Finn Balor has disclosed a previously undisclosed account of his pivotal SummerSlam 2016 match against Seth Rollins, where he claimed referee interference contributed to his universal championship win despite sustaining a dislocated shoulder.
According to Balor’s interview with Chris Van Vliet, the injury occurred multiple times during the contest. “It happened roughly three more instances when I attempted to climb the turnbuckle,” he recounted. “Every time I raised my arm toward the ropes, the shoulder dislocated again.”
During a ringside encounter with Rollins, Balor acknowledged his injury and proposed modifying the match’s conclusion. He said, “I told him, ‘I’m not physically able to continue properly. Would you like to adjust the finish?’ Rollins replied, ‘No, we’re sticking to the original plan.'”
Despite the injury, Balor secured the victory as scheduled but was forced to relinquish the title the following night. He praised Rollins for maintaining composure, noting the match’s spontaneity surpassed their pre-planned script. “The sequence we executed wasn’t what we originally designed,” Balor explained.
Reflecting on the outcome, Balor questions how altering the finish might have impacted his career. “This moment still resonates a decade later, but I wonder what alternative trajectory this choice set,” he mused.