Who Is Finn Bálor? Appreciation Thread

[Steveweiser]

Part 1 of the Finn Bálor story was incredible, on many different levels. The general presentation, the filming method, the fact he openly referred to himself as Fergal Devitt, the friendship and training relationship he has with Becky Lynch, the old footage from Ireland, and clips of him in Insane Championship Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling - I mean we got to see many UK and world indy names, like Grado, Noam Dar, Jack Jester, BT Gunn, Kay Lee Ray... even Adam Cole and Ricochet. They even played Billy F'n Kirkwood's commentary during the ICW clips! Even though it was a piece on Bálor and got him massively over, it also got Becky Lynch over as well. And there's Part 2 next week where he'll talk about New Japan!

Probably one of the best TV segments WWE has EVER produced that wasn't a two/three minute music video or a tribute video like Dusty's. If there was something like this with a main roster talent, they'd be far more over than they are right now. This sort of video slaps you in the face that Bálor's winning the NXT Title on July 4th in Tokyo, and it makes you WANT IT. Near perfection.

[the2ndevil]

Was this on NXT last night?

[543Y2J]

Was this in the NXT episode yesterday? Haven't watched it yet, but plan on doing as soon as I get chance

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Its the kind of thing that should be done with Talent but won't be because Vince is an idiot at this point...

[Steveweiser]

Jun 18, 2015 7:12:16 GMT -5 the2ndevil said:

Was this on NXT last night?

Jun 18, 2015 7:12:42 GMT -5 543Y2J said:

Was this in the NXT episode yesterday? Haven't watched it yet, but plan on doing as soon as I get chance

Yes it was, and it took up a large amount of time on the show, about 8-10 minutes.

[MiLB Fan]

Yeah, it was part of the NXT show.

I was impressed with the amount of footage from ICW and Revolution Pro that WWE used. Kudos to them for acknowledging that yes, Balor worked for other promotions before signing with WWE.

And now it's confession time: When that Superstars intro played, I didn't realize it was still part of the documentary; I thought it was a way of announcing that WWE would be adding early-90s episodes of its syndicated show to the Network. Yeah, I felt pretty foolish when they started talking about Balor again.

Another great job by WWE.

[Mozenrath]

Now people can learn the thimble lore.

[the2ndevil]

Jun 18, 2015 7:21:36 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

Jun 18, 2015 7:12:16 GMT -5 the2ndevil said:

Was this on NXT last night?

Jun 18, 2015 7:12:42 GMT -5 543Y2J said:

Was this in the NXT episode yesterday? Haven't watched it yet, but plan on doing as soon as I get chance

Yes it was, and it took up a large amount of time on the show, about 8-10 minutes.

So, similar to the Hideo Itami one they did a few months back?

[Paco]

I was surprised that, on top of simply being named, Revolution Pro got their logo on as part of the "courtesy of".

[mhamm05]

Jun 18, 2015 7:37:43 GMT -5 the2ndevil said:

Jun 18, 2015 7:21:36 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

Yes it was, and it took up a large amount of time on the show, about 8-10 minutes.

So, similar to the Hideo Itami one they did a few months back?

I didn't see the Itami one. Not trying to be an asshole, but read OP for the gist of it. I don't know a ton of Devitt outside of NXT, but I'm guessing it basically covered first half of his career up to ICW (someone correct me if I'm wrong). They're going to do a second half next week.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Jun 18, 2015 7:45:50 GMT -5 mhamm05 said:

Jun 18, 2015 7:37:43 GMT -5 the2ndevil said:

So, similar to the Hideo Itami one they did a few months back?

I didn't see the Itami one. Not trying to be an asshole, but read OP for the gist of it. I don't know a ton of Devitt outside of NXT, but I'm guessing it basically covered first half of his career up to ICW (someone correct me if I'm wrong). They're going to do a second half next week.

Covered the part of his career through ICW, up to where he was about to start with New Japan.

[Abdullah]

It got kind of had me 'shipping Becky and Balor too.

This month's NXT tapings have been very safe so this was the kind of thing that happens and reminds you that, yes, NXT is different than the main roster and still fairly unique.

[Steveweiser]

The discussion points were mainly about pre-NJPW and Becky. ICW and Rev Pro were shown to illustrate him doing indy wrestling, but all the clips were in the past year or two.

[mhamm05]

Jun 18, 2015 7:47:06 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

Jun 18, 2015 7:45:50 GMT -5 mhamm05 said:

I didn't see the Itami one. Not trying to be an asshole, but read OP for the gist of it. I don't know a ton of Devitt outside of NXT, but I'm guessing it basically covered first half of his career up to ICW (someone correct me if I'm wrong). They're going to do a second half next week.

Covered the part of his career through ICW, up to where he was about to start with New Japan.

Fair enough. Watch much Balor/Devitt before? Any suggestions for older matches of his to watch? This video package definitely has me intrigued.

[Steveweiser]

New Japan World has a tonne of Devitt matches, and they have an English site. As far as other matches, the easiest option is Devitt's match in PROGRESS Wrestling against Zack Sabre Jr., which is on their free "Chapter 13: Unbelievable Jeff!" show on YouTube.

[mhamm05]

Jun 18, 2015 7:02:03 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

Part 1 of the Finn Bálor story was incredible, on many different levels. The general presentation, the filming method, the fact he openly referred to himself as Fergal Devitt, the friendship and training relationship he has with Becky Lynch, the old footage from Ireland, and clips of him in Insane Championship Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling - I mean we got to see many UK and world indy names, like Grado, Noam Dar, Jack Jester, BT Gunn, Kay Lee Ray... even Adam Cole and Ricochet. They even played Billy F'n Kirkwood's commentary during the ICW clips! Even though it was a piece on Bálor and got him massively over, it also got Becky Lynch over as well. And there's Part 2 next week where he'll talk about New Japan!

Probably one of the best TV segments WWE has EVER produced that wasn't a two/three minute music video or a tribute video like Dusty's. If there was something like this with a main roster talent, they'd be far more over than they are right now. This sort of video slaps you in the face that Bálor's winning the NXT Title on July 4th in Tokyo, and it makes you WANT IT. Near perfection.

Was interested to find he's done the face paint gimmick before. I haven't seen (or didn't notice) anyone referring to it before.

Appreciated the Becky Lynch section, both as a fan of hers and of NXT in general. Found it interesting she calls him "Fergal". Can't remember now, but did he ever call her by her real last name or just refer to her as "Becky".

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

Jun 18, 2015 7:48:55 GMT -5 mhamm05 said:

Jun 18, 2015 7:47:06 GMT -5 EoE: Well There's Your Problem said:

Covered the part of his career through ICW, up to where he was about to start with New Japan.

Fair enough. Watch much Balor/Devitt before? Any suggestions for older matches of his to watch? This video package definitely has me intrigued.

I've only watched one non-NXT Finn Balor match before and that was one he had with Neville (PAC at the time) in New Japan in 2012, as part of Best Of The Super Juniors.

(That, and Wrestle Kingdom 9 is literally all I've seen of New Japan too)

[mhamm05]

Jun 18, 2015 7:50:28 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

New Japan World has a tonne of Devitt matches, and they have an English site. As far as other matches, the easiest option is Devitt's match in PROGRESS Wrestling against Zack Sabre Jr., which is on their free "Chapter 13: Unbelievable Jeff!" show on YouTube.

Excellent. Thanks!

[Steveweiser]

Jun 18, 2015 7:54:20 GMT -5 mhamm05 said:

Jun 18, 2015 7:02:03 GMT -5 Steveweiser said:

Part 1 of the Finn Bálor story was incredible, on many different levels. The general presentation, the filming method, the fact he openly referred to himself as Fergal Devitt, the friendship and training relationship he has with Becky Lynch, the old footage from Ireland, and clips of him in Insane Championship Wrestling and Revolution Pro Wrestling - I mean we got to see many UK and world indy names, like Grado, Noam Dar, Jack Jester, BT Gunn, Kay Lee Ray... even Adam Cole and Ricochet. They even played Billy F'n Kirkwood's commentary during the ICW clips! Even though it was a piece on Bálor and got him massively over, it also got Becky Lynch over as well. And there's Part 2 next week where he'll talk about New Japan!

Probably one of the best TV segments WWE has EVER produced that wasn't a two/three minute music video or a tribute video like Dusty's. If there was something like this with a main roster talent, they'd be far more over than they are right now. This sort of video slaps you in the face that Bálor's winning the NXT Title on July 4th in Tokyo, and it makes you WANT IT. Near perfection.

Was interested to find he's done the face paint gimmick before. I haven't seen (or didn't notice) anyone referring to it before.

Was all the rage for his last six months pre-WWE. He started it at the 2014 Tokyo Dome show.

[nisidhe]

Dollars to donuts you won't see his stuff as Pegasus Kid II (for obvious reasons - just being a shit-disturber here.)