Tensions within the once-unified faction of Finn Balor and Damian Priest have escalated dramatically since July, as their differences have manifested in weekly clashes and discord. This internal strife has led to embarrassing losses for the faction, prompting Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley to reach her breaking point.
In a recent episode of Raw, Ripley candidly addressed her faction comrades, Finn Balor and Damian Priest, accusing them of burdening her with the responsibility of managing the faction while juggling her preparation for the impending battle against Raquel Rodriguez. She asserted that this dynamic has inadvertently weakened her image in the eyes of her forthcoming opponent at Payback.
The backstage segment witnessed Balor and Priest embroiled in a heated argument concerning JD McDonagh, who has been stirring the pot within The Judgment Day faction. Balor aligned himself with McDonagh, while Priest opposed his involvement. Ripley’s exasperation with their seemingly petty disputes came to a head as she admonished them for their infighting, imploring them to unite against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens at Payback.
In a fiery moment, Ripley conveyed,
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She said, “Every single week we go on about Judgment Day being the most dominant faction here in the WWE. But then, every single week without fail, we fall apart because you two cannot get along. The only people handling Judgment Day business right now are myself and Dirty Dom.”
However, Ripley’s frustration reached its pinnacle as she articulated the damage their internal strife was causing her reputation. “But I can’t carry this burden any longer.
“Apart from that…no. But I can’t keep doing it. Because now people have started to target me. They are thinking I’m weak. I’m distracted. People like Raquel Rodriguez,” she added. ‘Mami’ is fed up with Balor and Priest fighting with each other and is not going to sit back and watch them tear each other and the faction down.
The Women’s World Champion went on to issue a stern warning to her faction counterparts, outlining the repercussions of a potential loss to Zayn and Owens at the forthcoming premium event. She delivered a formidable ultimatum: they must secure victory or face consequences, emphasizing the need for unity and success within the faction.
Balor and Priest’s internal discord has not only compromised their own standing but has also disrupted the faction’s harmony, causing collateral damage to their fellow members. An illustrative example is the July 3rd edition of Raw, where Dominik Mysterio faced Seth Rollins. Priest’s interference halted the bout midway, interrupting his attempt to capitalize on his Money in the Bank contract against Rollins. Balor’s intervention further fueled the confrontation, leaving Mysterio caught in the crossfire.
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These mounting issues prompted Ripley’s pivotal ultimatum on Raw, signaling her unwavering commitment to preserving the integrity of the faction. Should her two compatriots fail to heed her directive, she implied she would take alternative measures to address the situation.
