‘If Anyone Deserves Justice It’s Finn’ – Finn Balor Addresses WWE SummerSlam No. 1 Contender’s Match, 10 Years After Relinquishing Universal Title

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Finn Balor has addressed his Undisputed WWE Championship Number One Contender’s Match with Sami Zayn at SummerSlam 2026.

This Sunday, at Night Two of WWE SummerSlam, Sami Zayn will be looking to claim, what he feels is his rightful spot as the next number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship, less than a month on from losing the gold to CM Punk on the July 6 episode of Raw.

While Zayn has been decrying the injustice that saw him lose his title to Punk after only nine days, at SummerSlam, he will take on another man who can rightfully feel aggrieved for some world championship misfortune a decade ago.

10 years on from winning, and then relinquishing the WWE Universal Championship due to injury, Finn Balor competes against Zayn at SummerSlam Sunday for the opportunity to be next in line to challenge the winner of CM Punk and Cody Rhodes Undisputed WWE Championship Match the night prior.

Speaking with Marco Ercole, Balor was asked what this opportunity means to him at this stage of his career, with Finn bringing up his one and only prior world title reign back in 2016.

Balor said:

“At this stage of my career, this opportunity means absolutely everything.

“SummerSlam, it’s the biggest weekend of the Summer. Huge event. I don’t feel it needs anymore hype from me with regards to the size of the event, but with regards to the size of this match, in terms of what it means to me, it means everything.

“10 years ago at SummerSlam 2016, I think everyone knows the story. I won the Universal Championship, 22 hours later, I had to relinquish the championship due to injury.

“So, recently Sami Zayn has been talking about ‘Justice for Sami,’ having held the title for nine days and then lost it. He lost the title. Whereas I had to relinquish the title after 22 hours, so, if anyone deserves justice it’s Finn. But I’m not asking for justice, I’m gonna take justice, because I know exactly the momentum, the magnitude of this event.

“I know for the last 10 years I’ve been climbing, scratching, clawing to get all the way back to the top, and I’m right here and I’m so close to getting back that world championship. So, I’m very, very excited about the weekend and I’m looking forward to when the bell rings.”

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Finn Balor Addresses CM Punk & Cody Rhodes: “I Fancy My Chances Against Either One”

With Finn Balor vs. Sami Zayn taking place on SummerSlam Sunday, both men will know for sure who they will be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship should they win their number one contender’s match.

While he’s yet to defeat either Cody Rhodes or CM Punk in his career, Balor is full of confidence that he’s going to be able to step up to the challenge of winning the Undisputed WWE Title, regardless which man walks out of Minneapolis as champion.

Balor said:

“Both have their plus sides, both have their negative sides. But whoever I face once they have the title around their waist, that’s who I wanna face.

“Be it Cody or Punk who I’ve both stepped in the ring with many times, I fancy my chances against either one.”

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In news related to Punk vs. Rhodes, the two got caught up in an altercation with one another during a live event in Springfield, IL, click here for full details.

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• wwe
• SummerSlam
• Sami Zayn
• Finn Balor

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