WWE Superstar Finn Balor is one of WWE’s most celebrated veterans. The 44-year-old made his way to the company from the indies and didn’t lose his momentum in the Stamford-based promotion. However, his off-script gesture with AJ Styles back in October 2017 instantly crushed his forward movement because of an immediate decision made by the then-WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon.
Notably, Finn Balor and AJ Styles had clashed against each other at the 2017 TLC pay-per-view. Fighting as The Demon King, the Irishman registered a big win against The Phenomenal One. Following his win, however, AJ and Balor decided to go off-script and give a nod to the legendary Bullet Club.
Finn Balor and AJ Styles did the ‘Too Sweet’ gesture together following their bout, giving the WWE Universe a rare moment of Bullet Club companionship. The pro wrestling faction was started by Balor (Prince Dewitt) in the NJPW, and Styles was the third-generation leader of the crew.
Finn Balor vs. AJ Styles TLC 2017
Too sweet 🤘 pic.twitter.com/muvMDnYHaN
While the first-generation leader and the third-generation leader got their reunion, Vince McMahon wasn’t happy with this off-script moment shared by the stars. Without wasting any time, the ex-WWE chairman punished the former Demon King on the RAW episode following TLC.
Balor was booked in a match against Kane. Despite having loads of momentum behind him after his victory over AJ, the Irishman was crushed in a squash match within minutes by The Big Red Machine. Throughout his years as the head honcho of WWE, Mr. McMahon had shown that he had little tolerance for stars going off-script, unless it was done for damage control.
On top of it, giving a nod to a faction that originated outside the WWE and is dominant to this day was simply unacceptable for the former chairman of the company.
Finn Balor on Why He and AJ Styles Did the ‘Too Sweet’ Gesture
Shortly after the 2017 TLC and his punishment on Monday Night RAW right after, Finn Balor spoke about his ‘Too Sweet’ moment with AJ Styles. The 44-year-old revealed that the duo had not planned on doing the gesture following their match. However, The Phenomenal One suggested that they should do it.
The Prince asked AJ if he was sure about it, and when he received the confirmation, the inaugural Universal Champion went for the gesture. Balor even noted that they spontaneously decided to give a nod to The Bullet Club since they had put up a great match that night.
Myself and AJ shared a ‘Too Sweet’ after the match and that wasn’t something we planned. As AJ was shaking my hand, he said you want to do it, brother? I said, are you sure? he said yes, so, yeah, let’s do it…you know, myself and AJ delivered that day. [H/T Sportskeeda]
Hence, it is clear that the off-script moment was proposed by AJ Styles, who made it out of the situation unscathed and didn’t face the wrath of Vince McMahon. Finn Balor, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky and was shattered by Kane shortly after his triumph at the 2017 TLC.
When Finn Balor went off-script to do the ‘Too Sweet’ with AJ Styles
Then Vince McMahon punished him by having him get squashed by Kane the following week.
(2017) pic.twitter.com/bPsSHAjxOb
Interestingly, the two former Bullet Club leaders are seemingly back in action against each other on Monday Night RAW once again.
Finn Balor and AJ Styles Fight Each Other in a Six-Man Tag Team Match
This week on WWE RAW, Finn Balor teamed up with JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio to take on AJ Styles, Dragon Lee, and Penta in a six-man tag team match. A backstage segment prior to the match saw The Prince asking AJ if he was after the World Tag Team Championship held by him and McDonagh.
Jumping in, Dominic Mysterio insulted The Phenomenal One by saying that the veteran couldn’t beat him while competing for the Intercontinental Championship, and now he was a double champ.
Adding an ‘advice from an old friend,’ Balor told Styles that he was making a big mistake. In response, the former two-time WWE Champion said that he would find a third man to take on The Judgment Day alongside Dragon Lee.
Another backstage segment showcased Styles and Lee recruiting Penta to take on the trio of Mysterio, Balor, and McDonagh. The final moments of the match saw the reigning WWE IC Champion and the AAA Mega Champion cower in fear when Rusev walked to the ring.
While he escaped The Bulgarian Brute’s wrath, he couldn’t help JD, who got caught in a Styles Clash and pinned soon after. AJ then announced that he is ready for his match against John Cena at Crown Jewel on October 11, 2025.
With AJ getting the pin on McDonagh, Finn Balor and his fellow World Tag Team Champion may soon have to defend their titles against Dragon Lee and The Phenomenal One. Thus, the two former Bullet Club leaders will soon get locked in another feud.
Did you watch the 2017 TLC match between AJ Styles and Finn Balor? Do you think Vince McMahon was fair in punishing The Prince for doing the ‘Too Sweet’ gesture with Styles? Pour your thoughts down in the comments section.
