Gunther vs. Finn Balor is finally happening, just one week after WWE scrapped their planned match at Crown Jewel. WWE has officially announced that the two will face each other on the November 13, 2026 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, following Gunther’s decision not to travel to Saudi Arabia.
WWE confirmed the match on its official X account, posting a graphic of both men with the message, “LET’S RUN IT BACK.” The match will take place at the Amerant Bank Arena in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with SmackDown starting at 8 PM ET on the USA Network.
The announcement comes after Ringside News previously covered Gunther refusing to travel to Saudi Arabia, which forced WWE to abandon plans for his match against Demon Finn Balor at Crown Jewel on November 7.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE had already filmed segments building toward the match before Gunther decided not to make the trip. Sources indicated that the situation went back and forth, leaving WWE unsure whether the match would happen even as the storyline continued on television. Balor also had concerns about traveling to Saudi Arabia, but the belief within WWE was that he would have gone if Gunther had agreed to appear. The match never made the official Crown Jewel card despite being advertised locally in Saudi Arabia.
Gunther’s decision also raised questions about whether WWE would punish him for skipping the event. Those questions grew louder after Gunther lost to Trick Williams in a dark match following RAW on November 9, although there’s no evidence that the loss was connected to his refusal to travel.
Now WWE is moving ahead with the match on SmackDown instead. The November 13 show will also feature John Cena returning for more John Cena Classic business and Tiffany Stratton making her first appearance as WWE Women’s Champion following her Money in the Bank cash-in at Crown Jewel.
For Gunther and Balor, the wait is finally over. WWE spent weeks building their rivalry, lost the match at Crown Jewel, and is now putting it on free television just six days later. Whether the change affects the company’s plans for either man heading into Survivor Series remains to be seen.
Do you think WWE made the right call by moving Gunther vs. Finn Balor to SmackDown, or should the company have saved the match for Survivor Series? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
