Finn Balor's Belfast Homecoming: Emotional Speech and Belated Birthday Moment

At WWE RAW in Belfast, Finn Balor fell short in the main event against CM Punk, but post-show footage released by WWE captured his emotional in-ring address to the Irish crowd. Balor credited Punk, called the night the most memorable of his 25-year career, and shared that he’d just celebrated his mother Leonie’s birthday, leading the crowd to sing a belated “Happy Birthday.” The moment—set against a crowd that had been singing along to The Cranberries’ “Zombie”—was hailed as a standout highlight of the year and showcased Balor’s home- soil connection to Belfast before he exited to a standing ovation.