00:04It is time for one of our two huge main events tonight.
01:05It has been an incredible journey for the first ever Universal Champion.
01:25He became the Universal Champion but suffered an injury that would cost him six months of his career.
01:37Let me tell you something the guy that has the most to prove is this man right here Finn Balor
01:43because he has to prove that winning the Universal Championship was no fluke.
01:49Finn definitely got an opportunity tonight to prove his worth to prove that he belongs in the yard held so
01:57dear by the big dog.
02:00Coming up next Finn Balor one on one with Roman Reigns live on Raw.
02:18Earlier tonight, Roman Reigns told Finn Balor you got a lot of heart but
02:21you don't have the killer instinct to beat somebody like Brock Lesnar.
02:25Believe this, I mean Finn Balor is actually pressing the fight right here in the beginning.
02:30You know, Finn Balor believes he has a lot to prove tonight.
02:33He was the first ever Universal Champion, he never lost the title.
02:37Yeah, but you don't wanna just- He relinquished it because of injury.
02:40You don't wanna just walk into that Superman punch or anything like that.
02:43This thing could be over quick.
02:44And Finn Balor, throw behind on Roman Reigns and runs into an elbow from the big dog and a big
02:51beam from Roman Reigns,
02:53the man who defeated The Undertaker at WrestleMania.
02:57Roman Reigns' words could prove to be prophetic.
03:00Reigns has been in the ring with Brock Lesnar.
03:02Roman knows what the beast incarnate is truly capable of.
03:05Many people believe, Corey, a couple of WrestleManias ago, Roman Reigns had Brock Lesnar defeated before Seth Rollins cashed in
03:11the Money in the Bank contract.
03:14That was there that night, he definitely had that match right.
03:17Look at Finn, Finn with the right hands now, taking it to Roman Reigns, trying to back Reigns into the
03:20corner.
03:21And Finn showing an aggressive side here tonight early on, but Roman Reigns is aggressive as they call him.
03:27I'll tell you, smart move by Finn, going right at that hindered-
03:29Yeah, hindered right side, hindered left side.
03:32And it didn't seem to have too much of an effect book.
03:35Roman Reigns launching Finn Balor three-quarters of the way across the ring twice in a row.
03:39As we take a look at both of these individuals, Corey, I'm gonna start with you first as the referee
03:43backs off Roman Reigns.
03:45Who's the better matchup against the Universal Champion in your mind, Roman Reigns or Finn Balor?
03:49I have to go based on physicality alone.
03:52Roman Reigns is the only one that can hang with Brock Lesnar.
03:55Finn Balor, I've got all the respect for in the world, but that is just a size mismatch.
03:59That's like Floyd Mayweather against Anthony Joshua.
04:03But Booker, if Finn Balor does somehow win that fatal five-way matchup in three weeks and it's Finn versus
04:08Brock,
04:09what does Finn have to do to knock off the beast?
04:11We talk about the matchup.
04:13We talk about Roman Reigns being the guy that's bigger.
04:16But I'm gonna tell you, this guy Finn Balor, he's quick.
04:19He's agile.
04:20He's mobile.
04:20But more importantly than that, he's special.
04:23And let's not forget Finn Balor can mix it up with brawlers, Corey.
04:26Remember his history with Samoa Joe at NXT.
04:29No doubt about it.
04:30Finn Balor is over.
04:32Dropped by Reigns.
04:33You cannot prepare for something like that, man.
04:36That took a lot out of Roman as well.
04:39It might even take it more out of Roman than it did Finn.
04:42Roman's left shoulders in a bad, bad way.
04:46Again, another look to be Samoa dropped.
04:48Samoa dropped from Roman Reigns.
04:50You can see that delayed onset of pain took a minute for Roman to really
04:56understand what he was experiencing.
04:57But we've learned a lot about Roman Reigns and his threshold for pain over the
05:01number of years here in WWE.
05:06Comes along with the territory.
05:08Roman Reigns right now, he knows what this is all about.
05:11This is about the universal championship.
05:16Finn Balor has been to the top of that mountain once and you know Finn wants
05:20nothing more in the world than to reach the summit yet again.
05:24And Finn with a kick right to the face of Roman Reigns.
05:26A hell of a mountain to climb right here and Roman Reigns, man.
05:29A kick like that could rock Brock Lesnar's world, that's for sure.
05:32And Finn Balor a couple of forearms knocking Reigns down.
05:36There's the kick right to the face and Finn Balor starting to build some momentum.
05:40You know, Roman Reigns throws incredibly heavy hands but Finn Balor may actually be a
05:44slightly more proficient striker.
05:46Big shot right across the chest but Roman Reigns, it may have just angered him.
05:51Yeah, but nothing can stop a true heavyweight shot.
05:56That was a heavyweight right hand right there.
05:58I agree with you, Booker.
06:00Roman Reigns into the post, bad arm and all.
06:03Bad shoulder for Reigns and this could be a turning point for Balor.
06:07That's the quickness I'm talking about with Finn Balor.
06:09He's gonna have to use all of that extraordinary spirit that he has to
06:13pull out with.
06:15My goodness.
06:16Right across the bridge of the nose.
06:18But Roman is still standing.
06:20And Balor, again down this top of the spine, driving Reigns to the floor.
06:25Damn right to those injured ribs right there.
06:27Finn Balor, no love lost in a match like this, man.
06:30This is what it's gonna be like in the Fatal Five-Way.
06:33Every man for himself, Balor's in control.
06:36Can Reigns get back in it live on Raw?
06:43We're back live on Monday Night Raw.
06:45Very physical battle between Roman Reigns and Finn Balor.
06:50Two of the five men who will take part in the first ever Extreme Rules Fatal Five-Way Match
06:56at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view event in three weeks.
07:00My.
07:00And Finn, what a kick to Roman Reigns, driving him off the apron.
07:03Wow.
07:03At this point, Reigns is pretty much fighting with one good arm.
07:06And this is exactly why Reigns almost through the steel ring post.
07:12Finn Balor has wasted no time taking advantage.
07:15To that already injured left shoulder.
07:17And Roman Reigns picking him out in the air, though.
07:20And that throw is first hit of the post.
07:24That will stop momentum in its tracks.
07:27That is game-changing power in every sense of the word Roman Reigns just displayed.
07:32That's what Finn Balor's gonna have to deal with here in the WWE.
07:35Big guys like Roman Reigns, big guys like Samoa Joe, big guys like Brock Lesnar.
07:41Well listen, Finn Balor wins the title five-way, he's gonna face Brock Lesnar to your point.
07:43And Finn is driven into the post.
07:45That power with one arm, one good shoulder from Roman Reigns, driving Balor into the steel.
07:54Roman breaking the referee's count.
07:56Yeah, he wants to win this battle against Finn Balor in the ring via pinfall or
08:00submission as Balor's driven into the barricade.
08:04You know after one, you gotta get a one up on you like a Finn Balor getting a big win
08:08over
08:09Roman Reigns.
08:10You wanna get that back and you wanna get it back in prime fashion,
08:14like right here on Monday Night Raw.
08:17And look at Roman.
08:20Has Finn exactly where he wants him.
08:22Perhaps one of the most physical superstars we've ever seen in WWE.
08:26Roman Reigns.
08:28Whoa.
08:29Driving Balor again back first through the post.
08:32My goodness.
08:32And Roman has now turned his attack to the back of Finn Balor.
08:35This could be the beginning of the end for Balor.
08:39Cover by Reigns.
08:41Hooks the inside leg and Balor at two and a half.
08:44Gets the shoulder up, Reigns can't believe it.
08:46Thing is, we've seen this move right here by Roman Reigns several times before, but not like this.
08:53The extra extension at the end of the drop kick, launching Balor back and ribs first into the steel post.
08:59Yeah, using the post as a weapon.
09:00Roman Reigns that time as these two men continue battle here.
09:04Talking about malicious, talking about intent.
09:07That's Roman Reigns tonight.
09:08Like I said, this is a different Roman Reigns from the first go around Finn Balor.
09:14Roman Reigns as he's changed to Booker in his battles over the past number of months with Braun Strowman and
09:20of course The Undertaker.
09:21You could argue that this is a different Finn Balor as well.
09:24Finn Balor looking to prove that his first victory over Roman was no fluke.
09:28The same with the Universal Championship that he won at SummerSlam and relinquished 25 years later because of injury.
09:35Watch his title back in his words.
09:38Never lost the title, had to give it up.
09:40You've only got one good arm, it helps to have it as a weapon.
09:43Whoa, the quickness I'm talking about right there, Finn Balor.
09:47Yeah, but Roman, Roman kicked him out.
09:49Here we go.
09:50Is it enough?
09:51And a kick out.
09:53That spinning powerbomb by Roman Reigns almost took out Finn.
09:57But it had to take a lot out of the big dog.
10:00You can see exhaustion setting in for both superstars.
10:03Reigns fighting with one good arm.
10:05Balor's ribs are busted up, his back's busted up.
10:08These two are taking everything out of one another.
10:11I'll tell you right now, this is a championship match anywhere in the world,
10:15as well as the main event.
10:16Check this out right here, Roman Reigns.
10:18Powerbomb by Roman Reigns.
10:20Right there on that lower back, man.
10:22And just think in three weeks at Extreme Rules, you're gonna add Samoa Joe,
10:25Seth Rollins and Bray Wyatt to the mix.
10:28All five men in the ring at the same time under Fatal 4-Way Extreme Rules.
10:33Five-Way, excuse me.
10:35And now Roman.
10:36Roman Reigns is sucking it up right now.
10:39Right for the super- Beautiful.
10:40He caught him in the bad ribs with a kick.
10:42Here comes Balor, fighting back, kick to the midsection.
10:48Reigns with a kick of his own.
10:51I'll tell you the size difference has come into play in this match.
10:54The shoulder of Reigns wouldn't allow him to stop right to the chest.
11:00I think Roman was thinking powerbomb, some sort of big impact maneuver.
11:06But his left shoulder just wouldn't hold up to do the job, and Finn made Roman pay.
11:12Take another look at this, gentlemen.
11:14Look at the height.
11:15Most importantly, both of Balor's feet right in the sternum of Roman.
11:20Yeah, the bad ribs of Roman Reigns feeling it as he's sucking for breath here.
11:26Trying to catch his breath after the double stomp by Finn Balor.
11:30But you gotta agree with me, guys.
11:32After the wars, Roman would slink blade.
11:34Ron Strowman, he's prepared for this right here.
11:36He could take a whole lot.
11:38We know Roman's mentally tough book, but at less than 100%, a banged up arm,
11:44one arm practically.
11:45Can he beat Balor?
11:47Superman punch.
11:49Good night.
11:50Cover by Reigns.
11:52I thought he had him.
11:54You gotta be kidding me.
11:55Finn Balor kicked out.
12:01Look at this.
12:03Roman right on target.
12:05Bam!
12:06Right on the jaw of Balor, but somehow, Balor able to dig down deep and beat the referee's count.
12:13That's normally the knockout punch right there for any man here in the WWE, no matter who it is.
12:20You could make the argument if Roman was at 100%, that could have ended the match right there.
12:30You gotta love this action.
12:35Roman Reigns back to his feet first.
12:39Does not bode well for Finn Balor.
12:44Roman's got the target acquired.
12:46Yeah, measuring his man, Balor pulling himself back up to his feet.
12:49Here comes Roman, ran into a knee by Finn.
12:52And Finn Balor slay blade to Reigns.
12:57And now Finn Balor looking for his opportunity.
13:00Showing the heart of this young man right here, Finn Balor.
13:03Driving Roman into the corner.
13:05Finn Balor's got Roman where he wants him.
13:07Can he somehow capitalize here?
13:10Trying to go to the top rope and look for the coup de grace.
13:12He's hurting, he's hurting bad.
13:14I tell you this extra couple of two or three seconds may be the difference.
13:19Roman.
13:19Finn Balor.
13:20The big dog finds himself in the unfamiliar position of being the hunted.
13:25Balor going for the victory here.
13:27Roman Reigns back to his feet.
13:30Desperation maneuver by Reigns, but it worked.
13:36And now Roman, looking to capitalize.
13:39Finn back to his feet.
13:41By Roman Reigns.
13:44And he got all of it.
13:46Roman with a win, but what a match.
13:50Here is your winner, Roman Reigns.
13:53I think what a match is the understatement of the night.
13:57Balor and Reigns banged up, beaten, brutalized, but still throwing down.
14:04It's a matter of pride, it's a matter of respect.
14:06That was awesome.
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