Finn Balor just got shut out of the Royal Rumbleand he didnt take it well.
During the January 26, 2026 episode of WWE Monday Night RAW from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Balor approached Adam Pearce backstage and requested to be entered into the 30-man Royal Rumble match. But Pearce had some bad news for him: the match was already full.
Balor, visibly frustrated, told Pearce the Rumble isnt complete without him. Pearce pushed back, reminding Balor that he already received his title match the week before and confirmed that all 30 spots were officially locked in. The tension was immediate.
Pearce stayed firm, leaving Balor standing there to process the rejection. Balors final words made it clear this wont be the end of the conversation: This isnt over.
The scene came shortly after Balor had a brief face-to-face with CM Punk earlier in the night. In that moment, Balor had finally acknowledged his respect for Punk, thanking him for elevating their recent title matcheven calling it the greatest moment of his career. But Punk didnt hand out future title shots, telling Balor that if he wants another crack at the gold, hell have to win the Rumble a scenario that now seems off the table.
To make matters worse, Liv Morgan confronted Balor later and questioned his loyalty. She reminded him that while Punk dismissed him with a half-hearted gesture, it was The Judgment Day who actually believed he could win the title.
Balor, now caught between locker room politics and an identity crisis, walked off, saying he had some thinking to do.
With the Royal Rumble field finalized and Balor left out in the cold, WWE may have just lit the fuse for something much bigger. Whether he aligns closer with Punk or doubles down with Judgment Day, Finn Balor is clearly far from finished
