”

As previously reported, Balor is set to receive a major push under the Triple H regime. At last Saturday’s Extreme Rules, he beat Edge in an I Quit Match.

For the last few months, Finn Balor and his Judgment Day cohorts have been at odds with the man who brought them together: Edge. At WWE Extreme Rules, the two will have an “I Quit” match.

Balor feels like this is the only way to settle their story. He told the New York Post, “Edge says he won’t quit, but he’s clearly quit one time before 11 years ago. I can promise you I’ve never quit once in my career in the ring or outside of the ring. That will remain the same at the Extreme Rules.”

For Balor, this feud with Edge has been a long time coming. Due to Edge’s sudden retirement, Balor thought he’d never get to face “The Rated R Superstar”. “Any idea or hope or dream I had of wrestling Edge in the ring kind of evaporated. He returned to the ring at Royal Rumble (in 2020) and that spark was reignited. Our careers had not been aligned up until recently and I feel like everything has kind of fallen into place the last couple months and the match is finally happening. “

Judgment Day allows Balor to be more authentic

Balor has found success with his new stable. He believes that’s due to being allowed to be a heel and not boxed in as a babyface like he was in his early WWE career.

“I’ve kind of tapped into a more real, authentic version of Finn that has kind of been suppressed the last couple of years in WWE. I feel like I’m finally able to create the version of myself that I feel comfortable with and that is certainly a more vicious, aggressive style of wrestling.”

Being a part of Judgment Day has breathed new life into his character. “I’ve worked for most of my career as a heel or more naturally as a nasty, vicious heel and I was framed to be a babyface by WWE, really against my will. It’s not something that I feel comfortable with or I feel like I execute to the best of my abilities and I feel a lot more comfortable in the role that I’m in now. It doesn’t really feel like a stretch of the imagination. I just really feel like I have to go out there and be myself. That allows me to be a lot more at home in the character and a lot more comfortable in the ring. I’m able to showcase the abilities that I have that I’m not able to showcase as a babyface.”

“So I feel like this is really the direction I wanted the heel NXT version of Finn to go. We just never had a chance to fully execute that. This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

• WWE Extreme Rules: Final Betting Odds for Tonight’s Event

WWE Extreme Rules is live on October 8 at 8 PM ET on Peacock.

Triple H has made many big and small changes to the WWE programming since coming to power. One such subtle change is that stars are now allowed to interact with each other in backstage segments. Finn Balor believes that backstage activities in segments help the product feel more authentic.

The former Universal champion recently had an interview with SHAK Wrestling. He was asked about the recent changes in WWE programming, specifically the changes in the production of backstage segments. Replying to it, Balor mentioned how WWE has been guilty of overproducing things in the past. According to the Judgement Day leader, a rougher product feels more authentic:

“Yeah, and I also feel like maybe in the past we’ve been guilty of overproducing things, and it doesn’t feel as natural. For me, if I look back and watch like an old WCW episode, and there’s like a backstage scene or promo or a beat down, you’ll see people walking. Like leaving the building that have already finished a match, [or] entering the building that haven’t performed yet.

That was natural. I feel like that element needs to really be emphasized in wrestling. This is live TV. It shouldn’t really be as produced as perhaps it was in the past. I feel like maybe the rougher edgier it is, the more authentic it will be.”

You can check out Finn Balor’s full interview below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

• Tony Khan On Chris Jericho Stepping Up As Locker Room Leader
• Raquel Rodriguez Names Hall Of Famer She Would Like To Face
• ‘None Of Us Were Happy’: Kurt Angle Reflects On Disappointing WrestleMania Debut
• Heath Slater On How Impact Wrestling Treated Him During Injury
• Chris Jericho Tells Funny Story About Roman Reigns’ Dad

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Fans can expect to see Finn Balor be booked as a main event player soon under the creative vision of Triple H on WWE programming. 

Balor was pushed as a top star in NXT under Triple H, where he held the NXT Title several times. However, on the main roster, he was only briefly used as a top star when he first arrived in 2016, becoming the first-ever Universal Champion at SummerSlam. However, he was sidelined due to an injury he suffered in that bout against Seth Rollins. 

Finn Balor’s Bright Future

WWE has significant plans for Balor in the months ahead, according to WrestleVotes:

“I’m told that significant plans are lined up for Finn Balor in the future. I don’t know exactly for what those plans are, but he is a strong favorite of the new leadership group. Expect Finn to play a big role in the foreseeable future of WWE.”

WWE has kept The Judgment Day strong under two different regimes in the way of Vince McMahon, and now Triple H. Edge first created the group alongside Reha Ripley and Damian Priest. 

This past June at Hell in a Cell, Judgement Day beat Balor, AJ Styles, and Liv Morgan. The following night on Raw, Balor turned heel by attacking Edge and joining the group. 

At next Saturday’s Extreme Rules event from Philadelphia, Balor is slated to wrestle Edge in an I Quit Match.

Finn Balor has offered up his thoughts on Edge departing The Judgement Day.

Balor was recently interviewed by BT Sport’s Ariel Helwani, ahead of Clash At The Castle this past weekend.

During the interview, Balor was asked for his thoughts on WWE Hall Of Famer Edge being removed from the Judgement Day faction so quickly.

Several weeks ago, upon Balor being introduced to the group, Balor, Damian Priest, and Rhea Ripley attacked Edge, seemingly kicking him out of the group. The creative decision was one that confused fans greatly at the time, seeing as it had only started a few weeks ago.

As for Balor, he thinks the idea worked out in the long run, allowing the group to make it their own rather than playing “sidekick” to Edge.

“Things could always be different, and we can pick apart things that happen on a TV show weekly. But we have to adapt on the fly, unlike television. It is what it is. It wasn’t how I imagined it to be, but it’s a little cooler this way.

“For me personally, if Edge had been in the group, the reactions we would get – maybe myself, Rhea, and Damian – we would say ‘that’s because of Edge.’ But now the reactions we get, that’s because of us.

“We’re not leaning on Edge in any way, so it gives me more responsibility, Damian more responsibility, and Rhea the same. We can dive into this as ourselves as not as a sidekick to Edge. We’re excited with how it’s going.”

Currently, Edge is still feuding with The Judgement Day; which now consists of Balor, Priest, Ripley, and now Dominik Mysterio. The young Mysterio joined The Judgement Day on RAW this week after he turned on Edge and his father, Rey Mysterio, at Clash At The Castle.

Finn Balor would like to have AJ Styles to join his Judgment Day faction.

Balor was the latest guest on the Out of Character podcast with Ryan Satin. This was recorded during SummerSlam weekend in Nashville.

During their discussion, they spoke about a wide range of topics, including his experience living through the pandemic. Balor says the pandemic was the most mentally challenging period of his life, without question.

He was landlocked in the United States and dealing with visa issues that prevented him from going back to Ireland and resolving things. He vented that it was super challenging. His father got sick and he couldn’t be there for him. He also couldn’t see his siblings or their children, who were babies before the pandemic and ‘little humans’ 2 years later.

Judgment Day

Balor said he’s really excited about the Judgment Day faction. He really enjoys working with his partners, Damien Priest and Rhea Ripley.

He thinks Priest has a really cool look and is a total badass. Ripley has big star potential and feels this could be the vehicle to solidify her in that role.

All three of them get along great and he loves that the group is presented as equals. There is no leader and he’s truly excited for what lies ahead. However, he said, “Hopefully we add more members.”

Adding Another Member

This got Ryan Satin’s attention, who pressed Balor on who he’d like to add to the faction. He said this could be talent from Raw, SmackDown or NXT. Balor threw out several names, but focused on one man he’d most like to see in the group.

“I had thought of a couple people, said Balor. “I love Walter (Gunther), but he’s doing his own thing. Tommaso Ciampa is doing his thing with Miz, so that’s kind of off the table.”

“.. or we could go and find someone new, a fresh face from NXT. Given a little more time to think about it, I could have given you a better answer. I’d love Brock in the Judgment Day.”

Listen to Finn Balor’s appearance on the Out of Character podcast with Ryan Satin: