Former WWE Universal Champion Finn Balor has made great strides throughout his career in the pro wrestling business as he’s been successful in every promotion that he’s worked for. That includes the independent scene, New Japan Pro Wrestling and both in WWE and NXT where he was a former NXT Champion as well as on the main roster.
Although now Balor is an upper card talent on WWE’s flagship show, Monday Night Raw, it would be hard to imagine him not competing under the WWE banner.
However, there was a time that Balor thought he would never join the company. Balor was a recent guest on the E&C Pod of Awesomeness to talk with WWE Hall of Famer Edge and former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Christian about a wide range of topics.
During this interview, he spoke about making the decision to join WWE and why he was hesitant.
“WWE never came into my mind at all. Like, I kind of adjusted my goals, and, like, I was watching [Yuji] Nagata, [Hiroshi] Tanahashi, [Hiroyoshi] Tenzan, like, from ringside every night, learning from these guys, so it became my goal to climb the ladder in New Japan and try to get as good as I can.”
“And I think I was two, two-and-a-half years, into my run in New Japan and Johnny Ace called me and said, ‘hey, we have an opportunity for you.’ I can’t remember was the [promotion] was at the time. I think it was Florida. I just didn’t feel like it was the right move at the time. I felt like I was just finally getting the hang of the New Japan style and trying to get a little bit of a run going and I didn’t feel like it was the right moment [to go to WWE]. They came back, like, a couple of times over the years and it never felt like the right moment. Honestly, it didn’t even feel like the right moment when I left, but I felt like my clock was kind of running out in regards to how many years I have left, like if that opportunity would rise again at the time.”
You can listen to the entire interview by clicking on the player below:
H/T to Wrestling Inc for the transcript
