Published: Feb 26, 2026 by Connel Rumsey | Last Updated: Feb 26, 2026 by Connel Rumsey
Connel has over five years of wrestling journalism experience writing about some of the biggest stories from across the wrestling world. Being a fan for 20 years, Connel has an expansive knowledge from a wide range of various wrestling promotions, including WWE, AEW, NJPW, TNA and Joshi.@connel1405
WWE
Finn Balor has addressed fans who say he ‘doesn’t belong’ in a WWE WrestleMania 42 main event with CM Punk and Roman Reigns.
The main event of WWE WrestleMania 42 is in jeopardy this Saturday at the Elimination Chamber event in Chicago, with World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk set to defend the title against Finn Balor.
The match will take place even after Roman Reigns had already chosen to face Punk at WrestleMania after winning the 2026 Royal Rumble match.
Speaking to Adrian Hernandez, Balor was asked about fans who say he ‘doesn’t belong’ in the match with Punk and Roman should he win the title this Saturday.
He said:
“You know, doubters online that are sitting on a computer, tweeting and talking, doesn’t really enter my mindspace at all.
“People who I listen to are my bosses and my colleagues. To have the respect of your peers is something that is way more valuable than the support of a small group of doubters.
“If after 25 years I’m doing everything in the business, from learning catch wrestling for six years, to going to Japan and studying in the dojos for 8 years, to coming to WWE and being a success, not a ‘what if’, not a failure. ‘He got injured and relinquished the title’, no I showed up in WWE, beat Roman on my first night and beat Seth on my first PPV three weeks later to become the first Universal Champion.
“Being from a small town in Ireland with no wrestling schools, no wrestling promotions, barely wrestling on the TV, for me that’s a success story. So if I don’t belong on the WrestleMania poster, I don’t know who does.”
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