Finn Balor: “Every time I do any kind of media, I get asked, ‘What if you didn’t get hurt (at SummerSlam 2016)? What if you didn’t have to relinquish the title?'”

For nearly a decade, Finn Bálor has carried one question with him everywhere he goes. Every interview. Every media appearance. Every fan Q&A. It’s the same haunting scenario: What if you didn’t get hurt at SummerSlam 2016? What if you never had to relinquish the WWE Universal Championship?
It’s a moment frozen in time.
In 2016, Bálor made history by defeating Seth Rollins to become the inaugural Universal Champion. It was the crowning achievement of a meteoric rise from NXT standout to main roster superstar. The energy was electric. The future looked limitless. But just 24 hours later, the celebration turned into heartbreak. A shoulder injury sustained during the match forced Bálor to relinquish the championship the very next night on RAW.
That abrupt ending didn’t just cut short a title reign — it altered the trajectory of his career.
Since then, Bálor admits that the “what if” question follows him constantly. Fans and media alike wonder how different WWE history might look had he enjoyed a long, dominant run as champion. Would he have become the undisputed face of the brand? Would The Demon persona have evolved differently? Would his legacy already include multiple world title reigns?
The reality, however, is more complicated than fantasy booking.
Injuries are an unavoidable part of professional wrestling. Bálor’s resilience in returning from that setback speaks volumes about his mindset. Rather than letting the moment define him negatively, he rebuilt himself. He returned to NXT, reinvented his character, and later re-emerged on the main roster with a more seasoned, calculated edge. Today, he stands as one of WWE’s most respected veterans — a leader inside and outside the ring.
Still, the question lingers because the moment mattered. It was historic. It was emotional. And it felt like the start of something monumental.
Perhaps that’s why fans can’t let it go.
For Bálor, though, dwelling on the past doesn’t change it. His journey has never been about a single night. It’s about evolution, reinvention, and longevity in WWE. While the “what if” will always be part of his story, so too will the comeback.
And sometimes, the comeback is even more powerful than the crown.