Finn "Prince Devitt" Bálor Thread (Raw Spoilers ahoy!)

Insect Overlord wrote: »

He'd hardly screw up and fail Wellness, would he?

What I meant was that he probably wouldn't get passed the midcard. I know this is probably blasphemy on this forum but thats how I feel. He doesn't have a unique image like Sheamus and even hes faded a lot over the years.

Pretty interesting response from Fergal as in he gave any response at all as traditionally he keeps his cards close to his chest. As I said above I don't there is any fresh interest in him. I think reports are simply echos of other reports a month earlier. He is under New Japan contract for how long I don't know

Triple H asked NXT Creative's Rob Naylor a year and a good bit ago for list of potential signees from the Indies so to speak. Rob submitted a list of 20-25 names the results can be seen in WWE's raid on the independents. Anyone who signed went willingly by all reports however Rob said he and William Regal begged him to come to NXT strongly multiple times and Fergal each time politely said no.

WWE is some people's dreams and for other's it is not:

That's a legitimate story and wasn't for public consumption. Kevin Steen one of his closest friends spoke about it too here at 15:20 mark:


However there's people in WWE who would switch places with Fergal in a heartbeat. The New Japan locker room is full of people who had a hard time in WWE and TNA too who made the jump.

Not to over do it on the WWE discussion. But Devitt is a prominent part of a seriously growing company:


Observer:

The company announced its new officers after Takaaki Kidani resigned as Chairman of the Board. Naoki Sugabayashi, the longtime company president, is now the Chairman. Kaname Tezuka, an executive from Bushiroad, is the new company president. Kaoru Migumo and Michiaki Nishizawa are Directors and Jyunjy Iwasaki is the financial officer. It’s notable that not one former wrestler is in senior management and Sugabayashi is the only one with years of experience in wrestling. Nishizawa was a translator for the company. Tezuka, like Kidani, are trying to expand the brand overseas, which is going to be very difficult because Japanese culture doesn’t export well. The two markets they are looking at is the U.S., where they have no chance, and Singapore, where they already have their TV broadcast in English. They are also looking at getting into Europe and Southeast Asia. He said their goal is to increase revenue to $100 million annually, and to run shows not only at the Tokyo Dome, but at every major Dome in Japan in 2015. For the first three quarters of the year, New Japan’s profits are up 500% from 2012.

I asked the lads:



Worth noting he is wrestling in Bray tonight:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=86741927&postcount=1116

Nody wrote: »

Well 500% profit increase may sound good but if that's going from 1 EUR to 5 EUR profit it's still a poor profit With out having some relevant numbers to put next to is (such as net profit, total spend etc.) it's really a meaningless fluff number.

New Japan went from about 2001 to 2008 without turning a profit due the Japanese economy and booking and talents decisions that genuinely nearly destroyed the company. $4-5 million was the likely profit range in 2012. The addition of iPPV is what is driving the increase. There is no tradition of Pay Per View in America and cable penetration is rather low in the country (meaning people only have the basic channels). So there was an unknown level of demand for Wrestling iPPVs which turned out to be large.

There's also the social factor which I am not entirely sure exists in October 2013 of people not wanting to be seen out in enjoying themselves or on TV doing it while other people were suffering due to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. I guess it is kind of like when it was kind of vulgar to be seen having a new car reg in Ireland a few years ago when the economy was its worst.

Andy_rse wrote: »

Seen him in Belfast last night, he wrestled 3 matches, he looks the business! Him and Duncan Disorderly put on a good match in the main event!

Duncan's really good. Looks the part, can talk and wrestle.

You forgot to mention this:

Mike Johnson reported today WWE and Devitt ARE in discussions.

Mike acknowledged the joke Tweets from the weekend the report isn't based off them rather something he was actually told my source.

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

I'd fear he'd end up as another Senshi. A bit of buzz for a week or two but then left to job on Superstars to the Wyatts.

Senshi was a completely different time both developmental wise and creatively. Low Ki and Devitt are so different in so many ways in is not worth discussing IMO. Devitt is as professional as Low Ki isn't. A better comparison/test case and it is still early days for him is Adrian Neville as they were essentially going to be signed together. Even saying that Neville isn't that great as some convincing had to be done before WWE signed him. While Triple H, Regal and tonnes more all want Devitt, some for years.

You can say what you want about Tensai being a flop. But Tensai is a Triple H guy in real llife in that will likely have a post career job with WWE likely as a trainer. Tensai also happens to be a big supporter of Devitt. I know elsewhere on the roster Daniel Bryan, CM Punk and Tyson Kidd are all big fans of Devitt. In short there's a lot of people there that will put a good word in or advocate for a strong position/tp work with him.

What Meltzer wrote largely details most of us who has followed the story know already except the bold bit:

WWE has also opened up talks again with Fergal "Prince" Devitt. In the past, Devitt has talked about being happy with New Japan given the style and the fact he's got a guaranteed good spot in a place he's established his name, plus it's a lot better schedule to work. At the same time, there is far more potential money in WWE, and the New Japan style is far tougher physically. At 32, with injuries starting to crop up, you start thinking about your financial future and decisions you may have made a few years ago are looked at differently. The thing with Devitt is, he's not just got the in-ring work but has a heel attitude and personality completely unlike anyone in the company right now. But as the leader of The Bullet Club, he's really in the best position of his career in New Japan as far as a guy who will get major singles matches and probably a PPV main event and one or two semis a year, and is part of a growing company. I know people who have done both New Japan and WWE and they are much happier in New Japan, but money is an issue and it also depends on what kind of commitment WWE makes financially. WWE offered Tensai a huge downside because they expected him to be a main event heel, even if he didn't make it, but he's making far more than he'd have made in Japan. What WWE offered A.J. Styles, who has a bigger U.S. name than Devitt, as far as a guarantee goes, may be the same or less than Devitt is already guaranteed in Japan.

Someone worked out/said that AJ's current WWE offer is a fifth of what TNA are paying him.

LOTD wrote: »

Seriously, that's really insulting for a guy in my opinion who has been one of the best wrestlers in North America for the last decade

From the WWE POV:
- They aren't to paying a premium on the "transfer market" for someone they probably an equal to in-house or developmental.

- AJ Styles isn't a star he is just a dude who has been on national TV who has been near-terminally misused. If you want to label him damaged goods you can.

- WWE seems to think from what I am lead to believe there's a "TNA stink."

- Young AJ Styles is 36. Under Johnny Ace's reign in talent relations the given cut off age was 32 - with some exceptions. Devitt is 32 by the way.

Edit:

- Also probably too Southern. Not even trolling on this one.

Machismo Fan wrote: »

Considering AJ's probably not on huge money, offering him a fifth of that just seems mean spirited. Why bother offering him anything at all?

And then leak it to the dirtsheets too.

In fairness how many times have TNA strictly used WWE interest real or fake just for negotiating leverage for TNA or to further a storyline.

I should have a better feel about what money AJ is on. I assume 500k, MF?