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Professional wrestling, particularly during the annual "Road to WrestleMania," often emphasizes individual accolades and the pursuit of a singular "WrestleMania moment." However, for Fergal Devitt, widely known as Finn Bálor within World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), this perspective diverges from his own philosophy. Bálor views his career not as a series of isolated triumphs but as a continuous, evolving body of work, each achievement a crucial thread woven into a larger tapestry. This outlook has become increasingly pertinent as he approaches a significant career milestone and prepares for a pivotal championship opportunity at the upcoming WWE Elimination Chamber event.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Bálor’s professional wrestling debut. Despite his current physical condition and enduring presence, this quarter-century in the highly demanding industry positions him as a veteran. The weight of this milestone, and the broader context of career longevity, was recently underscored by the retirement of his longtime peer and friend, AJ Styles, ahead of Styles’ impending WWE Hall of Fame induction. Styles’ decision has prompted Bálor to contemplate the finite nature of their careers.
"Seeing AJ retire got me thinking about a lot of things," Bálor stated in an interview with CBS Sports prior to the 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 professional relationship between Bálor and Styles spans significant portions of their careers. Both men rose to prominence independently before converging in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where Bálor, then known as Prince Devitt, was the founding leader of the influential Bullet Club faction. Styles succeeded Devitt as the leader of the group, a narrative thread that continued when both eventually joined WWE. Their paths have frequently intertwined, from their NJPW days to their main roster debuts in WWE, solidifying a mutual respect and competitive drive. Styles’ retirement, therefore, resonates deeply with Bálor, serving as a stark reminder of the inevitable conclusion to every active career.
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Bálor is currently scheduled to challenge World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event. This contest is not merely for the championship itself; the victor will earn the right to defend the title against Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns in the main event of WrestleMania 42. For Bálor, securing this championship would represent a significant opportunity to rectify a perceived career anomaly and participate in what is widely considered the most high-profile match of his professional tenure.
"I have this massive stain on my career from 10 years ago when I got hurt and had to relinquish the Universal Championship," Bálor reflected. "I’ve been asked about that in every interview for 10 years. This whole ‘what if.’"
The "stain" Bálor refers to originates from his unparalleled main roster debut in WWE in 2016. After being called up from NXT, Bálor achieved a historic feat, defeating Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, and two other competitors on the same night to secure a Universal Championship match. At SummerSlam 2016, he made history again by becoming the inaugural WWE Universal Champion, defeating Seth Rollins in his debut pay-per-view match. However, this monumental achievement was marred by a severe shoulder injury – a torn labrum – sustained during the match. The injury necessitated immediate surgery, forcing Bálor to relinquish the Universal Championship after a reign of just 22 hours, the shortest world title reign in modern WWE history.
For the decade since that event, the narrative surrounding Bálor’s career has frequently returned to the "what if" scenario surrounding his abbreviated championship reign. The discourse often speculates on how his career trajectory might have differed had the injury not occurred. Despite this persistent focus, Bálor has accumulated a substantial list of accomplishments in the intervening years. He has held the Intercontinental Championship twice, the United States Championship once, and the NXT Championship for a second time. Notably, he has also been a two-time WWE Tag Team Champion as part of The Judgment Day faction, a group he currently leads. Yet, as Bálor himself notes, these subsequent successes have largely failed to diminish the public’s fascination with his initial, ill-fated world title run.
"It’s not like I haven’t been trying, but for some reason, people can’t get these ‘what ifs’ out of their heads," Bálor explained. "The only way to fix that is by becoming world champion again."
Bálor’s consistent presence on WWE television, often in prominent roles, is a testament to his enduring value and professional drive. This consistency, however, should not be mistaken for complacency. It is the result of a steadfast motivation that has fueled his career for 25 years, irrespective of his placement on the event card. While headlining the Elimination Chamber and potentially WrestleMania 42 holds significant weight, Bálor maintains that these opportunities do not represent a newfound source of motivation but rather a continuation of an inherent drive.
"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," Bálor 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?"
Bálor’s career trajectory provides ample evidence of this multifaceted "body of work." Before his WWE tenure, he achieved significant success globally. As Prince Devitt in NJPW, he was a three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion, holding the title for a combined 679 days across his reigns, and a six-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion. He also achieved significant acclaim by winning the prestigious Best of the Super Juniors tournament twice, in 2010 and 2013, a rare accomplishment for a non-Japanese competitor. His time in NJPW, particularly his role in forming and leading the Bullet Club, fundamentally altered the landscape of professional wrestling factions and garnered him international recognition. His experience also extends to independent promotions across Europe and Mexico, further solidifying his claim of a diverse and accomplished career.
"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."
For Bálor, the Elimination Chamber match is not solely about retribution for past misfortunes or validating his career through a singular championship victory. Instead, it represents another significant entry into the extensive chronicle of his professional journey. His perspective is rooted in the fundamental joy of performance and the unexpected path his career has taken.
"Am I happy with my career?" Bálor queried. "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."
Hailing from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, Bálor’s early aspirations in professional wrestling were forged in an environment where the industry was nascent, and professional pathways were virtually non-existent. His journey from these humble beginnings to becoming a global wrestling star and a consistent presence in WWE’s main event scene underscores the depth of his commitment and the realization of what once seemed an improbable dream. As he steps into the Elimination Chamber, Bálor’s focus remains on adding another chapter to his comprehensive 25-year narrative, driven by an unwavering passion for the craft rather than the singular pursuit of a "WrestleMania moment."
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