NXT Champion Finn Bálor was recently interviewed by Brian Fritz of SportingNews.com. Check out the full interview below or at this link.

It was just over a year ago when Prince Devitt (Fergal Devitt) decided to take a big leap of faith.

 

After making a name for himself in New Japan Pro Wrestling, he made the decision to leave his comfort zone and join the WWE. With it came a lot of changes for the Irishman: a new country with a different lifestyle, a new form of wrestling along with a new identity.

 

Now as Finn Balor with NXT, he hasn’t disappointed with his exciting in-ring style coupled with a captivating ring entrance that he breaks out for big shows, painting his body as he transforms into the demon he sees in himself.

 

WWE and Balor are pairing up with professional athletes and Hollywood celebrities in an online auction at Charitybuzz.com to support “Answer the Call” with proceeds helping provide assistance for the families of fallen first-responders in New York City.

 

BRIAN FRITZ: How is life treating you these days Finn?

 

FINN BALOR: Brian, life is incredible. It’s been a bit of a roller coaster over the last year. The roller coaster is only going up so it’s pretty cool.

 

FRITZ: Yeah, you’ve been with WWE for just over a year now. What’s been the biggest surprise so far for you?

 

BALOR: Biggest surprise? I think the biggest surprise has to be how helpful everyone has been, helping me adapt to a new company, a new country, a new working environment and kind of a new style of wrestling. The powers that be have bent over backwards to make sure I’ve settled in which is very humbling.
continue reading

Finn Bálor recently spoke to MTV UK, below are some highlights from the interview. You can read the full interview here.

Getting called up to the main roster:

 

“A lot of people keep talking about this call up to the main roster but for most of us at NXT we all believe what we’re doing at the moment is equally as important and we’re all fully committed to that. I’m not in any rush to make a move to Raw or SmackDown. I’m very content at NXT and there’s a lot of challenges and a lot of milestones still to be achieved in NXT before I make any move. We all believe that we’re creating an alternative and we believe this is something we can sustain, grow and develop.”

 

The NXT brand growing:

 

“I want to be part of the growth of NXT. I’m one of the leaders of what we’re pushing. It definitely feels like a renaissance period for wrestling right now, there’s definitely a ‘boom’. We’re on the verge of another boom period and I want to be one of the people at the forefront of that.”

Afterbuzz recently spoke to Finn Bálor on their NXT Aftershow. You can listen to the interview below and read some highlights:

AfterBuzz TV: Which NXT talent do you think is underrated and people should look out for?

 

Finn Balor: There’s a lot of guys you know, obviously for different reasons. One guy you know I think doesn’t get the credit he deserves is Scott Dawson. He’s a tremendous, tremendous competitor and I would love to get in there one-on-one with him. I’m also a big fan of Enzo and Cass. I don’t know how that would work with teaming up with them in a six man tag team, but I’m a big fan of their work too.

 

ABTV: We recently had CJP (CJ Parker) on the show, he’s planning to work the indies and wrestle in Japan. Did you give him any advice?

 

Finn Balor: We spoke about it….CJ was someone I was fortunate enough to get to work with when he was still here. He’s a tremendous competitor…The indie circuit is a tough circuit, but you know there’s a lot of good people out there. There is a lot of places you can learn. There’s a lot of people you can learn from and I’m sure that he’ll spend a year or two there growing himself not only personally, but as a performer and I’m sure he’ll be back in the future even better.

 

ABTV: Is there anyone on the indie scene you think WWE should have their eye on?

 

Finn Balor: I’m a little bit biased because this fella, he started in the same gym as me in England…and hopefully he’ll be able to make the transition some day into WWE, Zack Sabre Jr. He’s doing tremendous in the independents, not only in Europe but in America you know, but he’s holding his own in Japan.

 

ABTV: You recently traveled with WWE overseas. How was it wrestling with your home crowd?

 

Finn Balor: It was quite surreal. It was only less than a year ago that I said goodbye to everyone back home in Ireland and within 10 months to be returning with the WWE main roster. Going to the 3Arena in Dublin which was an arena I used to go and watch WWE when I was a kid. To walk up through the curtain and hear the roar of the hometown crowd, that was incredible.

 

ABTV: There have been many rumors that you will soon accept John Cena’s open challenge for the US Title. Do you see that happening in the near future?

 

Finn Balor: Well, Believe it or not, in London when John was in the ring making the open challenge, I was actually putting my gear on trying to get into the ring…but I just got beat to the punch.

 

ABTV: Where do you see yourself in 10 years and do you have a plan after wrestling?

 

Finn Balor: I live by the motto “Take one step at a time.” Obviously, there are a lot of short-term goals that I want to achieve, both at NXT and WWE. In 10 years time, maybe I’ll be Triple H’s right hand man, pulling the strings up in the office and helping coordinate this incredible company.

 

WWE’s annual April European tour is one of the most eagerly awaited stages of the professional wrestling calendar, and the 2015 edition has been a major success with many sellouts across the United Kingdom and Ireland. In Dublin last week, Ireland’s own Finn Balor competed in his home country for the very first time as a WWE Superstar, while Preston’s Bad News Barrett has enjoyed a heroes reception across every English arena.

Balor made his in-ring debut in 2000, and spent many years as one of the top stars in New Japan Pro Wrestling, the second biggest wrestling organisation in the world. Frequently touted as one of the best talents in the world, he signed with WWE in May 2014 and made his NXT debut four months later.

Wade Barrett has been a member of WWE’s main roster since 2010 after winning the inaugural season of NXT, later becoming a five-time Intercontinental Champion and one of the most successful British competitors in the history of the company.

The Independent caught up with both Superstars at London’s O2 Arena, and caused a little mischief when asking Barrett if he and Balor had ever competed against each other before. With smiles on their faces, the two men reminisced over their first meeting.
continue reading

Finn recently spoke to Digital Sky about NXT’s growth, his debut and much more!

Finn Bálor has said that many NXT wrestlers already consider the brand to be part of the main WWE roster.

Bálor told Digital Spy ahead of WrestleMania 31 that he was in no hurry to move from Full Sail to Stanford.

“I really feel like as part of NXT we’re really on the cusp of something very special. There’s a feeling in the locker room that we’re really starting,” he said.

“There’s that history and that respect and that passion that we all have coming from the indies, willing to be the best – that drive.”

He continued: “It’s a very special time down there. They say, ‘When are you going to get the call-up to the main roster?’ and all that stuff, but for a lot of us at NXT, we do consider NXT now the main roster.”

“I’m glad to be a part of it and I’m not in any hurry to move anywhere. I want NXT to grow and I want to be one of the people that’s helping it grow.”

Of whether NXT was in competition with Monday Night Raw, Bálor said: “There’s definitely a certain amount of connection the fans feel with NXT, like it’s their brand.”
continue reading

IRISH SUPERSTAR Finn Balor has revealed joining WWE has proved ‘the greatest decision of his life’.

The highly-acclaimed NXT talent — who made his debut on the developmental brand in late September of last year — said fears his innovative in-ring style could be shackled could not be further from the truth.

Balor, 33, from Bray in County Wicklow, told The Sun he is constantly amazed at the scale of the sports entertainment juggernaut’s infrastructure.

“Every day I come into work and I’m continuously blown away by the size of the company and how helpful they are and how willing they are to meet me about any ideas I have,” said Balor.

“Everything that I’ve done before here was literally on my own back and they were all my own ideas with no help from anyone.

“I’ve come to WWE and a lot of people — I’ll be honest — said: ‘You know, you shouldn’t maybe go there.’

“I can honestly say it was the greatest decision of my life coming to WWE.

“It is an incredible company — incredible staff work behind the scenes helping everyone here, not only myself.”

Balor, who stunned fans with his elaborate, body-painted entrance at last month’s NXT Takeover: R Evolution special added: “A lot of people said: ‘They might curb your creativity.’ But with hindsight it has been the complete opposite.

“They’ve gathered it and pushed it forward and lifted it up and put their little shine on it.”

Technical marvel Finn also said he was in no rush to be called up to the main roster to claim a spot on Raw or SmackDown.

He laughed: “It has taken me fourteen years to get here so I’m not in any rush to move anywhere!

“I’m happy here, to be part of NXT. As the saying goes: ‘The future is now.’

“Hopefully we — myself and the lads — can help NXT reach a new level.”

-Source