World Heavyweight Championship bout made official after heated standoff
Summary
– CM Punk confronted Finn Bálor during the February 9 episode of RAW
– Punk demanded a match and threatened to derail the show if denied
– Adam Pearce confirmed Punk vs Finn Bálor for the World Heavyweight Championship at Elimination Chamber
The February 9 episode of WWE RAW featured a volatile confrontation that ended with CM Punk securing a major match for Elimination Chamber.
Punk called out Finn Bálor directly from the ring, dismissing the idea that Bálor deserved a title opportunity and instead challenging him to step up and fight. Punk made it clear the issue was personal, referencing their previous encounter and daring Bálor to face him in Cleveland or anywhere else.
Finn responded by stating he would not fight Punk without championship stakes attached. He demanded the World Heavyweight Championship be put on the line, pushing Punk to decide in front of the Cleveland crowd.
The exchange escalated quickly, with Punk insisting he was the champion and deserved control over his own path to WrestleMania. He threatened to spend the rest of the night hunting Bálor down if his demands were ignored, forcing the situation into Adam Pearce’s hands.
Pearce initially refused, citing the risk to WrestleMania plans. The crowd reacted loudly, urging the match to be made as tensions reached a boiling point inside the arena.
After continued pressure from Punk and the audience, Pearce relented and made the match official. CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Bálor at Elimination Chamber in Chicago.
The decision immediately reshaped the road to WrestleMania. What began as a war of words ended with one of the most anticipated matches of the event, now locked in.
