The WWE Universal Championship between defending champion Brock Lesnar and Finn Balor was positioned in the semi-main event spot at this year’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view. The story going into this match is that Lesnar was originally supposed to face Braun Strowman but Strowman was removed by Vince McMahon and Finn Balor earned the right to take the spot.
Balor immediately attacked with a dropkick, kicks, and punches in the corner. Balor’s offensive flurry continued for another 30 seconds until Lesnar caught him with a belly-to-belly suplex and another one outside of the ring and another one a minute later in the ring. Lesnar was favoring his ribs after getting rammed into the corner of the announcer’s table
Lesnar went for an F5 but Balor countered into a DDT and almost got the pin. Balor dove onto Lesnar at ringside once and then a second time. He followed up with third dive on Lesnar at ringside. Balor hit the Coup de Grace and almost pinned Lesnar but Lesnar grabbed the arm and locked in the kimura submission. Balor tapped out.
Lesnar attacked with German suplexes and the F5 after the match.
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