The return of Finn Bálor to Raw means the reemergence of The Demon King can’t be too far behind. The mysterious and ever-evolving alter ego of the enigmatic Superstar hints at the complex and dangerous nature that’s hiding behind the European soccer star aesthetics of WWE’s first ever Universal Champion. Balor’s ability to go from Cristiano Ronaldo in tights to the antichrist incarnate is the kind of unexpected about-face that makes you stop and think: What else is this guy hiding? With that in mind, we imagined what other personas, both virtuous and wicked, could be lurking underneath Balor’s skin. Get ready, because the demons have been unleashed.
DIGITAL IMAGING BY ERIC HEINTZ
When Finn isn’t grappling as himself or The Demon King, he possesses a devilishly debonair style all his own. Hence this slick, slightly satanic alter ego that combines a sharp suit with Mephistophelean horns straight out of a Rolling Stones song. We can’t speak to the in-ring acumen of The Devil’s Advocate, but he looks like the kind of man who could manage to sell hot water in hell, only to welch on the deal for the fun of it.
WWE fans typically witness Finn Bálor at his most righteous, and this angelic avenger could represent the pure — but brutal — side of that spirit. If The Demon King has an archrival, it would be this guardian of heaven’s gate, a warrior of virtue who carries a hallowed blade capable of capturing your tormented soul — if he doesn’t save it first.
Both Finn Bálor and his Demon King persona have deep ties to Celtic mythology. Finn MacCool is a towering figure in Irish folklore who was said to have built the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland as a path to Scotland. And Balor is, quite literally, a demon king whose massive, destructive eye has been depicted on Finn’s body paint. If Bálor delves deeper into his dark side, he may come across a raven — a key figure of death in Irish myth. Should Finn unleash this black parade, your time is most certainly up.
If there is a vindictive part to Bálor’s psyche, it may reveal itself in the form of this European crime lord. Although The Underboss commands an untold legion of loyal thugs and assassins, he still prefers to do some of the dirty work himself. Of course, his prized Doberman Pinscher is always there to help finish the job. If you find yourself duct taped to a chair in a foundry in Bucharest, chances are you've crossed The Underboss, and your fate is all but sealed.
The Internet Generation gave rise to the Finn Bálor phenomenon long before his first appearance in WWE NXT, and it’s what fuels this twisted entity who has become more meme than man. When the computers finally take over and mankind finds itself speaking in the ones and zeros of binary code, it’ll be The Cyber Demon who gives himself over to the dark web and ends human existence forever. CTRL ALT DELETE.