NXT Champion Finn Balor was a guest at WWE’s After the bell Podcast with Corey Graves where he discussed his transition from the main WWE roster back to NXT.
Balor was called up for RAW in 2016, eliminating Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in a matter of two months. Balor’s victory over Rollins resulted in him becoming the first WWE universal champion in SummerSlam that year. Balor’s time in the main squad can be seen as very disheartening, as he suffered a shoulder injury the night he won the Universal Championship for the first time and remained practically out of the world title image after he returned.
Moving on to the end of 2019, Balor returned to NXT, where he started his career in WWE and regained the NXT title he last held in 2015. Balor talked about the original plan for him to be sent to NXT as a trial period. which has become a long-term role. He said he did not know what to expect, but he is happy to be back and does not plan to return to the main cast anytime soon.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” said Balor. “I was kind of under the impression that it would be a 3-month deal. Restart Finn, restart and go back to RAW or go back to SmackDown, go back to things normally.
“It’s kind of evolved into something that I don’t think anyone expected. I think it’s thanks to how NXT is also evolving and it really has its own brand now. I don’t know what to expect from now on, I don’t know how long it will last, but I have to say that I am super happy in NXT and there is no reason to want to move anywhere in my career at this point. “
Balor continued to talk about him and continued to evolve over the years. He noted that there may soon be a time when NXT no longer needs Finn Balor and he has to move on, but now is not the time.
“I feel like I’m still growing,” said Balor. “I think it’s one of the best things I’ve done in my career. I know when to move and when there is something to change. That was the case in Europe, it was the case in Japan, it was the case when I was on RAW and SmackDown.
“I’m sure I’ll get to the point where NXT has sort of run its course and it’s time to make a change, but I don’t see that coming anytime soon.”
The former Bullet Club leader made his first appearance on the NXT in 2014, making him a member of the WWE roster for 7 years. Balor mentioned that he does not consider himself a WWE veteran and is still trying to make a name for himself. He said those years in the main cast taught him that he still has a lot more to prove to himself and the fans.
“I don’t feel like a vet at all,” said Balor. “I know I’ve been around for some time in terms of business, but when it comes to WWE, I feel like a green guy, I’m a newbie, I’m like a newbie. I feel like I have a lot to prove and I need to prove it every night against all the different talents in the ring. I already proved against Roman, I proved against Seth, I proved against Lashley, I want to prove against Cole, I want to prove against Gargano and I want to prove against all the talent.
“Whether on RAW, SmackDown or NXT, I thrive on that challenge. I want to push myself to the limit while I can. I’m sure that in some years, the speed at which I’m moving, we will have to slow down a little. If I can get the most out of these matches now, learn from it, grow from it, that’s what I want to do ”.
Balor mentioned what he has learned since being called back to NXT and how his confidence has increased. He said he never felt like a major wrestler while there, but now his confidence is high and he feels he can be in the ring with anyone in the world.
“I think I am much more focused,” said Balor. “Maybe in the past, I didn’t have confidence in myself or even realized the level I was at. In the past, I always thought it was the guy at RAW or SmackDown who left the back door open and I sneaked in.
“I shouldn’t be there, even though I was at the main events with Roman, Braun, all these guys. I didn’t feel like I really belonged and I feel like I am now in the ring, I know I do. I know that I belong to WWE and I know that I belong to any ring in the world, whether here in the United States or abroad. “
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit WWE’s After The Bell Podcast with ah / t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcript.