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Professional wrestling, particularly during the annual WrestleMania season, often fixates on singular, career-defining achievements, with superstars pursuing their elusive "WrestleMania moment" or striving to "finish the story." However, for Finn Balor, a veteran competitor whose career now spans a remarkable 25 years, the narrative is more expansive. He views every accomplishment, every match, as an integral thread woven into a much grander tapestry of work. This philosophy has gained renewed poignancy as Balor prepares for a pivotal World Heavyweight Championship challenge at WWE Elimination Chamber.
The milestone of 25 years since his professional wrestling debut has prompted significant introspection for the 42-year-old Irishman, who, despite his youthful appearance, possesses a depth of experience few can match. This period of reflection was notably intensified by the recent news of his longtime friend and colleague, AJ Styles, retiring ahead of his WWE Hall of Fame induction. Styles’ departure from active competition resonated deeply with Balor, serving as a stark reminder of the finite nature of a career in professional sports.
"Seeing AJ retire got me thinking about a lot of things," Balor informed CBS Sports in an interview conducted prior to Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber event. "I’ve always looked up to AJ. I’ve always chased his coattails, so to speak. He’s always been the benchmark for what we all strive to be. Seeing him retire brought it home to me that my days are numbered. AJ has been an ever-present for me for the last 25 years." The sentiment underscores the profound impact Styles’ career trajectory has had on Balor’s own journey, solidifying Styles as a peer whose path often mirrored, and at times inspired, Balor’s decisions.
The immediate focus for Balor is his impending challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship against CM Punk at the Elimination Chamber event. This contest carries immense weight, as the victor will earn the prestigious opportunity to defend the title against Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 42. For Balor, this scenario presents a tangible opportunity to rectify a significant past injustice and secure what many observers consider to be the most critical match of his extensive career.
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"I have this massive stain on my career from 10 years ago when I got hurt and had to relinquish the universal championship," Balor stated, referencing an event that has consistently resurfaced in discussions about his career. "I’ve been asked about that in every interview for 10 years. This whole ‘what if.’"
Balor’s initial ascent to the WWE main roster in 2016 was nothing short of meteoric. Following a highly successful tenure in NXT, where he held the NXT Championship for a then-record 292 days (from July 4, 2015, to April 21, 2016), he made his main roster debut on July 25, 2016. In a remarkable display of dominance, he defeated both Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens, alongside Rusev and Cesaro, in a single night to earn a Universal Championship match. Just weeks later, at SummerSlam on August 21, 2016, Balor made history by becoming the first individual to win a WWE world title in his debut pay-per-view match, dethroning Seth Rollins to become the inaugural Universal Champion. However, the triumph was tragically short-lived. During the match, Balor suffered a torn labrum, an injury that necessitated immediate surgery. Consequently, his first and only WWE world title reign lasted a mere 22 hours, forcing him to relinquish the championship the following night on Monday Night Raw.
For the subsequent decade, the narrative surrounding Balor has frequently revolved around this specific moment. Media and fans alike have remained fixated on the "what if" scenarios that might have unfolded had the injury not occurred. Despite this persistent focus on a single, truncated championship reign, Balor has accumulated a substantial list of achievements since his return from injury. He has secured two Intercontinental Championships, one United States Championship, and most recently, the WWE Tag Team Championship alongside Damian Priest as a prominent member of The Judgment Day faction. Furthermore, he returned to NXT for a second run, reclaiming the NXT Championship. Yet, according to Balor, none of these accomplishments have fully dispelled the perceived "stain" of that solitary, brief world title run in the minds of many.
"It’s not like I haven’t been trying, but for some reason, people can’t get these ‘what ifs’ out of their heads," Balor explained. "The only way to fix that is by becoming world champion again." This perspective highlights the inherent pressure and expectation that has accompanied Balor throughout the latter half of his WWE career, driving him towards another reign at the pinnacle of the company.
Balor’s consistent presence on WWE television, whether in main event slots or mid-card feuds, is a testament to his enduring drive rather than any form of complacency. His commitment to performance has remained unwavering for 25 years, irrespective of his position on the card. Headlining an event of Elimination Chamber’s magnitude, and potentially WrestleMania 42, is undoubtedly significant, but Balor insists it does not serve as a new source of motivation. Instead, it merely reinforces a long-standing internal fire.
"You can’t define your legacy over one match in Belfast, or one moment in Barclays Center, where I got hurt. It’s based on a 25-year career," Balor elaborated. "It’s a body of work that I’m trying to present. If you look at my body of work, I think it’s pretty accomplished. Sure, I haven’t won the world title in 10 years. How many people have won the Best of the Super Juniors? How many have dominated in Japan, been successful in Mexico, Europe, and WWE for 10 years?"
Indeed, Balor’s career trajectory prior to WWE was marked by significant international success. As Prince Devitt, he became a foundational figure in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship a record-tying four times and won the prestigious Best of the Super Juniors tournament twice (in 2010 and 2013). He was also the original leader and architect of the globally influential Bullet Club faction, which revolutionized professional wrestling factions. His experience also includes extensive tours across Mexico and various European promotions, building a reputation as one of the most dynamic and technically proficient wrestlers in the world before joining WWE in 2014.
"I try not to worry too much about feelings in the moment. I try to zoom out and look at the 25 years. Am I happy with the 25 years? Yes. Has being in the main event reignited a spark that may have extinguished? No, because the spark never extinguished. I’ve always had this burning desire to perform. If that’s in the first match or the last match, once I’m performing, that’s what’s important." This statement encapsulates Balor’s long-term perspective, emphasizing a deep-seated passion for the craft over transient external validations.
Consequently, Balor views the Elimination Chamber match not as an act of retribution for past misfortunes, but rather as another significant entry into the extensive codex of his career. It is an opportunity to add another layer of accomplishment to a journey that began with the most humble of aspirations.
"Am I happy with my career?" Balor mused. "I would have been happy having one match. My goal when I started training was to have one match. Everything after that was a bonus. Coming to WWE was the most far-fetched idea for a small kid from Ireland. There were no wrestling schools. There was no industry. Nothing." This reflection underscores the remarkable distance Balor has traveled from his modest beginnings in Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, to competing for a world championship on one of professional wrestling’s grandest stages. His career stands as a testament to perseverance, global success, and an unwavering dedication to his chosen profession, a body of work that he believes speaks for itself.
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