Belfast crowd celebrates Balor following championship main event
Summary
– Finn Balor addressed the crowd after January 19 WWE RAW ended
– Belfast fans sang and celebrated with Balor inside the ring
– Balor called the moment the most memorable of his career
Finn Balor’s return to Belfast on the January 19 episode of WWE RAW delivered a moment that extended far beyond the televised broadcast. Although he was unsuccessful in his WWE World Heavyweight Championship match against CM Punk, the night became deeply personal once the cameras stopped rolling.
After RAW went off the air at The SSE Arena, Balor remained in the ring to address the crowd. Fans were already emotional following their vocal support throughout the main event, including singing during the match, and the atmosphere intensified as Balor began to speak.
Balor first took time to acknowledge his opponent, asking the crowd to show appreciation for CM Punk. The arena roared as Balor paused several times, visibly absorbing the fans’ reaction.
He then reflected on the significance of the moment, stating that despite everything he has accomplished during his 25-year career, the Belfast show stood above the rest. The statement drew an immediate and thunderous response from the crowd.
Balor shifted the focus to something even more personal by sharing that the week had special meaning beyond wrestling. He explained that he had recently celebrated his mother’s birthday in person for the first time in nearly 15 years.
The moment turned heartfelt as Balor invited the crowd to sing a belated happy birthday to his mother, Leonie. Thousands of fans joined in, creating one of the most emotional post-show scenes of the year.
Before leaving the ring, Balor expressed gratitude for performing in front of his family and his home crowd. He closed by thanking the fans in Irish and reminding everyone that there truly is no place like home.
