[WNS Column] Get To Know: Finn Bálor

Finn Bálor, formerly known as Fergal "Prince" Devitt is now WWE currently signed big independent wrestler. He is prominently known for his work in Japan at New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). News broke out we'll be seeing this man in the next 2 months.

 

Him being signed in the WWE is a big deal, especially to the wrestling community. As may wrestling fans are familiar with his work with different promotions, there's many whom that are just fans of WWE that doesn't. 

 

As being part of The Next Generation of WWE. Him along with KENTA (now as Hideo Itami) and Kevin Steen (as the other recently signed independent wrestlers) could arguably be the next top stars to set stone in the main roster.

 

NXT taped his debut on September 25, 2014. He debuted alongside Hideo Itami as a partner to go against The Ascension. As of right now we do not know who Finn Bálor is, you could spend a few minutes of your time looking up on valuable information on the upcoming rising star here. These are my top information you need to know about Devitt.

 

 

1. Early Life & Career

 

In a recent interview, he mentions Shawn Michaels and Ultimate Warrior as his biggest wrestling influence. He compared himself to XPac as being a inspiration to become a wrestler in a big league. As common perception on wrestlers, people expect them to be huge. So to see a wrestler like that gave him hope. 

 

 He debuted at NWA UK Hammerlock in 2000 at the age of 18. During this experience, he said it was just for the experience and for the love of the art. He got his break in America to learn the American wrestling style. Devitt had trained with NJPW Dojo in Los Angeles for about 3 months and had a opportunity to train in Tokyo. He went to Tokyo as intern, he got paid very little but he went for the love. 

 

He spent 6 to 7 years back and forth in England and Ireland plus 3 months in Tokyo. He started out in the amateur promotions to the biggest promotions. Early days living in Tokyo, he was culture shocked with not just the environment but with the wrestling. 

 

He attended the 10 year anniversary of NWA Hammerlock in Nashville as a representative and had a a match with Beck. He went to Los Angeles to train with Oki Dojo where he learned kick-boxing and jujitsu. 

 

2.  His name

 

Japanese people had a difficulty with pronouncing 'F' 'R' and 'G's in the English alphabet. NJPW requested Devitt to change his name into something else. He mentioned how 'Devitt' sounds like 'David' like 'King David', who is someone famous in history. He started out as 'King Devitt' but after weeks of being there his name was changed to 'Prince Devitt'.

 

 3. New Japan Pro Wrestling

 

Being spent 8 years in Japan. He had learned two valuable things: being disciplined and having respect for the business. He managed to understand the MMA Kickboxing style influence and the mental training preparation during his stay. He had won 2 Best Of Super Juniors (2010 and 2013) and IWGP Junior Heavyweight 3 times as a tag team. 

 

He's best known more for his heel run and is brilliant for drawing heat. Not only being known as a solo competitor he had formed a wrestling stable in 2013 called Bullet Club. 

 

4. Bullet Club

He met one of the first members Karl Anderson back before it was formed in Nashville. A month later him and Anderson separately went to a Oki Dojo show in California to train and both instantly got connected. After a while of getting to know each other, both went to Tokyo. As months of training, he met Fale and Tonga along the way. By the end of the year they were joined by The Young Bucks and Doc Gallows. The stable was mostly known as a group of heel (villain) ganijin's (foreigners; except one) which was led by Devitt. They became the most popular stable outside the United States since the past decade. They've dominated NJPW over the past year and has won a title along the way.

 

5. Wrestling Attire & Body Paint

 

 

 

The idea of good versus evil  not only is it well known in the comic books has been very relatable in the wrestling world. Never before though it was being used as a body paint. Devitt took it to the next level. He decided to bring his comic book interest to life. He just executes it so properly that this became his signature. 

 

During his time in Preston City Wrestling he got interviewed about his bodypaint. He mentioned how  it briefly started out in Japan and first started as The Black Prince. Usually a artist would come in and paint his body for whole 3 hours.

 

 

It is rare for a fan to see a wrestler that uses bodypaint like he does. Devitt chooses a specific comic book character and would bring it to life. He submerges himself so immensely into the character that with true dedication of creativeness, fans always anticipate seeing him because they're in for a special treat.

 

Not only this became his trademark, he also became a spokesperson/model for the Armani Exchange brand in Japan. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Wrestling Style 

 

 

Prince Devitt is a workhorse. He has huge charisma, got international experience, huge potential. Those got into play and it clearly was shown on this video.

 

With the much anticipation debut as Finn Bálor, we could only hope for a bright future in the big league for this man. He truly deserves all the success he got. And with the experience he had over the past decade, you'd be delightfully impressed with the talent this Devitt has and how it could be brought enhance the company that is WWE.