Assessing The Futures Of 10 WWE Stars Who Didn't Make The Royal Rumble 2022 Cut

8. Finn Bálor

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WWE.com

Seriously, where the f**k was Finn Bálor at the Royal Rumble?

Not only is Bálor a former Universal Champion who could've easily taken an 'iron man' spot in the Rumble match, he was featured on the damn poster for the PPV itself! Unless there's some sort of injury that we're currently unaware of, not having the the Bullet Club founder in the men's Rumble is absolutely ridiculous.

So, WWE had room for Madcap Moss, Rick Boogs and of course Shane McMahon in this year's Rumble match, but there's not a spot for Finn Bálor? Yeesh...

Regardless of how white-hot Bálor had made himself once more during his return to NXT, it seems that any hope of seeing the Prince positioned as a main event player on the main roster is only dwindling by the week. From challenging for Roman Reigns' Universal Title, to where Finn is right now - being decimated by Austin Theory and then no place in the Royal Rumble - it certainly feels like Bálor is back to where he has so often found himself during his time in WWE.

Sadly, that's a middle of the card guy who the company has zero ideas what to do with. Expect his Theory rivalry to to continue on for a little while longer, and then it frustratingly wouldn't be a shock to see the two-time NXT Champion merely another body in this year's Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal come WrestleMania 38.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.