CM Punk is set to defend his WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor next week on Monday Night RAW, taking place in Belfast, Ireland—a match heightened by both men’s fierce rivalry and the prospect of Balor fighting on his home ground. With high anticipation for this title bout, speculation swirls around how Finn Balor, known for his cunning tactics, might seize this unique opportunity to dethrone the “Best in the World” as CM Punk returns to the spotlight.
Finn Balor’s Home Advantage Raises the Stakes
The two superstars, who met during this week’s Monday Night RAW in Düsseldorf, Germany, exchanged heated words, stoking anticipation for their upcoming contest. Finn Balor, known as “The Irish Gun,” emphasized the significance of battling Punk in Ireland, flipping Punk’s own strategy of using his Chicago roots for an edge back onto him. The tension between the competitors reached new heights when Punk made clear his intent to hold onto his title, even on Balor’s home turf—a venue where Balor aims to correct the trajectory since his last world title challenge at WWE Money in the Bank in 2023. That loss to Seth Rollins marked Balor’s most recent attempt at top championship gold before this latest shot at redemption.
1. The Judgment Day Might Interfere as Muscle for Balor
One possible twist could see Finn Balor enlisting his stable, The Judgment Day, to tilt the odds in his favor during next week’s showdown. Despite recent setbacks for fellow members JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio due to medical issues, Balor may recruit them for crucial ringside appearances, providing strategic assistance when it matters most. The potential involvement of Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez as distractions adds to the unpredictability, creating a multi-pronged threat aimed squarely at Punk. In his first shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in nearly two years, Balor is expected to marshal every resource, including his allies from The Judgment Day, to pursue victory in front of his home crowd in Belfast.
2. Ricky Saints’ Shocking Entrance Into Judgment Day
Another dramatic scenario involves the rumored debut of Ricky Saints, a former NXT Champion nicknamed “The Stroke Daddy,” as the newest member of The Judgment Day. Saints, recently dethroned by Oba Femi at the NXT Deadline event in December 2025, has been the subject of speculation about his arrival on WWE’s main stage. Balor, who previously welcomed Roxanne Perez from NXT into the Judgment Day fold, could orchestrate a momentous introduction for Saints during the title match, positioning him as a secret weapon against CM Punk. An unexpected attack by Saints in the match’s decisive moments could allow Balor to capitalize and clinch the championship, shaking up the WWE landscape and cementing Judgment Day’s dominance.
3. The Return of Balor’s Forbidden Demon Persona
A third, highly-anticipated swerve could see Finn Balor resurrecting his legendary demon persona, a transformation fans have not witnessed since he joined The Judgment Day three years ago. This alter ego once rendered Balor almost unstoppable—a reputation built through victories over the likes of AJ Styles, Seth Rollins, and Baron Corbin. Although the demon’s mystique suffered after a notable defeat to Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules PLE in 2021, the character remains a massive crowd favorite. Should Balor choose to bring the demon back for this high-stakes match in Ireland, it would escalate the emotional and psychological tension, offering Irish fans a rare spectacle and Punk a formidable obstacle on his title defense.
What This Could Mean for WWE and Its Superstars
The upcoming match between CM Punk and Finn Balor in Belfast stands poised to deliver significant ramifications for the WWE roster and the championship race. With possible interference from The Judgment Day, a surprise debut by Ricky Saints, or the revival of Balor’s demon persona, the bout could set forth new rivalries and mark turning points for several key superstars, including CM Punk, Finn Balor, Ricky Saints, and even supporting characters like JD McDonagh, Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan, and Roxanne Perez. The imminent RAW event in Ireland is set to be a pivotal night that could reshape storylines at the very top of WWE.
