Finn Balor's Best Booking Options After WWE Raw Return

The Demon has risen.

Finn Balor has finally returned to the fold in WWE, and it could not have come soon enough for many WWE fans. The first ever Universal champion was Seth Rollins' mystery partner against Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe on Monday's edition of Raw, and the match successfully reintroduced Balor to the red brand.

But what happens now?

When Balor was injured back in August 2016, he had reached a milestone in his career. Balor had won the WWE Universal Championship and become the top titleholder on the company's flagship program. But he injured himself during his SummerSlam match against Rollins, and he had been on the shelf since.

It's obvious that WWE had big plans for Balor, so he should pick up where he left off. After all, if a top guy goes out, he should come back as a top guy.

However, Raw is not the same place it was when Balor left. Brock Lesnar is the Universal champion. Roman Reigns seemingly retired The Undertaker. Owens is the United States champion. Joe is on the main roster. 

The landscape of Monday nights has changed. 

But there are options for Balor, and he has his whole WWE career ahead of him. The key is in the booking and featuring him in the right spots so he can shine. He's one of the best talents in the company and has earned his spot.

The only issue is with which direction WWE chooses to take him.

Waging War with Samoa Joe

The Destroyer has been on a rampage in Balor's absence.

The man so many fans wanted to see in WWE came up from NXT while Balor was gone. Samoa Joe is one of the toughest workers in the company and made an entire career outside of Vince McMahon's promotion.

He's a force of nature in the ring, which is how the fans know him. Fortunately for everyone, that's how WWE has portrayed him as well. 

Like AJ Styles before him, Joe is allowed to be himself. He doesn't have a silly gimmick; WWE didn't paint his face and turn him into a savage like Umaga. Joe also didn't have to change his moveset or conform to the WWE style.

Joe is the same killer he was before he came to WWE.

It's only logical that he and Balor renew their NXT rivalry at some point. They had a top-level feud for the NXT Championship, and the two were a natural fit together in the ring. Joe has not been booked in any long-term storylines thus far, which means he has an open dance card.

Balor may be the man to step up. He's always been fearless, has always been up to the challenge and has no problem fighting against the odds to get what he wants. Balor the man is a tough individual, but The Demon is something else altogether.

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Joe would have his hands full with either gimmick, and fans would definitely be the ones to benefit.

The interesting part about a potential Balor versus Joe feud is the connection to Triple H. The Game has used Joe as an enforcer, so anyone who crosses The Destroyer's path could just as easily cross Hunter's path.

That could possibly lead Balor to a much higher spot than he has now, and it's a spot that would put him in line for main event stardom.

Revenge against Rollins

Another thing that's changed since Balor left WWE is Rollins; The Architect is now a babyface.

Though Balor returned as Rollins' partner on Raw, that does not mean the two characters have made peace. Indeed, Balor's body language immediately following the win cast serious doubt on the alliance between the two men.

It's possible Balor will seek revenge on the man who put him out of action.

Though it's been a negative in many cases, WWE has willingly booked babyfaces in feuds before. It splits the crowd and creates problems in the short term. Fans typically want to love and hate guys in a match, and it's hard to do that when both stars are on the same side.

Rollins has perhaps not yet reached the point of fully getting over as a protagonist, so it's possible that facing Balor would do more harm than good.

But that may not stop WWE. If it does happen, then the program should be short. One match may be enough for Balor to get some redemption, and the key is to book the bout in such a way that both men come out looking good.

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Outside interference could lead to the match breaking down, or Balor and Rollins could go to a draw. Either way, WWE must spotlight both stars in such a way that their next matches are the focus, not their showdown.

Balor's injury came at the hands of a man many fans felt was too dangerous in the ring. That notion has been shelved because of Rollins' popularity, but once Balor gets back in heavy rotation on Raw, whispers of Rollins' perceived carelessness in the ring may begin again.

If that happens, then it would fuel the fire of Balor's revenge and get the feud with Rollins going once again.

Battling the Beast

The Beast Incarnate is the master of his domain yet again.

After disposing of Goldberg at WrestleMania 33, Brock Lesnar is not only the Universal champion but also the Alpha Male of Monday Night Raw. The Beast likely won't have Goldberg challenging him again for that spot anytime soon.

But The Demon King is a different story.

The matchup may sound incredibly one-sided on paper, but Balor versus Lesnar absolutely could happen. Lesnar is WWE's marquee star and has been protected in every feud he's had thus far.

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However, Balor is the future.

That fact alone is enough to consider booking the match. Lesnar is a top guy, but his run will not last forever. Eventually, he will move on, and in the meantime, he's running out of veterans to beat. That means he will once again be pitted against stars of The New Era.

Chief among them is Roman Reigns.

Reigns is destined to face Lesnar once again, as both men have never been at higher points in their careers. Lesnar took out his biggest threat to date, and Reigns has evidently retired The Undertaker. 

Their war could become the biggest WWE angle of 2017.

But it might only happen after each man faces other talents along the way. Balor is more than capable of giving Lesnar a good match, and WWE may choose to book a contest between the two at some point. Balor won't have a physical advantage, but he would surely have a psychological one.

Whether that would throw Lesnar off his game enough to get Balor a win remains to be seen.

Fighting the Prizefighter

Kevin Owens may not have a best friend these days, but he does have a shiny championship over his shoulder.

It's for just that reason he may be the perfect opponent for Balor. The Demon may not get a chance at Lesnar and the WWE Universal Championship, so the next best title would be KO's United States strap. If they do collide, then it could become the hottest feud on Raw.

Balor and Owens had great chemistry in NXT, and that could translate to the main roster. Now Owens and Chris Jericho appear to be done with their rivalry, the U.S. champ has the chance to move on to his first challenger.

That challenger could be The Demon King.

It's perhaps the best fit for Balor, as it's a feud he can win. It's also a good fit for Owens, who needs a strong babyface to work with. KO is over with fans, who would surely love to see him turn babyface, but that's the last thing that should happen.

Owens is much better as a heel, which is how WWE should continue to book him.

Balor is the perfect babyface. He's kid-friendly but also extremely tough. He's a good guy, but he's cool as well. He's talented in the ring, and his flair for the theatrical puts him on the same page as The Undertaker.

The Demon needs a great heel to oppose him, and Owens is just the man.

Balor is on the way up. That much is certain. He's a top player with a lot of his career in front of him. He and Owens are part of WWE's future and will likely feud many times in the next couple of years. Maybe now is the best time for them to get started.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.