Finn Balor Talks Adjusting To NXT, Which NXT Talents Have "Blown Him Away," His Body Paint
Recently on The Taz Show: Bodyslams & Beyond, current NXT Champion Finn Bálor talked about transitioning to the United States and NXT, being impressed with the development of Jason Jordan and Chad Gable, and what the demon persona means to him.
When asked whether making the move to NXT has been a huge adjustment, Bálor admitted that he has had to make major adjustments both in and out of the ring in making the move to NXT.
"It was a lot of adjusting, not only to life at the [WWE] Performance Center, which is like a whole different kettle of fish than the dojos I'm used to, but just the whole adjusting to living in the United States. I was used to living at home in Ireland, which is pretty peaceful, [or] Japan, as its own little thing, and then down here in Florida, which is another completely different kind of environment, so [I have undergone] not only transitions in the ring, but a lot of transitions outside the ring too."
Bálor said he does not know whether turning NXT into its own standalone brand was the masterplan of WWE braintrust, but he believes what has happened in NXT over the last year has been nothing short of "phenomenal". Also, Bálor put over Jordan and Gable as two individuals who have grown a lot over that time.
"The growth that a lot of the boys have shown in the last year since I got here is just unbelievable. The likes of like Jason Jordan [and] Chad Gable, they're two guys that, in the last year, have blown me away with their growth."
Bálor stated that NXT is special because of the team environment being engendered at the WWE Performance Center.
"The thing about NXT is that we're not just relying on one guy. It's top to bottom. Every match means something and every match is important. Every match is a different dynamic and it's just cool." Bálor added, "it is kind of that chip on our shoulder kind of deal. I don't want to say that in a bad way, but everybody has something to prove and we're all trying to prove it together. There [are] no, kind of, individuals. Everyone's trying to outdo each other, but we're doing it was a team."
In regards to being called up to WWE's main roster, Bálor claimed that he is in no rush to move on from NXT.
"A lot of people keep bringing up that question, this 'when are you getting called up to the quote, unquote main roster?', but I really believe that the stuff we're doing down at NXT is going to go down in history as a period of time that has changed the sports entertainment business and I want to be here in NXT and be a part of what we're doing right now because it really does feel like something special. And there's this real kind of camaraderie among the boys, [and] really, like, team effort. And it's something that I'm not in a hurry to step away from. I'm here for the long haul." Bálor continued, "a lot of people are kind of always focused on what's coming next and trying to get on to the next thing, but I'm very much living in the moment here at NXT and I'm happy to be flying the flag as NXT Champion."
As for turning into the demon, Bálor suggested that he is a fan of art and that the body paint helps him get into the moment.
"Honestly, I'm just a fan of art. I'm a fan of expressionism. I'm a fan of changing things on the fly. I'm a fan of just going with the flow and being in the moment and that's really what the demon is for me. It just kind of helps me channel, kind of, maybe an inner, darker side. People accuse me of being kind of too nonchalant or too laid back and too introverted and I feel like the demon definitely helps me bring a different side of my personality out."
In addition to these topics, Bálor talked about Sheamus cashing in his Money in the Bank briefcase at WWE Survivor Series and what it meant for him to face current WWE Intercontinental Champion, Kevin Owens in Tokyo, Japan at WWE's The Beast in the East live special. Click here to listen to the entire show.
Source: The Taz Show: Bodyslams & Beyond