The Demon returns: Finn Balor interferes on Halloween-themed SmackDown, targets Gunther

Finn Balor's Demon persona returned on WWE SmackDown's Halloween-themed episode, interrupting a confrontation between Gunther and Danhausen and attacking Gunther. The sequence concluded with Balor delivering a Coup de Grace from a ladder through the announcers' table.

The segment played off Danhausen's repeated teases that he had an "experiment" to reveal. As Gunther built control and looked ready to choke Danhausen out, the experiment was revealed to be Balor's Demon, who came to Danhausen's aid and cleared the ring.

Earlier in the segment, Gunther had assaulted Danhausen and driven off a group referred to on-screen as Minihausens. Gunther locked Danhausen in a sleeper hold before Danhausen used an on-screen curse to summon Balor to the ring.

The interaction adds momentum to an existing storyline between Gunther and Balor. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer has reported a Gunther vs. Balor match was planned for WWE Crown Jewel at one point, and both names have appeared on event promotional material for the November 7 pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. WWE did not officially announce a match between the two during SmackDown.

Balor previously performed as the Demon at WrestleMania 42 earlier this year, where he defeated Dominik Mysterio in a street fight. Tonight's return positions the feud as a possible addition to next week's Crown Jewel card, though nothing is confirmed by WWE as of this report.