4 Ups & 3 Downs Of WWE Universal Championship

2. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor Is A Great First Match

Regardless of any misgivings that fans may have about the Universal Title, few can complain about how it’s been set-up. Eight superstars were organised into two separate Fatal Four-Way matches on Monday Night Raw, with Cesaro, Rusev, Finn Balor, and Kevin Owens in one, and Roman Reigns, Chris Jericho, Sami Zayn, and Sheamus in the other.

While fans responded to Reigns’ initial victory with eye-rolls and sighs, Balor’s win was like a breath of fresh air, and immediately established the debuting former NXT Champion as a major player on the Monday night scene. The two wrestlers battled in the main event, and when Balor’s hand was raised in victory, it set him up for an epic SummerSlam showdown with Seth Rollins.

Either wrestler would make an excellent first champion. Seth Rollins is fast becoming the company’s ace: Stephanie confirmed it by picking him first overall in last week’s Draft, his position was reaffirmed by the announcement that he’d fight for the new belt at SummerSlam. Balor, meanwhile, finds himself with only Sami Zayn as realistic competition for the title of Raw’s top babyface. Suddenly, he is presented with an outstanding opportunity to come the face of Monday Night Raw within one month of joining the main roster.

The match itself should be a joy to behold. Rollins has long been considered one of the company’s best workers, while Balor has not only proven himself in knock-down NXT battles with Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe, but also as one of the most successful gaijin wrestlers in NJPW history. It’s a fresh, exciting match-up between two wrestlers who have rarely crossed paths, and a great way to set the Universal Championship off to the best possible start.