Finn Balor's injury at SummerSlam 2016 altered WWE championship history
Wrestling Inc • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 31, 2026, 8:52 PM
Last updated Jul 31, 2026
Finn Balor became the first-ever Universal Champion at SummerSlam 2016 after defeating Seth Rollins. However, he suffered a severe shoulder injury during the match, leading him to vacate the title the next night on Raw. This injury not only impacted Balor's career trajectory but also changed the course of the Universal Championship lineage. Without the injury, Balor likely would have enjoyed a longer title reign, potentially affecting subsequent champions and matches, such as those involving Kevin Owens and Brock Lesnar.
- •Balor defeated Rollins to become Universal Champion at SummerSlam 2016.
- •He injured his shoulder during the match, leading to a title vacate.
- •Kevin Owens won the vacated title the following week on Raw.
- •Balor's title reign could have altered his subsequent WWE status.
- •Balor's injury led to a return to NXT in 2019 after losing momentum.
- 8:52 PMWrestling Inc — What Could Have Been: What If Finn Balor Hadn't Gotten Injured At WWE SummerSlam 2016?
"Ten years after it happened, Wrestling Inc. asks the question: What if Finn Balor hadn't suffered an injury at WWE SummerSlam 2016?
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