Professional wrestling is obsessive about singular achievements, particularly throughout WrestleMania season. Superstars chase their “WrestleMania moment” and try to “finish the story.” Finn Balor does not see it that method. For him, each accomplishment is a thread in a a lot grander physique of labor.
This yr marks 25 years since Balor’s wrestling debut. He could not look it, however he is lengthy within the tooth. The milestone hit tougher when his longtime good friend and colleague AJ Styles retired forward of his WWE Hall of Fame induction.
“Seeing AJ retire got me thinking about a lot of things,” Balor advised CBS Sports earlier than Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber. “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.”
Balor will problem world heavyweight champion CM Punk at Elimination Chamber. The title is not the one factor at stake. The winner will defend it in opposition to Roman Reigns in the principle occasion of WrestleMania 42. Balor is one pinfall away from righting a improper and securing what many contemplate the most important match of his profession.
“I have this massive stain on my career from 10 years ago when I got hurt and had to relinquish the universal championship,” Balor mentioned. “I’ve been asked about that in every interview for 10 years. This whole ‘what if.'”
Balor could not have scripted a greater foremost roster begin. In 2016, he defeated Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens and two others in the identical evening to earn a common championship match. He turned the primary particular person to win a WWE world title in his debut pay-per-view match by dethroning Seth Rollins at SummerSlam. He additionally suffered a torn labrum that evening. His first and solely WWE world title reign lasted 22 hours.
For 10 years, Balor has revisited that second in practically each interview. People stay fixated on what might have been. Since vacating the common championship, he is received a number of intercontinental and tag crew titles, reclaimed the NXT championship and captured the United States title. None of it has erased the stain of that lone 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,” Balor mentioned. “The only way to fix that is by becoming world champion again.”
Balor won’t stay in the principle occasion, however he is a continuing presence on tv. That consistency is not complacency. It’s the product of a drive that is endured for 25 years, no matter the place he is slotted on the cardboard. Headlining Elimination Chamber, and doubtlessly WrestleMania, issues. It simply is not new gasoline.
“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 defined. “It’s a physique of labor that I’m attempting to current. If you have a look at my physique of labor, I believe it is fairly completed. Sure, I have not received the world title in 10 years. How many folks have received the Best of the Super Juniors? How many have dominated in Japan, been profitable in Mexico, Europe, and WWE for 10 years?
“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.”
Elimination Chamber is not about retribution. It’s one other entry right into a wealthy codex.
“Am I happy with my career?” Balor requested. “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.”
