The Time Is Now For WWE To Break Up This Faction

Highlights

• Damian Priest cashed in and became World Heavyweight Champion, while Rhea Ripley had to vacate her title due to injury.
• The Judgment Day has seen internal conflict, with Priest unhappy about his group attacking his first challenger, Jey Uso.
• With Ripley injured and changes happening, it’s time for the Judgment Day to come to an end for new opportunities.

It’s been a crazy few weeks for Raw’s biggest faction, The Judgment Day. Damian Priest and Finn Balor lost their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 40, but then Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank and became World Heavyweight Champion. Dominik Mysterio had a couple of Philadelphia Eagles cost him his match at the Show of Shows, but Rhea Ripley retained her Womens’ World Championship after beating Becky Lynch. Oh yeah, and JD McDonagh was around too. The April 15 Raw, however, saw cracks appear in the Judgment Day armor as Ripley was forced to vacate her title due to injury and Priest was unhappy about the group beating up his first challenger, Jey Uso. With so much going on, it’s time for a change. It’s time for the Judgment Day to come to an end.

The Judgment Day Has Been One Of WWE’s Best Groups

Edge Was The Original Creator Of The Judgment Day

• The Judgment Day attacked Edge
• Dominik Mysterio beat up his father, Rey Mysterio, and turned heel
• JD McDonagh joined the Judgment Day in 2023

The Judgment Day began in early 2022 as a vehicle for Edge, following his heel turn. He quickly recruited Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley to the group, but when Finn Balor joined, the new faction attacked their leader and kicked him out. Later, Dominik Mysterio joined after turning on his father, Rey Mysterio, at Clash at the Castle, and the latter part of last year saw JD McDonagh added to the mix as well.

For two years, the Judgment Day has dominated Monday Nights as Raw’s answer to the Bloodline on SmackDown. They’re heels, and we love to boo them (especially Dominik), but they’re so cool that we don’t mind seeing them on TV so much. The group has also been exactly what each other needed. Outside of perhaps Rhea Ripley, the rest of the group were not doing well on their own. Damian Priest as a singles wrestler was a flop, Finn Balor lost too much, Dominik Mysterio was a cringey babyface, and JD McDonagh would have been lost in the shuffle by now if he was a solo act.

Big Changes Are Happening In The Judgment Day

Who Is The Leader Of The Judgment Day With Rhea Ripley Injured?

• The Bloodline is falling apart on SmackDown
• Rhea Ripley was forced to give up her Women’s World Championship due to injury
• Damian Priest won the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 40

Just as the Bloodline is going through a shift on SmackDown, with Roman Reigns losing his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40, and Solo Sikoa and the debuting Tama Tonga kicking out Jimmy Uso, the Judgment Day is going through changes as well. Some are for the better, and some deal with heartbreaking real life.

While the Bloodline has its Tribal Chief, the Judgment Day never had a true leader after Edge was booted out. It has caused a lot of infighting, especially between Damian Priest and Finn Balor, but Rhea Ripley has always been the one to solve any issues and bring everyone back together. If anyone is the leader of the Judgment Day, it’s her. Now though, Rhea Ripley is out, as a real life injury suffered at the hands of a vengeful Liv Morgan saw Mami give up her title as she leaves for several months. At the opposite end of the spectrum, Damian Priest, who has never been the leader, is now the World Heavyweight Champion. Having the gold around your waist means everyone should listen to you, but as the April 15 Raw showed, that might not be the case.

It’s Time For Judgment Day To Come To An End

The Judgment Day Can Now Do More In WWE Apart

• Damian Priest wasn’t happy about the Judgment Day attacking Jey Uso
• The Judgment Day now has no leader
• Dominik Mysterio doesn’t have Rhea Ripley by his side

One segment of Raw saw Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh attack Jey Uso, who has won the right to be the first man to challenge Damian Priest for his title. Priest looked on, annoyed that this was being done. While it was subtle, the moment hinted at Priest turning babyface and the group possibly imploding. It’s exactly what needs to happen.

The Judgment Day has gone as far as they can. Breaking them up shouldn’t be done out of desperation or because they’re stale (they are not) but because now is the ideal time to. So much drama can be explored with the group’s current standing. With Ripley out, who will control the other members when they bicker? Who will Dominik Mysterio be without his Mami by his side to take care of him? Will Finn Balor be jealous of Priest and try to exude leadership like he did on Monday? And if so, just how long will Damian Priest put up with it?

If the original Judgment Day turned on Edge and kicked him out, it’s plausible that they would do the same to Priest. Let’s hope so. He’s finally reached the place where he can be the face of a brand, and the resulting chaos could lead to months of great television with the new champ taking out everyone who betrayed him.