Projecting Finn Balor's Impact, Ceiling on Main Roster After WWE Draft 2016

WWE Raw made sure it would have an ample supply of electricity when it drafted Finn Balor.

The former NXT champion finally moved to the main roster when Raw honchos Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley took Balor with the fifth overall pick on Tuesday night. That move will bolster WWE's flagship show, adding an athletic dynamo and potential megastar to the mix.

Balor has the tools to be a cornerstone as WWE pushes toward a New Era.

On Tuesday's SmackDown, WWE split its roster in half, drafting talent from both the main roster and NXT to create two distinct shows. John Cena headed to SmackDown. Sasha Banks went to Raw. One of the more notable picks, though, was Balor leaving the developmental brand behind early in the night.

The Demon was the first NXT talent off the board. Balor told Andrea D'Marco in a draft-night interview that he should have gone No. 1:

Should WWE embrace his character, pit him against top talent and stay patient during his transition to the main roster, the 2016 draft will be remembered as the starting point for a game-changer.

Balor comes to Raw after being one of New Japan Pro Wrestling's most intriguing stars and becoming the king of NXT. His skills and past suggest more success is on the way.

Jim Varsallone of the Miami Herald covered Balor at NXT. He commented on how Balor won over that fanbase: 

History is poised to repeat itself. 

Impact

Balor's presence will give Raw a fresh feel.

So many of the rising stars and newcomers on the roster headed to the blue brand instead. SmackDown selected recent NXT transplant Apollo Crews, former NXT tag champs American Alpha and AJ Styles. Four of the six NXT stars who were drafted on Tuesday will be on SmackDown:

Raw, meanwhile, features familiar faces aplenty—from Big Show to Chris Jericho to Brock Lesnar.

Balor will be one of the new building blocks for WWE's marquee show. He has the rapid-fire offense and eye-catching athleticism that so many fans of this generation are drawn to.

And his longstanding appeal with diehard fans will give Raw added cache with that group. Balor will make Raw a hipper show, borrowing some of the energy that NXT has long boasted. He'll help make it clear that Raw is indeed moving into a New Era.

Ceiling

A number of the NXT call-ups selected in the draft have big-time potential, but Balor is the blue-chip prospect of the group.

He has a rock-star aura and a face befitting of magazine covers. He has put on standout matches as an NXT headliner, thriving against Samoa Joe, Neville and Kevin Owens.

His connection with fans has been strong throughout his NXT tenure. Plus, his demonic alter ego makes for both a great character to play with and an easy-to-market gimmick.

It's an act that will lead to memorable entrances and make it easier for him to stand out from his peers.

Balor is a safe bet to reside among Raw's top wrestlers within the next year. His star quality has caught the attention of many onlookers. After NXT TakeOver: Dallas, Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross wrote of Balor and Joe on his blog, "Here are two more big stars waiting to take off in a major way in WWE."

Expect The Demon to capture the WWE Championship during his career and be a headliner and popular babyface.

WWE has to believe in him despite the fact that he doesn't have prototypical size. At 5'11" and 190 pounds, Balor is no behemoth. But he's too thrilling of a performer and too unique a presence to ignore.

Potential Feuds, Storylines

Two main avenues await Balor—either venturing solo as a fan favorite or turning heel to reunite with The Club.

Raw drafted Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, separating them from their current leader, AJ Styles. That effectively puts an end to the imposing trio, but Balor has past history with The Club's two bruisers.

He led The Bullet Club in NJPW, with Gallows and Anderson at his side. Balor has teased time and again about reforming a version of the group in WWE, and that idea has appeal. Like with Styles joining forces with them earlier this year, the story continued a pre-existing narrative and leaned on established chemistry.

Repeating that with Balor could work. It would be an easy way to transition Balor to the main roster, where some fans aren't familiar with his NXT exploits. 

Should he look to surge up the rankings by himself as a babyface, Chris Jericho would make a smart early rival for Balor.

The former WWE champion has become a gatekeeper of sorts late in his career. He has often been pitted against rising stars, tasked with helping them gain momentum. Bray Wyatt and Styles are among those who clashed with the future Hall of Famer as a means to move upward.

Jericho vs. Balor would produce some strong matches, and it would allow The Demon to score some big wins early. 

Down the road, Seth Rollins is a no-brainer option for Balor. Sporting News columnist Brian Fritz wasted no time in dreaming up that big bout:

Rollins' and Balor's quickness and agility guarantee their meetings would be thrill rides each time. The Architect could also carry the bulk of the verbal workload between them, allowing Balor, a solid but not spectacular talker, to ease into the spotlight.

Balor promises to thrive against strong in-ring performers like Cesaro and Neville as well.

WWE has appealing options as it looks to write the next chapter in Raw's history. Balor is a valuable asset capable of being one of the figures WWE builds the show around.