Major WWE Roster Change Confirmed As Former World Champion Removed From Raw

Shawn Conners

Major WWE Roster Change Confirmed As Former World Champion Removed From Raw

A former WWE world champion has been removed from the Raw roster ahead of their King of the Ring match.

WWE confirmed during Monday’s Raw episode in Turin, Italy, that former Universal Champion Finn Balor has been traded from Raw to SmackDown, making him the latest major addition to the blue brand’s roster. The announcement came during a commercial break segment in which Byron Saxton interviewed Judgment Day members Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonough. WWE stated that Balor had been moved to SmackDown, although no details were provided regarding whether Raw would receive a superstar in return.

Speculation about Balor’s status began over the weekend when the 2026 King of the Ring brackets were revealed, listing him as a SmackDown competitor despite his continued association with Raw.

The move marks a significant change for the former World Champion, who recently split from Judgment Day after years with the faction. Joining SmackDown gives Balor a fresh start and places him on the same brand as Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

What’s Next For Finn Balor Following His Move To WWE SmackDown?

Finn Balor’s immediate focus remains the King of the Ring tournament. In the opening round, he will compete in a Fatal Four-Way match against Jey Uso, LA Knight and Royce Keys. The winner will advance to face either Seth Rollins, Je’Von Evans, Talla Tonga or Ricky Saints in the semifinals.

The King of the Ring tournament is set to conclude at Night of Champions on June 27, with the winner earning a World Championship match at SummerSlam.

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