Why WWE STILL Won't Push Finn Balor

Angles and Demons.

Finn Balor Upset
WWE

We've been here before.

At the start of 2018, we considered the possible reasons why WWE wouldn't unleash the figurative and literal Demon on the fanbase in a meaningful fashion nearly a full year after Finn Bálor’s main roster return. The subject matter was particularly raw at the time - Bálor had been overlooked for a Royal Rumble programme with Brock Lesnar, losing his place to a sh*t sandwich triple threat featuring Braun Strowman and Kane - with this particular slight by the organisation having more pointed ramifications for the rest of the roster.

Reports from all the usual sources emerged that it was felt Finn wasn't "over" enough to get the shot against 'The Beast'. It was a source of some frustration for many. WWE insists upon the team effort approach for getting singular stars over. Bálor is not a product of his own doing - nobody within the company is - he's a guy trying to get a version of himself over that includes creative instruction from many different voices all ultimately serving an audience of one. Him not being over enough - which, subjectively speaking, was incorrect - is as much to do with how he's booked as how he works.

If he wasn't over then, it should have been a requirement of those above him to help make it so. We are now at the end of 2018 and near-identical problems still dominate discussion on him. He may not be quite at the elite level Shawn Michaels managed in 1997, but it's a f*cking miracle he's not totally lost that at-times insufferable smile.

CONT'D...

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation over 7 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 30 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz", Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 50,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett