WWE has reportedly revealed why it decided not to book Finn Balor vs. Gunther at Crown Jewel 2026, despite weeks of television build-up suggesting the two stars were heading toward a major showdown.
Finn Balor and Gunther had been involved in an increasingly heated rivalry in the weeks leading up to the November 7 premium live event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The storyline saw Gunther repeatedly dominate Balor and Danhausen, establishing himself as the aggressor throughout their encounters.
However, Balor eventually responded by bringing back his Demon persona, confronting The Ring General and seemingly setting the stage for a Crown Jewel match. Despite the confrontation and the momentum surrounding their rivalry, WWE ultimately decided against adding the encounter to the event.
The decision raised questions about why the company had spent several weeks building towards a potential match without including it on the premium live event card. A new report has now provided some insight into WWE’s reported reasoning behind the decision.
WWE Reportedly Wants More Time To Develop Finn Balor And Gunther Rivalry
According to WRKD Wrestling, WWE officials believed that the storyline between Finn Balor and Gunther would benefit from additional development before the two finally faced each other. Rather than rushing the match onto the Crown Jewel card, the company reportedly felt that letting the rivalry continue would make their eventual encounter more meaningful.
The decision suggests that WWE may be looking to build further anticipation for the match, particularly following Balor’s decision to revive his Demon persona. Another factor reportedly influencing the decision was the structure of Crown Jewel itself.
WWE had settled on a four-match lineup for the event, and officials were reportedly satisfied with the card as it stood. As a result, there was little interest in making further changes or adding matches to accommodate Balor and Gunther.
Crown Jewel ultimately featured Roman Reigns vs. Sami Zayn for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship, Chelsea Green vs. Liv Morgan for the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship, Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes in a Last Man Standing Match, and The Vision defending the WWE World Tag Team Championship against Je’Von Evans and Penta.
Although Balor and Gunther were absent from the lineup, their rivalry remains unresolved. WWE has yet to announce when the two will meet in the ring, and there is currently no confirmation of which event could host their eventual showdown.
