WWE had plans for a major match involving Finn Bálor and GUNTHER at the 2026 Crown Jewel premium live event (PLE) this past Saturday, which took place at ANB Arena. They even went as far as to build anticipation for the potential match and put up promotional materials outside the original venue, the Riyadh Season Stadium at KAFD (King Abdullah Financial District) in Riyadh.

According to WRKD Wrestling, some insiders within WWE felt that the highly anticipated match between “The Demon” Finn Bálor and GUNTHER would benefit from additional television promotion rather than taking place at Crown Jewel. The report also noted that there was a belief that the four matches already scheduled for the event were sufficient.

The potential match had been teased in the weeks leading up to Crown Jewel, as Bálor and GUNTHER continued their heated rivalry on WWE SmackDown. During the October 30 episode, Bálor once again embraced his Demon persona and launched a vicious attack on GUNTHER, delivering a Coup de Grâce from a ladder that sent The Ring General crashing through the announcers' desk.

Although Bálor vs. GUNTHER was originally included in earlier internal plans, WWE never officially announced the match for Crown Jewel, meaning its absence was not a change to the publicly advertised card. WWE’s reported decision to delay their showdown allows more time to develop the rivalry on television, especially following Bálor’s return to his Demon persona. Currently, there is no information on when the match might take place, but the ongoing storyline suggests that the two stars are still on a collision course.

Despite promotional materials being produced, “The Demon” Finn Balor vs. Gunther did not take place at Crown Jewel, as people within the company felt the match would be better suited with a further build and felt the four match card was enough for the event. pic.twitter.com/wUQPJJMgwe

— WRKD Wrestling (@WRKDWrestling) November 8, 2026