What a long nine days it has been for Finn Bálor. The former NXT Champion appeared on his first WWE pay-per-view, became the first WWE Universal Champion, suffered an injury while winning that title, surrendered the belt the next night and underwent successful surgery to repair his shoulder. And that surgery was an ordeal in itself, as it ended up being more complicated than his doctors first anticipated.
On Sunday, Bálor took to Twitter to relay the entire story of what is almost certainly the most life-changing and surreal week of his life.
What a rollercoaster week.
I woke up the morning of Summerslam with nothing but positivity & feeling physically better than ever— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
The moment I got injured I knew it was serious, it was an instinctive reaction to pull on my wrist, I entered survival mode.
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
When the bell rang, I had won, I was the Champion, but I was reluctant to celebrate as I already knew in my heart what awaited at Raw
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
Disappointed yes, but I was CHAMPION and I was not missing an opportunity to fulfill my duty and appear on @GMA Monday morning.
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
After hours of scans & despite some hope, the worst was confirmed at 5pm Monday.
I would need surgery ASAP & relinquish the title on Raw— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
The most difficult part of relinquishing the title was when I came back through the curtain and I was over come by a feeling of inadequacy
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
Despite every emotion I had felt the previous 24 hours…
I was still the CHAMPION. That gave me strength.
Now I was not….— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
Tuesday at 3am I traveled to Birmingham Alabama.
Dr.Dugas prepped me for surgery as a photo of Seth Rollins watched over us.— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
What was supposed to be a 1hr surgery turned into 4hr, as once I was opened up ,the Dr found a lot more to the injury the the scans showed
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
180* labrum tear
Thorn bicep and pectoral tendon
Cartilage damage
& Fracture to the glenoid neck socket
(I have it in a jar on my dresser)— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
Wednesday morning at 5am I awake after the surgery groggy and sore. The gravity of the situation began to set in.
Rehab will start at 9am.— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
Thursday 5am fly back to Orlando, check-in with Performance Center medical staff & we begin planning The Comeback pic.twitter.com/luZNst9Xhe
— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 28, 2016
The great news, of course, is that the surgery was a success, that he’s already heading back to the Performance Center to start the long road back, and that the reaction to his eventual return is going to be completely off the charts. The terrible news is … well, basically everything else.
NXT fans are just now getting used to the fact that Hideo Itami is back after being on the shelf for a whole year with a shoulder injury of his own. The Itami story is a perfect example of just how much things in WWE can change while someone is on the disabled list. Bálor will likely have a top spot waiting for him on Raw when he gets back. We just hope the time will fly while he’s gone.
