Finn Balor captures first WWE Universal championship
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NXT has provided WWE with an immediate future. That turned into the present on Sunday at SummerSlam when Finn Balor defeated Seth Rollins at Barclays Center in Brooklyn to capture the first WWE Universal championship.
ONE-TWO-THREEEEEE! @FinnBalor hits @WWERollins with #CoupDeGrace to win the @WWE #UniversalTitle! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/Z0SZRrSk8U
— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 22, 2016
HISTORY IS MADE as #DemonKing @FinnBalor celebrates the @WWE #UniversalTitle! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/KlcCNbZkPi
— WWE SummerSlam (@SummerSlam) August 22, 2016
#RAW's @StephMcMahon and @RealMickFoley have their #UniversalChampion! #SummerSlam @FinnBalor pic.twitter.com/PQ798Kn2zA
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2016
The victory, which is the top title on the RAW brand, concluded a stellar weekend for the NXT talent troupe. On Saturday at Barclays Center, Shinsuke Nakamura thrilled the crowd by capturing the NXT championship.
While Nakamura isn't on the main roster as of yet, Balor is and has made an enormous impression in a short time. Consider Balor has been on the RAW roster for around a month. The WWE put out a list last year chronicling the fastest rise to top championship in company history.
Balor shattered all those marks by toppling Rollins in a match that definitely felt like the showstopper on the SummerSlam card.
Say hello to the FIRST @WWE #UniversalChampion...#DemonKing @FinnBalor! #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/gdU5TM8FsD
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) August 22, 2016
Rollins, meanwhile, seems to be having trouble digesting the result.
Is this match over yet? NOT EVEN CLOSE! #SummerSlam #UniversalTitle @WWERollins @FinnBalor pic.twitter.com/NY5ZeVsw6Z
— WWE (@WWE) August 22, 2016