Finn Balor has explained why plans for a run in NXT UK in 2021 were nixed.
Balor’s final match in NXT was against Karrion Kross on the May 25, 2021 episode. Two months later, Balor returned to the main roster, entering a program with Roman Reigns that July.
Speaking with Ryan Satin on Out of Character, Balor confirmed that he pitched an NXT UK run, which WWE was interested in.
Explaining why the move was scrapped, Balor said:
“I wasn’t super excited about the idea of returning to the main roster. I felt there was potential for me to perform in NXT UK and work with those guys and that was something I was super interested in.
“I pitched the idea to Hunter at the time and they were interested in it, but they were going to have to renegotiate my contract and all because of budget restrictions and it was just going to prove too difficult and maybe wasn’t a smart move career-wise at this age.
“I’ve become very aware of that and there might be a clock starting to tick right now. I’m more aware of that now than I was five years ago. I thought, ‘Well, I need to get on a good run on the main roster.’ They came up with the idea of coming back and working a program with Roman and you can’t turn that down.
“It was a no-brainer. We started off hot, kind of dipped down a little bit, and I feel it’s starting to warm up a little bit again. I’m excited.”
WWE recently announced that NXT UK will go on hiatus for the rest of 2022, with NXT Europe launching in 2023.
Balor is currently receiving a push as part of the Judgment Day faction, alongside Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley. The former Universal Champion has named several WWE stars he wants to join the stable.
Stay up to date with WWE win/loss records for 2022 using our tracker at this link.
Check out WrestleShop.com for all your favorite WrestleTalk merch, the WrestleTalk Magazine, wrestling shirts for grown-ups, and more!
Trending
- Major Star Spotted In France Ahead Of WWE Backlash 2024
- AEW’s Will Ospreay Says Top WWE Star Tried To ‘Sway’ Him During Free Agency
- Big Name Spotted At WWE HQ Ahead Of TV Debut
- Top WWE Star Admits They ‘Deserved’ To Be Fired
- AEW Star Will Require Surgery Following ‘Career Ending Injury’
- Absent Top WWE Star In France Ahead Of WWE Backlash
- The Rock WWE Backstage ‘Resentment’ & ‘Negativity’ Revealed
- Injured AEW Star Could Return ‘Any Day Now’
- Tama Tonga Makes WWE In-Ring Debut
- Kenny Omega AEW In-Ring Return Update Following Dynamite Appearance