Finn Balor Turns on Damian Priest to Help GUNTHER Win WWE World Heavyweight Title at SummerSlam

SummerSlam 2024 presented a packed card in Cleveland Browns Stadium, even though many tickets remained unsold on the day of the show. Many fans wondered if GUNTHER would finally win the big one, but he had to get through Damian Priest.

GUNTHER won the 2024 King of the Ring tournament, which included a World Heavyweight Championship match at SummerSlam. Damian Priest, along with the Judgment Day, was more than ready for the challenge.

Despite the Judgment Day being distracted recently by Liv Morgan’s interruption, which included Rhea Ripley’s return, Priest remained champion with his focus on GUNTHER. The Ring General called Priest and his crew “street trash” during the build for this match to emphasize his heel role, while Priest and Judgment Day moved closer to full babyface status. Dominik Mysterio turning on Rhea Ripley only strengthened their babyface turn even more at SummerSlam. This also distracted Priest before the match.

This match started off with Priest delivering a punch to GUNTHER. They ended up outside the ring for a bit, but the two soon returned inside before a count out happened. They moved to the top rope, where GUNTHER blocked a suplex and latched on an arm lock to get Priest off the turnbuckle. Then Damian hit a kick, a hurricanrana, and a broken arrow for a two count.

They started trading chops, and Priest turned it into kicks, which dropped the Ring General. GUNTHER’s chest was cut open, and he started bleeding as he continued the match. Priest delivered a few more kicks and shots before he measured GUNTHER for a running lariat, but GUNTHER ducked and gained an advantage on Priest.

GUNTHER went for a powerbomb, but Priest avoided it and hit a spinning kick and a South of Heaven for a near fall. They continued, and Priest avoided a sleeper. Priest went for another spinning kick, but GUNTHER caught him and delivered a few brutal moves and another near fall.

Priest tried to get to his feet, but GUNTHER kicked him in the face, and then Damian invited more punishment, so the Ring General hit him with another chop, followed by a second chop when Priest asked for more. Finn Balor went to ringside to rally Priest, but it did not help much.

GUNTHER continued delivering shots on Damian Priest as the Cleveland crowd looked on. It was hard to watch as Priest kept taking punishment. Then GUNTHER rubbed the blood off his chest and smeared it on his head. Michael Cole called him a “sicko” after that.

Finn Balor distracted GUNTHER enough for Priest to get back to his feet and start to rally. He hit a Razor’s Edge and a South of Heaven, but Finn Balor draped GUNTHER’s foot over the rope to stop the count. This was a huge betrayal, as Priest saw the replay along with everyone else in Cleveland Browns Stadium. Balor turned on Priest, and GUNTHER grabbed Priest with a sleeper, and there was no getting out of it.

This was a huge shock as Finn Balor turned on Damian Priest. In the end, the referee almost called for the bell. Priest fought out and lunged for Finn Balor, but that was not the right move. GUNTHER took control again and latched on another sleeper to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

What is your take on how the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match turned out at SummerSlam? Do you think it should have gone a different way? Let us know what you think in the comments section!