WrestleMania 35 preview: WWE Intercontinental Championship match

FanSided previews WWE WrestleMania 35’s Intercontinental Championship match between fan-favorite Finn Balor and champ Bobby Lashley.

WWE.com’s official preview for Bobby Lashley (c) vs. Finn Balor for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 35 describes the feud between these men as “an unforgettable war,” but so far 2019 is unlikely to be the most memorable year of either man’s wrestling career.

After unexpectedly returning to WWE the night after WrestleMania 34, Lashley didn’t immediately connect with many fans. However, when he gained Lio Rush as a manager in September he also gained a more distinctive on-screen presence. He also gained something to change up his matches — the threat of interference from a skilled and obnoxious high-flyer.

As the Lashley vs. Balor feud for the Intercontinental Championship developed on Monday Night Raw and on pay-per-view in 2019, Rush’s involvement increased. Balor actually faced Rush on Raw with the Intercontinental title on the line and won it from Lashley at Elimination Chamber in a two-on-one handicap match against both of them. Lashley later won the title back from Balor on Raw with the help of interference from Rush, and Balor won the right to face him for it at WrestleMania by beating Lashley and, in an odd twist, Jinder Mahal in a handicap match.

Based on what we’ve seen in this feud so far, the big question going into Lashley vs. Balor at ‘Mania is if Rush will interfere again to secure a victory for his man, or if Balor will again overcome the odds to regain the Intercontinental title. However, based on Balor’s entire WWE career, there’s another question regarding something it’s safe to say fans are much more excited about: Will we finally see the Demon at WrestleMania?

Finn Balor’s Demon alter-ego is almost universally loved, known to be unstoppable and seems made for at least one epic entrance on WWE’s “Grandest Stage Of Them All.” Last year, Balor didn’t win his match, so it’s understandable he opted for a less theatrical entrance that showed support for the LGBT+ community. However, this year the Demon has already been used in advertising and on a new t-shirt, so the chances Balor will crawl his way into the ring for a supernatural victory seem high.

It’s unfortunate when most of the hype for a big match is about what a performer will wear rather than what the wrestlers will do in the ring, but such is the WrestleMania 35 Intercontinental Championship match.