10 Awesome Things You Don't Remember About WWE's Ruthless Aggression Era
8. The Return Of Fit Finlay
Debuting in 1974, third generation Belfast-born wrestler Dave Fit Finlay was a mainstay of the Irish and British scene for nearly twenty years, in-between frequent trips around Europe and to Japan, before he made the move to the US to work for WCW in 1995.
Hed wrestle for the WWFs competition for five years, before being taken out after suffering serious lacerations in a hardcore match against one of the Nasty Boyz on a house show. Finlay would sever nerves in his leg, and even after recovery wasnt able to feel anything below the knee. He was considered to have suffered a career-ending injury, and retired in 2000
...except he didnt. In January 2006, Finlay returned after a gruelling year of intensive rehabilitation - this time in the WWE, where he was naturally given the stereotypical gimmick of an Irish street fighting brawler with an evil-minded little leprechaun for an sidekick (except that the gimmick was Finlays idea, and Hornswoggle was his own invention, even down to the name).
Still, Finlays comeback wasnt just a minor miracle, but a genuine gift from the wrestling gods. Back in the late seventies and early eighties, Finlay had helped revolutionise wrestling in the UK, along with other superworkers like Rollerball Rocco, Marty Jones and the Dynamite Kid.
Theyd initiated a stiff, technical, intense and bruising style, far faster than was the style in Britain at the time, and the world would begin to pay attention.
Like Terry Funk, when Finlay hit you he didnt daintily tap your face while furiously stamping the mat. He hit you hard, and you stayed hit. Finlays no-nonsense, fast and brutal style was a breath of fresh air in 2006, and he wrestled like a man half his age with something to prove.
It seemed like, even at forty-eight years old, the man was incapable of having a bad match with anyone.