Finlay has been a true wrestling glow-up story, someone who built himself up over the course of a decade from a pale, uninspiring nepo baby to a tremendous performer. From a hopeful Young Lion to a comedy tag team specialist to The Boss Dawg, Finlay's New Japan career was full of ups and downs. He has truly put in the work these past 4 years, and he gradually became an awesome wrestler, a superstar in his presentation, a great heel and (un)surprisingly a great hardass babyface at the end, all while still regaining then maintaining that goofy, loveable charm he once had alongside Juice.
I have thoroughly enjoyed him as the War Dogs leader, and felt like he was in kayfabe the best and most respected Bullet Club leader too, someone who wasn't all about himself but rather about bringing his stablemates up with him. He has had some killer matches and some killer feuds these past few years, always making whatever he was involved in feel important and not as just another side story in the grand scheme of things. Finlay didn't end up winning the IWGP Title, but I'm still happy that I had the privilege of watching his growth from "Jay White cosplayer" to a phenomenal, phenomenal pro wrestler.
Whether he goes to AEW to reform War Dogs, or to NXT to lead his fellow generational compatriots in The Birthright, or perhaps something else entirely, I know he'll do well. Great wrestler and by all accounts an even better dude, I wish him all the success in the world. He has put in the work, earned everything he has the hard way, and he can still do a lot more. Four Savage Generations – Rebel Club forever! 💀🤘🖤🤍
by Leave_Me_Al0ne1