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Professional wrestling, often characterized by its pursuit of singular, career-defining achievements, particularly during the lead-up to WrestleMania, presents a different philosophical landscape for veteran competitor Finn Balor. For Balor, whose professional career now spans a quarter-century, each accomplishment, every match, and every narrative thread contributes to a much larger, overarching body of work rather than isolated "WrestleMania moments" or quests to "finish the story." This holistic perspective has gained renewed clarity following a significant milestone in his personal career and a reflective moment prompted by the recent retirement of his long-time friend and colleague, AJ Styles.
The 25-year anniversary of Balor’s wrestling debut, a considerable tenure for any athlete in the demanding world of professional wrestling, coincided with Styles’ departure from active competition and subsequent induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. This confluence of events served as a profound catalyst for Balor, whose real name is Fergal Devitt, to contemplate his own future within the industry. "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 a shared history between the two competitors, extending back through their parallel ascensions in various global wrestling territories before their eventual convergence in WWE.
Balor’s career trajectory began in his native Ireland before making significant inroads across the European independent circuit, then achieving widespread acclaim in Japan’s New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) under the moniker Prince Devitt. During his tenure with NJPW, Balor garnered numerous accolades, including three reigns as IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion and two victories in the prestigious Best of the Super Juniors tournament (2010, 2013). His innovative style and magnetic presence led to the formation of the influential Bullet Club faction in 2013, a group that would later see AJ Styles assume leadership after Balor’s departure. This shared lineage and mutual respect have consistently defined their relationship, making Styles’ retirement a particularly impactful event for Balor.
Currently, Balor stands on the precipice of one of his most significant career opportunities since his WWE main roster debut. He is slated to challenge reigning World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk at the upcoming Elimination Chamber event. The stakes for this contest are exceptionally high, as the victor will not only claim the World Heavyweight Championship but also earn the coveted opportunity to headline WrestleMania 42 against the dominant Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns. For Balor, this scenario represents a chance to rectify a long-standing narrative surrounding his initial, ill-fated world championship reign in WWE.
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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 incident that has persistently shadowed his career. "I’ve been asked about that in every interview for 10 years. This whole ‘what if.’" The "what if" refers to Balor’s meteoric rise upon his main roster debut in 2016. After being drafted to Raw, he swiftly defeated Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, and two other competitors in a single night to secure a Universal Championship match. At SummerSlam 2016, Balor made history by becoming the first individual to win a WWE world title in his debut pay-per-view match, defeating Seth Rollins. However, the triumph was short-lived; during the match, Balor suffered a torn labrum, necessitating immediate surgery. Consequently, his inaugural and to date, only WWE world championship reign, lasted a mere 22 hours, forcing him to relinquish the title the following night on Raw. This brevity established his reign as one of the shortest in WWE’s modern era, leading to persistent speculation about his trajectory had the injury not occurred.
Despite this setback, Balor’s subsequent career has been marked by a consistent presence at the top tiers of WWE. Following his recovery, he returned to competition and accumulated an impressive list of championships. He reclaimed the NXT Championship for a second time, a rare feat, and added multiple Intercontinental Championship reigns (two times), the United States Championship (one time), and most recently, the WWE Tag Team Championship (two times, with Damian Priest) to his resume. These achievements demonstrate a sustained level of performance and adaptability across various divisions. Yet, as Balor observes, none of these successes have fully dispelled the lingering questions and the perceived "stain" of his relinquished world title.
"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 drive, however, is not a recent development. Balor’s consistent presence on WWE television, often in high-profile matches and storylines, is not indicative of complacency but rather a testament to an enduring internal motivation that has sustained him for 25 years, regardless of his position on the card. While headlining Elimination Chamber and potentially WrestleMania 42 are undeniably significant career milestones, Balor asserts that these opportunities do not provide new fuel, but rather affirm a spark that has never diminished.
Balor’s perspective on his legacy transcends individual moments, emphasizing the cumulative weight of his entire career. "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 articulated. "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?" His extensive international experience, having competed and achieved success in various global promotions before his WWE arrival, provides a unique lens through which he views his contributions to the sport.
He continues, "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 approach positions the Elimination Chamber match not as an act of retribution for past misfortunes, but as another integral entry into the extensive codex of his career.
Balor’s satisfaction stems from a foundational understanding of his early aspirations. "Am I happy with my career?" Balor 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." From humble beginnings in a country with limited wrestling infrastructure, Fergal Devitt’s journey to becoming Finn Balor, a global wrestling icon, is a testament to perseverance and a deep-seated passion for performance, attributes that continue to drive him as he seeks to add another World Heavyweight Championship to his storied 25-year legacy.
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