NXT Champion, Finn Balor, has spoken out about getting to work with his heroes after being transferred back to NXT.
On WWE’s main roster, the Irishman got to work with the likes of Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley and was the first victim of ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt. But none of that, for the man in question, compares to being back on the black and gold brand where he can work side-by-side with those who inspired him to lace up a pair of boots.
Speaking to ViBe & Wrestling, ‘The Prince’ talked about his second stint on WWE’s third brand as well as learning from and working with Shawn Michaels and Triple H on a daily basis:
“For me, I feel very fortunate that I’ve gotten to work very closely with some of my heroes in the wrestling business – Shawn Michaels and Triple H being two. Obviously, I’ve worked very closely with Triple H for many years since I began at NXT and of course William Regal. Then more recently in the second run with NXT, Shawn Michaels is heavily involved behind the scenes. So, getting to know him and learn from him and pick his brain on what he feels is a good direction to take the business, I’ve learned so much from.
It’s always very surreal to be working with these guys that you idolized or you grew up watching and had their t-shirts or had their action figures. Now you’re having a discussion or debate on what you think is a good direction to go. I feel very fortunate to have that kind of environment in NXT.”
On the subject of heroes, Balor then spoke about his father was his own personal hero growing up:
“For me, my hero was my father. Coming from Ireland in the 80s which was a very underprivileged country and we were a working-class family, seeing how hard he worked every day to provide for his five children, some weeks we wouldn’t see him because he would work double-shifts, and by the time he got home from work, we were already in bed. By the time I got up, he had already gone back to work. I think, for life as a role model, and how he worked to carve out everything his family needed, my hero would be my father.”
Finn Balor returned to NXT on October 2, 2019, turning heel on Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in the process. Almost one year later on September 8 at NXT Super Tuesday II, he defeated Adam Cole to capture the vacant NXT Championship after Karrion Kross was forced to vacate the gold subsequent to an injury he suffered at NXT TakeOver XXX.
Credit for the interview: ViBe & Wrestling
h/t for the transcription: Wrestling Inc.