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Professional wrestling’s discourse frequently centers on singular, defining achievements, particularly as the annual WrestleMania season approaches. Superstars often articulate aspirations of securing their "WrestleMania moment" or striving to "finish the story." However, veteran competitor Finn Balor offers a divergent perspective, viewing each accomplishment not as an isolated peak, but as an integral thread woven into a much broader and enduring body of work.
This year marks a significant milestone for Balor, commemorating 25 years since his professional wrestling debut. Despite his current physical conditioning and in-ring agility, the passage of a quarter-century in the demanding sport positions him as a long-tenured figure. This milestone resonated with particular gravity following the recent "retirement" of his long-time friend and colleague, AJ Styles, an announcement made in advance of Styles’ scheduled WWE Hall of Fame induction. Styles, a decorated performer globally, has been a benchmark for excellence across various promotions, including Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA, now Impact Wrestling), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), and WWE. His storied career includes multiple world championships in each promotion, solidifying his status as one of the most respected and consistent wrestlers of his generation. The news of Styles’ departure, even within the often theatrical confines of professional wrestling, prompted introspection from Balor.
"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." This sentiment underscores the profound impact Styles has had on Balor’s own career trajectory, from their parallel paths in independent circuits and international promotions to their eventual convergence in WWE. Both men were foundational figures in the Bullet Club faction in NJPW, with Balor (then Prince Devitt) as its original leader, before Styles took the reins. Their careers have been intertwined through shared experiences and a mutual pursuit of excellence.
Balor is scheduled to challenge World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk at the upcoming Elimination Chamber premium live event. The championship title itself represents a primary objective, but the stakes extend beyond immediate gold. The winner of this contest will earn the right to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, in the main event of WrestleMania 42. For Balor, this scenario positions him one pinfall away from rectifying a long-standing perceived career misstep and securing what many within the industry and fan base consider the most significant main event opportunity of his professional life. CM Punk, a two-time WWE Champion and three-time World Heavyweight Champion during his initial WWE tenure, recently made a highly anticipated return to the company, reigniting a long-dormant rivalry with several top-tier performers. His current championship reign, following a dominant victory at a prior major event, has re-established him as a central figure in WWE programming. Roman Reigns, conversely, has maintained an historic reign as the company’s top champion, surpassing 1,000 days, a feat that has solidified his position as one of the most dominant champions in modern WWE history.
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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 defined a segment of his narrative. "I’ve been asked about that in every interview for 10 years. This whole ‘what if.’" The "what if" scenario originates from Balor’s main roster debut in 2016, a period that could not have been more auspiciously scripted. In a rapid ascent, he defeated prominent Superstars including Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens, among others, in a single night to earn a championship match. At SummerSlam 2016, Balor made history by becoming the inaugural Universal Champion, defeating Seth Rollins in his debut pay-per-view match on the main roster. However, this triumph was overshadowed by a severe shoulder injury – a torn labrum – sustained during the match. The injury necessitated immediate surgery, compelling Balor to vacate the championship just 22 hours after winning it. His first and, to date, only WWE world title reign thus concluded prematurely, etching a moment of both triumph and tragedy into his career annals.
For a decade since that pivotal moment, Balor has been consistently confronted with inquiries regarding the injury and the speculative implications of what might have transpired had he not been sidelined. Despite the persistent focus on this singular event, Balor has amassed a considerable list of accomplishments. Since vacating the Universal Championship, he has secured multiple Intercontinental and Tag Team Championships, reclaimed the NXT Championship, and captured the United States Championship. These achievements, however, have not entirely dispelled the narrative surrounding his truncated world title reign.
"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 statement underscores a perceived need to rewrite that chapter of his history, not for external validation alone, but perhaps to internally reconcile with a moment that has undeniably shaped his professional narrative.
While Balor may not consistently headline every major event, his presence on WWE television has been a constant for the better part of a decade. This consistency, he asserts, is not indicative of complacency. Instead, it is the direct product of an unwavering drive that has persisted for 25 years, irrespective of his placement on the event card. Headlining the Elimination Chamber, and the subsequent prospect of a main event match at WrestleMania, carries significant weight. However, Balor insists it does not provide new motivation; rather, it taps into an enduring passion.
"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, emphasizing his holistic view. "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?" This question highlights his extensive international career, including his formative years in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he became a three-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and a two-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, as well as winning the prestigious Best of the Super Juniors tournament in 2010 and 2013. His time in Mexico’s Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) and various European independent promotions further demonstrate a diverse and robust career path prior to his WWE arrival.
Balor continued, "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 philosophical stance portrays a performer driven by the act of performance itself, rather than solely by accolades or main event positioning. The Elimination Chamber, therefore, is not framed as an opportunity for retribution for past setbacks, but rather as another significant entry into a rich and extensive professional codex.
Reflecting on his journey, Balor summarized his career satisfaction: "Am I happy with my career? 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 perspective provides crucial context to Balor’s deep-seated passion and resilience. Hailing from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland, Balor began his training in the early 2000s, at a time when professional wrestling training facilities and a developed wrestling industry were virtually non-existent in Ireland. His path involved traveling to England and eventually Japan to hone his craft, a testament to the sheer determination required to forge an international career from such humble beginnings. This journey from an aspiring young wrestler in a country with no established wrestling infrastructure to a multiple-time champion and main event competitor in the world’s largest wrestling promotion underscores the extraordinary nature of his 25-year career.
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