When Finn Bálor signed with WWE in May 2014, the question on many wrestling fans' lips was 'what the hell took so long?'. Indeed, anyone who had watched the Irishman wrestling for New Japan Pro-Wrestling since 2006 knew that he undoubtedly had huge potential. Of course the WWE was watching Devitt's progress and was impressed by what they saw. So much so that they offered Devitt a contract in 2009. Devitt turned the offer (most likely a developmental deal) because he felt he 'hadn't achieved anything at the time in New Japan', according to his May 2015 appearance on the Talk is Jericho podcast. It's interesting to think about what might have come of Devitt if he had signed in 2009. Triple H's vision of NXT was still a few years away from happening and WWE still prioritised the big, muscular look above the smaller, athletic one we see more of today.
