PHILADELPHIA — The King, as they say, has returned.
Just weeks after eyeing Finn Bálor’s Intercontinental Championship during a tense backstage confrontation, Shinsuke Nakamura dethroned the Irishman to begin his first reign with the prestigious title, bringing Bálor’s second stint to an abrupt, stunning end and returning The King of Strong Style to the champions’ club for the first time since he lost the United States Title in January.
Finn Bálor soars over the top rope to flatten Shinsuke Nakamura during their Intercontinental Title Match on the WWE Extreme Rules Kickoff.
Bálor, who lost a non-title tilt to The King of Strong Style this past Tuesday, certainly knew Nakamura had a spring in his step and came out swinging in an attempt to stifle the Japanese striker out of the gate. It might have worked, too, but it became very clear that Nakamura was not about to be denied. WWE’s Rockstar came into this match promising a return to form and delivered on that promise by tenderizing the champion with several brutal knees and elbows, even adding a new wrinkle or two in the form of a sliding, snap German suplex.
The mounting force of the challenger forced Bálor into win-now mode, and the Irishman ascended the top rope to attempt a Coup de Grâce the second he connected with his running dropkick, but Nakamura had more than enough left in the tank to dodge the maneuver. A pair of Kinshasas — one to the back of Bálor’s head and one straight to the face as he staggered to his feet — sealed the victorious effort, the return to form, and a new championship reign. Shinsuke Nakamura may have never left, per se, but it’s safe to say he’s back.
PHILADELPHIA — The King, as they say, has returned.
Just weeks after eyeing Finn Bálor’s Intercontinental Championship during a tense backstage confrontation, Shinsuke Nakamura dethroned the Irishman to begin his first reign with the prestigious title, bringing Bálor’s second stint to an abrupt, stunning end and returning The King of Strong Style to the champions’ club for the first time since he lost the United States Title in January.
Finn Bálor soars over the top rope to flatten Shinsuke Nakamura during their Intercontinental Title Match on the WWE Extreme Rules Kickoff.
Bálor, who lost a non-title tilt to The King of Strong Style this past Tuesday, certainly knew Nakamura had a spring in his step and came out swinging in an attempt to stifle the Japanese striker out of the gate. It might have worked, too, but it became very clear that Nakamura was not about to be denied. WWE’s Rockstar came into this match promising a return to form and delivered on that promise by tenderizing the champion with several brutal knees and elbows, even adding a new wrinkle or two in the form of a sliding, snap German suplex.
The mounting force of the challenger forced Bálor into win-now mode, and the Irishman ascended the top rope to attempt a Coup de Grâce the second he connected with his running dropkick, but Nakamura had more than enough left in the tank to dodge the maneuver. A pair of Kinshasas — one to the back of Bálor’s head and one straight to the face as he staggered to his feet — sealed the victorious effort, the return to form, and a new championship reign. Shinsuke Nakamura may have never left, per se, but it’s safe to say he’s back.
