4 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE SmackDown (30 Oct - Results & Review)
Downs...
4. A Demonic Return, But…
...where do we go from here?
OK, let's get this potential misery guts entry out of the way. It's worth saying that the live crowd on hand for SmackDown popped big for Finn Bálor returning to his 'Demon' guise. That must be such a thrill for people in attendance, but it does raise major question marks about what happens next.
Gunther vs. Finn Bálor’s ‘Demon’ is still an odd fit for the ‘Ring General’, and it doesn’t sit right that he’s mixing it in borderline comedy stuff vs. Danhausen either. Honestly, it really doesn’t seem like there’s a satisfying conclusion for anyone - if Gunther loses to Finn, then he’ll be creatively stranded, but if he convincingly thumps the ‘Demon’ then that’s another nail in the coffin for Bálor’s offshoot gimmick.
WWE can't really afford either outcome at the moment. Arguably, having Gunther beat Finn before rebuilding the Austrian up to World Title level is the way to go with all of this, but how many dings can a 'Demon' take? That persona doesn't come across as the invincible monster it's supposed to be, and there will be worries if Danhausen is still sniffing around ringside when push comes to shove on a blowoff match.
Turning Gunther into a Ryback-style heel bully has certainly been a choice. He's gone from retiring the likes of Goldberg, John Cena and AJ Styles to bumping Minihausens through tables and cowering away from Finn's alter ego. It's quite the slide.
He's good enough to bounce back, but WWE's writers sure aren't helping the wrestling machine out.