“The Joke Is on Cm Punk”: Finn Bálor Fires Back With a Photoshop Job Before Chicago Title Fight
Sometimes, the best trash talk doesn’t require a microphone. With just days remaining until he steps into the ring in hostile territory, Finn Balor has found a way to get under the skin of the World Heavyweight Champion without saying a single word.
As the clock ticks down to the Elimination Chamber event in Chicago on February 28, the buildup to Balor’s title shot against CM Punk has taken an unexpectedly cheeky turn. Following a loss to “The Best in the World” earlier this year on RAW in Belfast, Balor could have chosen to go the serious route. Instead, he picked up a virtual pen and paper—or rather, a photo editing app.
The former Universal Champion posted a simply edited image of himself proudly holding the World Heavyweight Championship. There were no long captions, no angry rants. Just a picture, but the implication was crystal clear: Balor sees that title around his waist, and he isn’t intimidated by the Chicago crowd or the champion standing in his way.
It was a lighthearted jab, but one that landed with a thud. It shows a side of Balor we don’t always get to see—a confidence that allows him to have fun while knowing the stakes couldn’t be higher. Fans online ate it up, proving that in today’s WWE, a little humor mixed with hostility goes a long way.
More Than Just a Joke: Why This Rivalry Has Real Teeth
While the Photoshop was playful, the history between these two is anything but. The tension didn’t end with Punk’s victory in January. Shortly after that bell rang, Balor made sure the rivalry stayed alive by launching a vicious attack on the champion, effectively forcing WWE’s hand to make this clash official for the Elimination Chamber.
This isn’t just a random grudge match; it’s a collision of two distinct eras with a ton of history. For Punk, he’s walking into his hometown carrying the gold, but he’s also glancing over his shoulder at the Road to WrestleMania. With the looming presence of Roman Reigns already casting a shadow over the spring calendar, Punk knows that a slip-up in Chicago could derail everything.
For Balor, this is a personal gold rush. It’s been years since he held a major singles title on the main roster. Fans remember the night he became the first-ever Universal Champion—even if that moment was cut short by injury. Stepping back into that spotlight against a megastar like Punk isn’t just a fight; it’s a legacy definer.
Come February 28, the jokes will be put aside and the fists will start flying. But for now, Balor has made sure the champion knows he’s living rent-free in his head.
