Finn Balor was back on Monday Night Raw this week, teaming with Tommaso Ciampa to pick up a win in a tag match against The Dirty Dawgs. That wasn't his only appearance on the show, however. Coming back in a bigger segment that is setting a major match next week, Balor came out to challenge Damian Priest for the United States Championship.

Priest had a match on Raw against Shelton Benjamin. He dispatched the former tag team champion fairly quickly. While he gave Benjamin props for the match, Priest announced after the win that he wanted a more challenging opponent because it was WrestleMania season. Saying he would "volunteer" his title next week, Priest called out anyone from the back that considered themselves a World Champion caliber WWE Superstar. That brought out Balor.

Related: Backstage Reason Finn Balor Wasn't Part Of This Year's Royal Rumble

Balor grabbed the mic and addressed Priest's comments that the champion wanted a bigger challenger next week. Saying "You want to face a serious athlete? You want to face a serious fighter? You want a world champion-level opponent? It sounds like you're talking about me. Be careful what you wish for Priest. I'll see you next week."

This is good news for Balor fans who were hoping his tag match with Ciampa didn't mean Balor was merely going to be used as an accent to a storyline that set up bouts for programs like NXT's Ciampa vs. Dolph Ziggler match on Tuesday. That Balor is back and will get a shot at the U.S. Championship could mean a run with the title headed into WrestleMania 38.

What If Balor Loses?

The downside of this match is that if Priest wins, it potentially halts the momentum of Balor returning. He's a main-event level star and it doesn't make much sense to have him lose so quickly after being gone for some time.