50 Worst Wrestling Moments Of The 2020s (So Far)

32. The Demon Flops

WWE Extreme Rules 2021 Finn Balor Demon
WWE.com

WWE never seemed to care for Finn Bálor’s ‘Demon’ alter-ego.

It was certainly a savvy idea on Finn’s part. WWE had rarely experimented with the Great Muta deal. This was Finn’s bid to create a character that worked on multiple levels. Politically, it in theory excused himself from doing a job. What are you going to do: beat a Demon?

The look was striking, unbelievably toyetic, a best-selling action figure in waiting. Executed well, and Finn could have been Kane, only good. But to be sacrilegious for a moment, how good was it, really?

Did Finn truly have that mystical, dangerous charisma required to pull off something otherworldly?

Probably not, but WWE could’ve beaten the Demon in a way that wasn’t so humiliating that Finn could never wear the paint again.

At Extreme Rules 2021, the Demon was taken out by the Usos near the finish of his challenge of Universal champion Roman Reigns. He was laid out, but, revived by a heartbeat sound playing over the PA, the Demon came back to life - ironic, since he looked like a dying fish.

He then fell off the top turnbuckle, which broke under his feet. This was amongst the most cowardly and awful cop-out finishes ever conceived. The Demon’s still good guys, don’t worry. He was just beaten by an act of God!

Advertisement
Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!