Finn Bálor finally stands up to Damian Priest and his tyranny on Raw

The confrontation comes in the midst of the worst babyface turn in history.

After months of unchecked tyranny, Damian Priest faced a long-overdue reckoning from Finn Bálor on the July 1 episode of Raw.

Priest’s authoritarian attitude was again on display as he continued criticizing Dominik Mysterio for his connection with Liv Morgan. In a telling exchange, Mysterio quipped, “You’re starting to sound like my dad.” Then, inside Judgment Day’s clubhouse, Priest admonished the group for Morgan’s presence in their pad.

Fed up with Priest’s behavior, Bálor confronted him head-on.

“The real issue here is you,” Bálor charged. He reminded Priest that Morgan had been instrumental in Priest and JD McDonagh winning the World Tag Team Championship. Bálor also criticized Priest for risking his spot in Judgment Day against Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank, and he expressed displeasure over Priest’s recent comment that Judgment Day needed him more than he needed them.

Bálor concluded with a candid assessment, telling Priest, “As your brother, I’ll always tell you the truth. And truth is, since you won that championship, you’ve changed.”

While Bálor’s critique was accurate, Priest’s transformation began after winning last year’s Money in the Bank contract. Since then, WWE has hinted at tensions within the gothic faction for months, as Priest clashed with Rhea Ripley over leadership decisions that favored everyone. But with Ripley sidelined due to injury and Priest becoming Raw’s top titleholder, his reign has been stained by his hubris.

To his credit, Priest has repeatedly asserted his desire to be a fighting champion who succeeds on his own merits, aligning with a babyface persona. However, his conduct has painted him as an insufferable douche. His superiority complex and habit of dictating terms to his friends have cast him in a negative light. In contrast, other members of Judgment Day appear more sympathetic, creating an unusual and unappealing setup for a face turn.

And as Money in the Bank nears, the prospect of Bálor costing Priest his title grows, culminating in a potential blowup next week on Raw. Should that happen, Priest’s wavering loyalty to his allies could lead to the ultimate reckoning, reminiscent of The Bloodline beating the Uce out of Sami Zayn in 2023.