Scrapped WWE Judgment Day Finn Balor Plans Revealed

WWE

Adam Copeland (Edge) has opened up about the scrapped Judgment Day plans that would have seen a slower burn to Finn Balor’s involvement.

At WrestleMania 38 in April 2022, Edge defeated AJ Styles with help from Damian Priest, revealing that they were Judgment Day later that month.

WrestleMania Backlash in May 2022 would see Rhea Ripley added to the group with Finn Balor joining on the WWE Raw after Hell in a Cell in June of that year.

Unfortunately for Edge, that would be his last night with the faction as they would turn on him and banish him from the group.

It wasn’t, however, meant to be this way, with Balor’s betrayal of Edge originally planned to take much longer.

Speaking on Talk is Jericho, Copeland revealed the original thinking, saying:

“It was odd, you know? Because that’s all I knew. And even just in terms of me coming in and out, I missed a lot of things.

“So I’d come back and go, Oh, this is happening now. Got it. And I’m just trying to wrap my mind around that.

“Because when we were doing Judgment Day, the plan was Balor joins and about a year later, they all turn on me.

“Well, then, we get to Hell in the Cell. And I was like, No, we’re changing everything. And we’re speeding up that year long process. And he’s joining tomorrow and turning tomorrow, it wasn’t long, and it was just starting to find some legs.

“But it was gonna be swimming upstream with me. And it really was. And I started to have that realisation. It’s like, I don’t think they’re gonna get where they need to get to with me in this thing.”

“Again, people know the real story. Right? And that was an instance where I did try and flip everything.

“Change it all overnight. cut my hair off. Change the music. Yeah. Start coming out in suits Like, like, I got 30 custom suits.”

Judgment Day has gone on to become one of the top attractions in WWE with Dominik Mysterio being added to the group after Clash at the Castle in September 2022.

Collectively the group have held the NXT North American Championship, Raw & SmackDown Tag Team Championships and the Women’s World Championship.

Copeland made his AEW debut at WrestleDream on October 1 with it later being revealed he has a full-time contract and will be wrestling regularly.

Transcript from Inside The Ropes

Want to know more about what goes on outside the ring? WrestleTalk proudly presents Wrestling Unmasked, a new book that explores the untold stories, the politics, and the endless drama that unfolds behind the scenes. It’s time to experience wrestling like never before! Buy your copy here!

• Adam Copeland
• Judgment Day
• Finn Balor
• Edge
• wwe

Share this article with friends