Finn Balor created some intrigue for his Judgment Day faction when he appeared on WWE’s The Bump to discuss an upcoming match at WrestleMania 39 with Edge. While his feud has been going on for nearly a year, kicking off in June last year, the interview drew more attention for discussing the possibility that a new member could join the Judgment Day post-WrestleMania. In response to a fan-submitted question about adding some new members, Finn said, “Trust me, once we get Mania behind us, Judgment Day will be expanding.”
It is still an open question whether no not another performer should even join Judgment Day. After all, the team is on a roll right now. At WrestleMania 39, the faction could be looking at wins over legends like Edge and Rey Mysterio and their first title in the Smackdown Women’s Championship. If WWE decides to expand the faction, then who will join The Judgment Day? The newest member will likely be critical in deciding the group’s direction heading into the summer. Currently, they are somehow equal parts serious heel faction and part comedy faction, not dissimilar to The New Day when they debuted. A new member would change the group’s balanced dynamic and push the scales to one side or another, with some leaning more toward the consistently successful comedy segments and others toward turning the group into a consistently severe threat to the roster.
Who May Join The Judgment Day?
Comedy – Mick Foley
The biggest upside to Mick Foley’s case is that he has actively been applying for it. Foley released a video on his Foley is POD YouTube page outlining what he would bring to the organization, including a “wholesome energy and presence.” The video is hysterical, from the ever-expanding prison tattoo, visually putting William Shakespeare in his place, accidentally using Edge’s grit catchphrase, and providing a CV of setting himself on fire and falling off a cage twice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK_6RklFlvw
Foley would not be a serious addition to the group. Also, while the group has changed dramatically from its mysterious origins, rebelling against the old guard remains the underlying motivation for their actions. However, if Foley was serious and somehow conscripted back into WWE for a run with The Judgment Day, he would give the group a clear mouthpiece and legendary storyteller. It would also be a sign to fans that the comedy angles of Rhea Ripley and Dominik Mysterio would be the path forward, with Mick Foley likely excelling at creating oddball scenarios for the team. On a slightly more serious note, his iconic hardcore background could add some danger to the act, but it would mostly be a silly way to bring Foley back to TV.
Serious – Bronson Reed
The WWE has a significant problem with Bronson Reed. He was brought back after being laid off, which most fans saw as correcting a massive wrong. Reed didn’t return to NXT to be an enormous challenger for the 2.0 crew; instead, he showed up on Raw and has been featured on Mondays since. While he has been portrayed as a serious threat and monster heel, even against Damian Priest and The Judgment Day, it has not stuck. Fans are not buying into Reed at all at the moment, and post-Mania should really be addressed to save the company’s investment.
Finn Balor and Dominik Mysterio turned from rivals to members of the faction, and Reed could probably pull it off as well. His size makes him an intimidating force, and he currently has no other options. Instead of floundering without a story in squash matches, he can use the group’s momentum to give his career a bit of a jumpstart.
Both – Rey Mysterio
If WWE wanted to keep the Rhea and Dom relationship going and add a superstar that could be a world title contender to the group, they wouldn’t need to look much farther than the tree the Dominik apple fell from. If forever babyface Rey Mysterio joined The Judgment Day, it would need to be under protest or duress, perhaps as a stipulation for keeping his mask after losing to Dominik at WrestleMania 39 or some other event. His addition, though, would be one of the few names that could keep the team’s current balance somewhat, as he is already a part of the funniest and most memorable moments in the Dominik story and could very well become his son’s top rival.
While the likelihood of Rey Mysterio getting a lengthy title run at his age is next to nothing, he is a certified wrestling legend. That means he can be slotted into a marquee match whenever the WWE wants, and it will likely excite fans. This can go a long way to establishing the team as a credible challenger for a face champion like Cody Rhodes, who already has a history with Rey. It also gives Damian Priest, Finn Balor, or even Dominik himself time to establish or reestablish themselves as a main event act.
Comedy – Joe Gacy
It may be unfair to call Joe Gacy a comedy character, given he is not portrayed as such on NXT television. However, if Gacy was called up to join Judgment Day and leave The Schism, he would not be the group leader but rather a mouthpiece. His look and ability as a performer would be better suited for segments that make us laugh than for adding a menacing figure to the group.
Gacy could also bring more passionate promos to the stable, something they can’t do well now. He can also do some of the group’s scary stuff to underpin their actions. He is not a goth, though, and ultimately the team’s aesthetic would have him playing the odd man out. This is where his comedy would derive. Gacy would likely be closer to his original NXT character, an annoying and grating heel (with some excellent points) who wants to help The Judgment Day change WWE forever.
Serious – Dijak
NXT’s Dijak is an uber-talented big man, and it has been tough to see how far he’s fallen since he was roped into Retribution and the T-Bar character. Although Dijak isn’t known for his promo ability, his online personality feels like a solid fit for The Judgment Day. He is also huge and incredibly athletic, so a team including himself and Damian Priest would instantly become one of the best in the tag team division.
Joining another faction to get called up could give fans some pause, given how poorly it went last time. In this case, though, The Judgment Day is already established. He would add size and considerable skill to a team that is already utilized every week on Raw, meaning he would get a chance to showcase his abilities far more frequently. Also, the team has feuded with legends like Rey Mysterio and Edge, so whoever they attack next is bound to be a step above the faces Retribution worked with.
Both – Solo Sikoa
The Bloodline may be collapsing at WrestleMania 39, and its youngest member Solo Sikoa has not had much time on the microphone. Instead, he has been a silent enforcer for Roman Reigns. However, in some thoroughly entertaining segments, he has played the straight-man character to the antics of Sami Zayn, Jey Uso, and Paul Heyman. By the time he finds himself alone, he might have developed a better persona, but his current one works best in a larger group or as hired muscle for a weasel of a heel.
Luckily, The Judgment Day provides both of those; they are a significant faction, so it will be pretty close to the Bloodline story. Also, Dominik Mysterio, in particular, easily fits the type of heel that hires a bodyguard. Solo could continue to do his mean mug to add another whenever Dominik goes off about prison life and hard times. The pitch is easy to make for TV too. Solo’s family used and abandoned him, or so it will seem once the break happens, but The Judgment Day won’t. If WWE wants to add a massive bruiser to make the team more menacing and give Dom more tools to entertain with, then the silent Sikoa would make a ton of sense to join the Judgment Day squad.
Photo Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment
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