World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and Finn Balor met one-on-one for the primary time ever within the most important event of “WWE Raw” live from Belfast, Ireland on Monday, but it surely was Punk to retain his title and walk out of Balor’s home turf still the champion. Balor challenged the champion on last week’s episode of the red brand, and despite the Judgment Day leader not having an excessive amount of of a claim to a chance, Punk took the match.
The boys battled back-and-forth until Punk sent Balor into the commentary desk at ringside. They hit one another hard in the course of the ring with strong strikes until Balor dropped Punk with a Pele kick, the gang fully behind him. Punk countered the coup de gras by meeting Balor up top and hit him with a superplex, but Balor rolled through to attempt to get the pin on the champion.
Balor missed a second coup de gras and Punk hit the GTS. When that did not keep the challenger down, he locked within the Anaconda Vice, but Balor got his foot on the underside rope. Balor countered a second GTS and hit a sling blade before getting Punk down within the corner to attach with the coup de gras, but Punk kicked out.
Punk attempted a 3rd GTS, which was countered with a rollup. Punk powered through and got Balor up a final time, hitting the GTS for the victory. After the match, Punk raised Balor’s arm in respect in front of the Ireland crowd and the lads hugged it out within the ring.