Finn Bálor reflects on his Universal Championship win at SummerSlam 2016 and subsequent injury

10 years ago today, Finn Bálor made WWE history at SummerSlam 2016 by defeating Seth Rollins to become the first-ever Universal Champion. What should have been the beginning of a historic championship reign instead became one of the most bittersweet moments of Bálor’s career. During the match, Bálor suffered a serious shoulder injury, yet somehow managed to fight through the pain and finish the match, leaving SummerSlam as the inaugural Universal Champion. Unfortunately, the injury was severe enough that Bálor was forced to relinquish the championship just one day later, bringing his reign to an abrupt end before it had even truly begun. A decade later, Bálor opened up about that unforgettable night during his appearance on Chris Van Vliet’s podcast, reflecting on the injury, the match with Rollins, and the devastating aftermath. What could have been the start of one of WWE’s greatest championship runs became a defining “what if?” moment in Bálor’s career. 10 years later, the moment still feels like one of the biggest missed opportunities in WWE history.