10 Booking Steps Leading Finn Bálor To WWE Title
4. The Real Turning Point
On the following episode of SmackDown, AJ Styles opens the show and cuts a promo declaring his intention to, at the third time of asking (in WWE, at least), vanquish Shinsuke Nakamura at Extreme Rules. The wording of the segment is designed to trigger Bálor. Styles puts over the Demon as a great competitor - he needs to, in order to stake a claim - but with a subtext of faint praise. "A Demon short on confidence is still a Demon," is how he puts it. Bálor, p*ssed off, confronts Styles in the same segment. He takes offence. "You got the best of me last night," he protests. Styles squares up to Bálor, nose to nose.
"If that was your best," Styles says, "it's no wonder they kicked you out."
This draws a major reaction from a crowd well-versed in Bullet Club lore - a reaction amplified by the shock that WWE referred to it at all. Shane McMahon emerges from the back to de-escalate the situation. He books Bálor and Styles in a Beat The Clock challenge against Apollo Crews and Big E, respectively. He also patronises Bálor, telling him he fought just well enough to warrant contendership. Bálor, in a major upset, is rolled up by Crews in a matter of seconds. Styles, cocky at first, is nonetheless taken to the limit by Big E in a showcase of his singles credentials.
Just as he has the match won, Bálor interferes and, solidifying the turn, beats Styles to a pulp in a chair-assisted onslaught.