WWE Superstar Finn Balor has recently hinted at retirement plans just before the Elimination Chamber Premium Live Event, where he is set to compete. The wrestler, known as The Prince, will face CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship, aiming to overturn a previous defeat.
Balor and CM Punk have fought once already this year, with Punk maintaining his championship status. As the anticipated rematch approaches, Balor shared his emotional thoughts on retirement during an interview with Uncrowned, citing the impact of fellow wrestlers’ farewells on his mindset.
“Seeing John [Cena] retire was obviously very emotional. Seeing AJ retire … someone who’s had a similar path to me, was just that little bit older, a couple steps ahead of me — he was someone that I considered the benchmark of where I needed to be,” Balor said.
Influence of John Cena and AJ Styles on Balor’s Outlook
Watching the retirements of John Cena and AJ Styles triggered deep reflections for Balor. Styles, in particular, followed a career trajectory somewhat like Balor’s, making his departure especially poignant. This realization made Balor recognize that his own retirement might be imminent.
The Judgment Day member expressed a pressing sense of urgency following his loss to CM Punk in Belfast this January. He feels compelled to correct what he describes as a blemish on his record related to his WWE Universal Championship run a decade earlier.
“Seeing him retire made me realize, ‘Oh, retirement is just around the corner for me, too.’ And you’ve still got this big stain on your career that everyone keeps asking you, ‘What if?” And in Belfast [in January], when I lost to Punk [for the World Heavyweight Title], I realized the time is running out, and you need to fix this quickly. So that’s what I’m trying to do. I need to right the wrong of what happened 10 years ago — not for me, but for everyone else,” he added.
Background: Finn Balor’s Brief Universal Championship Reign
In 2016 at SummerSlam, Finn Balor made history by becoming the first WWE Universal Champion after defeating Seth Rollins. However, his triumph was short-lived when an injury forced him to vacate the title within 24 hours of winning it. This abrupt end to his reign is a notable chapter in his wrestling career.
Balor’s current challenge against CM Punk at the Elimination Chamber carries the weight of this past disappointment, as he strives to secure the World Heavyweight Championship and redeem himself.
What’s Next for Finn Balor and WWE Fans
As Finn Balor prepares for his match against CM Punk, the wrestling community awaits to see if he can finally erase the “what if” that lingers over his career. Success at the Elimination Chamber could mark a meaningful moment for Balor, potentially altering his retirement timeline and legacy within WWE.
The tension surrounding this upcoming event highlights Balor’s conflicted emotions, as he weighs the future of his wrestling journey amid growing physical demands and personal reflections inspired by the retirements of iconic contemporaries like John Cena and AJ Styles.
