Reasons Why WWE Added Damian Priest to Finn Balor vs. Gunther Match

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Damian Priest and Finn Balor (Via WWE/Twitter)

WWE’s recent edition of RAW brought about a significant change to the scheduled Finn Balor vs. Gunther match for Saturday Night’s Main Event. Adam Pearce announced that Damian Priest would join the fray, transforming the initially planned singles match into a Triple Threat contest for the World Heavyweight Championship. This unexpected twist has led to several theories among fans and pundits, and in this article, three reasons will be explored as to why WWE made this change.

One possible reason for the addition of Damian Priest to the match is that WWE might not want Finn Balor to take the pin. Recent reports suggest that a singles push is expected for Balor in 2025, and taking the title from Gunther’s shoulders could hinder this plan. By having Priest take the pinfall loss, WWE can protect Balor’s reputation and position him for World Title contention again in the future. This theory is supported by the fact that WWE often prefers to protect its top stars from taking a pin or submission loss, especially when a major storyline is in the works.

Damian Priest and Finn Balor (Image via Getty)

Another reason for the change is to make the World Heavyweight Championship match more unpredictable. Prior to the addition of Priest, the odds were slightly in favor of Gunther retaining the title, and Balor was expected to take the loss. However, with Priest now involved, the title change is no longer a foregone conclusion. The World Title match has become unpredictable, and the possibility of Balor emerging as the new champion is now a legitimate one. This unpredictability generates more buzz for Saturday Night’s Main Event and makes the World Title bout even more exciting for fans.

The final reason for the change is to continue the rivalry between Finn Balor and Damian Priest. The two superstars had a recent brush at Survivor Series when Balor took out Priest during his match against Gunther. By adding Priest to the World Title match, WWE can keep the Balor-Priest rivalry fresh and maintain fan interest. The outcome of Saturday Night’s Main Event will determine the fate of their rivalry, and if Priest suffers the loss, Balor could blame him for failing to capture the World Heavyweight Championship, especially if he never gets pinned or submitted. This could be another reason behind the company’s decision to add Damian Priest to the upcoming World Title match.

By Kieran Fisher

Kieran Fisher is an avid follower of Britain's indie wrestling scene, attending PROGRESS, Rev Pro, and many Scottish Wrestling Entertainment events. He has interviewed notable figures like Tommy Dreamer and Rand Borden. Kieran's wrestling Mount Rushmore includes Misawa, Funk, Sting, and Haku, with Bryan Danielson near the top. You can reach out to him at [email protected].