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David Finlay Navigates Transition from NJPW to TV Wrestling
Confirmed
In Short: Finlay's transition from NJPW to AEW highlights the fluid nature of wrestling careers and the opportunities that arise from exploring different companies.
According to Fightful Select, Finlay's contract with NJPW ended, but the company is reportedly still trying to re-sign him.
Finlay's last match for NJPW was on February 11, where he lost to Callum Newman at New Beginning in Osaka. After the match, Finlay seemed to bid farewell to the company, bowing in front of the crowd and embracing his manager, Gedo.
Despite the apparent farewell, Finlay is still booked for the New Beginning USA event on February 27.
Finlay's journey with NJPW began in 2015 when he joined the company's Young Lion system. He graduated in 2016 and has since focused on tag-team action, forming the 'FinJuice' tag team with Juice Robinson in 2017.
In 2021, Finlay had a career-defining run in the New Japan Cup, defeating Chase Owens, YOSHI-HASHI, and Jay White before narrowly losing to Will Ospreay in the semi-finals.
Finlay's success in NJPW has raised questions about a potential singles push for him within the company.
In an interview with Talk Is Jericho, Finlay revealed that the War Dogs faction under All Elite Wrestling (AEW) was formed after NJPW rejected the idea of ending BULLET CLUB.
Finlay explained, 'I became the BULLET CLUB leader and then I immediately wanted to kill it but they were like, 'No! It makes money.' So the compromise was we’d form BULLET CLUB War Dogs which is where The Dogs come from. So it was me and a bunch of the L.A. Dojo guys that weren’t getting used. So I was the leader and then it was Gabe Kidd, Alex Coughlin, who had to retire for medical reasons, Clark Connors and Drilla Moloney. We were like the core of that group and then as time went on, it expanded as groups do. Those are my boys and it’s cool that me, Gabe and Clark can kind of tweak the act but transplant the act into another company. There’s this sense of pride that comes with that.'
Finlay's transition from NJPW to AEW highlights the fluid nature of wrestling careers and the opportunities that arise from exploring different companies.
Both Culturedvultures and F4Wonline reported on Finlay's journey, with Culturedvultures focusing on his tag-team success and potential singles push, while F4Wonline provided updates on his contract status and recent matches.
What this adds
The sources have not established a specific timeline for Finlay's future plans or any negotiations with NJPW or AEW.
What's confirmed
- According to Fightful Select, Finlay's contract with NJPW ended, but the company is reportedly still trying to re-sign him.
- Finlay's last match for NJPW was on February 11, where he lost to Callum Newman at New Beginning in Osaka. After the match, Finlay seemed to bid farewell to the company, bowing in front of the crowd and embracing his manager, Gedo.
- Despite the apparent farewell, Finlay is still booked for the New Beginning USA event on February 27.
- Finlay's journey with NJPW began in 2015 when he joined the company's Young Lion system. He graduated in 2016 and has since focused on tag-team action, forming the 'FinJuice' tag team with Juice Robinson in 2017.
- In 2021, Finlay had a career-defining run in the New Japan Cup, defeating Chase Owens, YOSHI-HASHI, and Jay White before narrowly losing to Will Ospreay in the semi-finals.
- Finlay's success in NJPW has raised questions about a potential singles push for him within the company.
- In an interview with Talk Is Jericho, Finlay revealed that the War Dogs faction under All Elite Wrestling (AEW) was formed after NJPW rejected the idea of ending BULLET CLUB.
- Finlay's transition from NJPW to AEW highlights the fluid nature of wrestling careers and the opportunities that arise from exploring different companies.
- Both Culturedvultures and F4Wonline reported on Finlay's journey, with Culturedvultures focusing on his tag-team success and potential singles push, while F4Wonline provided updates on his contract status and recent matches.
What's still developing
- Their tag team victory was televised on March 13th, but was taped seemingly well in advance, as both Finlay and Juice were competing in the New Japan Cup that same week.
- On March 10th, David Finlay stood a tag-team specialised, “good hand” on the overflowing New Japan Pro Wrestling roster.
- From a noteworthy wrestling family, Finlay was born into the industry, making it his permanent home in the latter months of 2012.
- Winning the Impact World Tag Team Championships looked great at the time, but it has been shadowed by the singles glory David Finlay has achieved in the incredibly short time since.
- It’s given light to questions about a singles push in NJPW for this fourth generation wrestler.
- They first reported back in December that Finlay was looking to explore free agency.
- Joining NJPW in 2015, Finlay started out as a Young Lion before establishing himself as a babyface, winning the IWGP Tag Team titles once with Juice Robinson.