WWE Star Wanted To Spend ‘Rest Of Life’ In NJPW Before Signing

WWE/NJPW

A WWE star has revealed that he wanted to spend “the rest of his life” in NJPW before choosing to “roll the dice” on WWE.

Previously Prince Devitt in NJPW, the star now known as Finn Balor would sign his first WWE deal in May 2014.

Speaking on Insight With Chris Van Vliet, Balor revealed that he wanted to be a New Japan star for life, only for his mind to be changed when he considered age as a factor.

Reflecting on being an NJPW star in his thirties, Balor would note that he had seen stars of that age “phased out” in NJPW and how a move to WWE might work in his favor, saying:

“I always tell a story about when I went to the Performance Center. I started with NXT I think I was 34, which was quite late to start.

“WWE had came knocking a couple times, and I’d always kind of kicked it back, because I was very happy in New Japan, wanted to do my whole career there, and I was trying to negotiate a 10-year contract, and there was an issue. This was when I was 34; I was trying to negotiate a 10-year contract to stay there for the rest of my life. Then there was an issue, because New Japan was owned by another company, and that contract only lasted for four years, so they could only give me a four-year contract.

“I’d been there like eight years, and I’d seen how when guys got to like their mid to late 30s, they kind of phased them out. I thought, well, this will get me to my mid to late 30s, and I’ll be phased out, and I want to wrestle longer than that.

“I’m 34, and this was 12 years ago in WWE, where the roster was a lot younger; they were signing much younger guys, and I thought, oh, this could be my last opportunity, so that’s kind of the mindset I had.

“I was talking with my dad about the decision: should I roll the dice in WWE, or should I stay in New Japan? I’ll never forget my dad said, ‘Son, you grew up watching WWF; that was your dream, you’re in Japan, you’re doing great, you’ve done it for eight years, but roll the dice.’ I’m glad I did.”

A two-time NXT Champion, Balor’s main roster rise would see him as a former Intercontinetal, United States and Universal Champion, being the first to hold the latter, albeit for just one day due to injury. A four-time World Tag Team Champion, he has also held the SmackDown Tag Team Championship twice.

Previously a member of Judgment Day, Balor would also reveal the truth behind rumors plans to change the faction’s name to ‘Street Trash‘.

NJPW Stars In WWE

With the addition of the star previously known as EVIL to the NXT roster, WWE continues to a long tradition of signing former NJPW stars.

Balor stands alongside Shinsuke Nakamura as a star who arguably saw fame in NJPW before heading to WWE, with Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles also having seen prominent tenures in the Japan-based promotion. For others, such as Kairi Sane, their tenure may have come to an end, but it can’t be denied that an impact was made.

WWE may have failed to sign Bullet Club War Dogs, with David Finlay commenting on their decision to sign with AEW earlier this year, but more opportunities will no doubt emerge for NJPW stars seeking future success, wherever that may be.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• wwe
• NJPW
• Finn Balor

Share this article with friends