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

DM_7 · 28-01-2014 11:08pm

If they find find a spot for gallows or lance archer then Devitt would be fine.

Can't see him going to the US without a nice incentive and worse places to live than florida. He went to America to get to Japan so it wouldn't faze him.

With New Japan doing well and looking to expand, an english speaking white dude will be worth a lot to them so I hope he gets a nice wedge of cash from someone. Deserves it.

rovert · 29-01-2014 1:35pm

Frankie Kazarian ‏@FrankieKazarian
Magic happened tonight as the #Bulletclub & #BadInfluence became one in downtown Dublin! pic.twitter.com/eKgMRk6I7l

The three have always bantered back and forth on Twitter.

rovert · 30-01-2014 1:45am

From this week's Observer:

Prince Devitt as of last word had yet to sign a new contract and is believed to be considering his WWE offer, which we heard was for an immediate main roster position as opposed to a developmental deal.

This changes things as he wouldn't be paid entry level wages and wouldn't be banging his head against a wall of the Performance Centre.

Last male Wrestler to bypass developmental was Daniel Bryan. So they must be high enough on him.

30-01-2014 1:52am

Quite the offer.

rovert · 30-01-2014 10:51am

From this morning's audio Bryan Alvarez said he did actually have a formal meeting with TNA yesterday. Dave Meltzer said his New Japan contract expires tomorrow.

Moneymaker · 30-01-2014 11:07am

Have him debut the night after WM when all the smarks know who he is. Good times.

beakerjoe · 30-01-2014 1:02pm

rovert wrote: »

From this week's Observer:

This changes things as he wouldn't be paid entry level wages and wouldn't be banging his head against a wall of the Performance Centre.

Last male Wrestler to bypass developmental was Daniel Bryan. So they must be high enough on him.

Did Mistico not by pass development

I was sure Daniel was in FCW at one stage

gnfnrhead · 30-01-2014 1:04pm

beakerjoe wrote: »

Did Mistico not by pass development

I was sure Daniel was in FCW at one stage

He was, but only for a few weeks before NXT started.

rovert · 30-01-2014 1:04pm

beakerjoe wrote: »

Did Mistico not by pass development

He was there for short stint.

beakerjoe wrote: »

I was sure Daniel was in FCW at one stage

He was but he had the option to skip developmental but Daniel though he was rusty and volunteered to go down there.

duuuaaaane · 30-01-2014 1:51pm

For what it's worth. Devitt is headed for Japan tomorrow for a few weeks.

ShagNastii · 30-01-2014 2:09pm

You'd wonder would TNA be at all attractive to Davitt? If they landed him I've no doubt he'd be thrown right into the main event upper card picture and he could maybe still preserve links to new Japan (didn't TNA have a close relationship to new japan over recent years ala WCW)

rovert · 30-01-2014 2:14pm

ShagNastii wrote: »

You'd wonder would TNA be at all attractive to Davitt? If they landed him I've no doubt he'd be thrown right into the main event upper card picture and he could maybe still preserve links to new Japan (didn't TNA have a close relationship to new japan over recent years ala WCW)

TNA and New Japan had a falling out and don't appear to have mended fences.

Contrary to Bryan Alvarez's report Mike Johnson who I feel is more trustworthy reported:

In a move that has some fans talking, New Japan star Prince Devitt was backstage at last night's TNA show in Dublin, Ireland. TNA did meet with him briefly as Dave Lagana has pushed trying to sign him in the past. We have been told he's really close to signing a WWE deal, so he may have just been there looking to see friends, but we will see. He's currently under a New Japan deal but it expires very soon.

Things seem to be too advanced between WWE and Devitt for TNA to enter now.

In general non main event rank and file Wrestlers are happier in New Japan than in WWE and TNA. As it is a happier, more professional work environment and advancement is more based on a Wrestler's effort in the ring.

gnfnrhead · 30-01-2014 3:10pm

ShagNastii wrote: »

You'd wonder would TNA be at all attractive to Davitt? If they landed him I've no doubt he'd be thrown right into the main event upper card picture and he could maybe still preserve links to new Japan (didn't TNA have a close relationship to new japan over recent years ala WCW)

Think he would only be interested if he could continue to work full time in NJPW. So no TNA house shows or anything, just TV tapings once every four to six weeks. Doubt TNA would be up for that so it would be a non starter.

The TNA/NJPW working agreement ended when TNA treated Okada so badly.

GTR63 · 30-01-2014 3:17pm

Pity Tna & New Japan hadn't a working agreement. Imagine had the members of Aces & 8's been the Bullet Club instead of in the majority born losers.

gnfnrhead · 30-01-2014 3:35pm

GTR63 wrote: »

Pity Tna & New Japan hadn't a working agreement. Imagine had the members of Aces & 8's been the Bullet Club instead of in the majority born losers.

Who built the time machine? :pac:

GTR63 · 30-01-2014 3:39pm

gnfnrhead wrote: »

Who built the time machine? :pac:

Dances with Dudley

GTR63 · 30-01-2014 10:11pm

Shapey Fiend · 30-01-2014 10:13pm

I was doing the gun finger in the background of Prince Devitt's Ennis entry video there but I failed to commit and pretended to be scratching my head because the camera was pointed at me.

duuuaaaane · 31-01-2014 12:43am

is that the Workmans?

GTR63 wrote: »

Adiboo · 31-01-2014 1:31am

uwwedoogie wrote: »

is that the Workmans?

It was in Scotland I believe.

duuuaaaane · 01-02-2014 7:42pm

Devitt's NJPW contract is now officially up - he is however now back in Japan and one must assume he'll be a part of the upcoming shows - all Bullet Club members are booked.

I imagine he'll hold (further) talks with NJPW and how he is booked on the show will be a huge indication of how those talks go.

gnfnrhead · 01-02-2014 7:47pm

I really cant see him leaving. He is now free of the Junior division and Okada will be in need of challengers again soon.

rovert · 02-02-2014 2:24pm

Be prepared for a whole bunch of non-news.

First show of New Japan's current tour this morning. Devitt was booked strong and to me still placed as the leader of the group. New Japan also debutted new Bullet Club which means little as we don't know the production time involved and the group would likely continue if Devitt left. In the 8 man tag itself he was booked very strongly and beat his old babyface tag partner who just returned from a long injury with a double foot stomp.

Soft Falling Rain · 02-02-2014 8:54pm

Devitt is a very good looking guy, I'd be curious to know what he's like as a face. If he he's in any way decent as one it wouldn't surprise me to see WWE push him quickly.

rovert · 02-02-2014 9:00pm

Soft Falling Rain wrote: »

Devitt is a very good looking guy, I'd be curious to know what he's like as a face. If he he's in any way decent as one it wouldn't surprise me to see WWE push him quickly.

He was a very effective long time babyface in New Japan but he was VERY bland to Western eyes. Most of his promos were a cure for insomnia. Even Devitt said in media interviews he was really bored of his character and his "Match of the Day" style.

rovert · 06-02-2014 3:38pm

Meltzer in Observer essentially wrote what I wrote in post #127

Also this:

:P

rovert · 11-02-2014 10:40am

Your current rumour is that NJPW Anniversary show on March 6th is Devitt's last show. He dropped a fall to Taguchi today.

Jimmy Bottlehead · 11-02-2014 1:14pm

rovert wrote: »

Your current rumour is that NJPW Anniversary show on March 6th is Devitt's last show. He dropped a fall to Taguchi today.

WWE-bound?

Loughc · 11-02-2014 1:21pm

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

WWE-bound?

Hopefully not, it'll be a poor career decision and can see him getting completely lost in the shuffle.

rovert · 11-02-2014 1:40pm

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

WWE-bound?

One would assume.

These rumours are only rumours if I read or hear anything solid I will label it so.

Moneymaker · 11-02-2014 1:47pm

Loughc wrote: »

Hopefully not, it'll be a poor career decision and can see him getting completely lost in the shuffle.

It's a risk alright but the fact that the contract apparently puts him straight onto the main roster would suggest they are pretty high on him.

One would think they have feuds and storylines planned for him(hah!).

Lord TSC · 11-02-2014 2:21pm

Would love him to be the Raw-Post-Mania debut attack on Cena

ShagNastii · 11-02-2014 2:58pm

I would be a hard sell to Vince. But an NWO like arrival of The Bulletclub recruited by Punk could be fantastic.

Nody · 11-02-2014 3:40pm

Loughc wrote: »

Hopefully not, it'll be a poor career decision and can see him getting completely lost in the shuffle.

All down to the $ on the contract as I noted earlier; with a big enough payout (and signing on bonus) he can easily live the rest of his life on a single contract alone.

rovert · 15-02-2014 12:06pm

Reports on Devitt remain variations of what was already posted.

The assumption from friends and New Japan he will go.
He has bargaining power due to his position with New Japan.
Money is a sticking point as WWE will have to pay what they consider over the odds to get him to leave NJPW and Ireland.
How long he stays in NXT is another sticking point.
Devitt being on New Japan's length March tour is no indication that he is staying with New Japan.

Dave Meltzer compared Devitt to late period Brian Pillman:

With his ring entrance, music and Chris Jericho jacket, Devitt just comes across as a major superstar. That ring outfit thing is an often overlooked aspect of people seeing you as a top guy. He works more like a 70s U.S. heel and reminds me a lot of the mentality Brian Pillman had when his body was breaking down and went from high flyer to thinking about nothing but ways to get heat.

Shapey Fiend · 15-02-2014 12:13pm

Deviant and Naive Ted upped the Bullet Club theme last night. http://m.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdeviantandnaiveted.bandcamp.com%2Ftrack%2Flast-chance-saloon-bullet-club-theme&h=xAQGGmLWO&enc=AZPa01N9x7ODZsK6T95LwOn1UlZ2m_Nt87xDI2bWYUu8OYBIGR1cXYzY8fp4Gv_D_7k4J0pSNdcHLsHOO5_Tot9Mcqe3k2xM0_44n0k-mM5oKc_sAJmFSskYzzPMjVLTUfkIwt23cvvtfPkEMJOkEGz7&s=1

rovert · 17-02-2014 1:55am

Devitt's WWF music:

Reganio 2 · 17-02-2014 5:26am

He should do whatever gets him the most money to live a happy life if he can go to wwe for say 5 years and make as much as being the guy in njpw for 10 years I say fair play to him. Problem being he would lose a lot of his moves and don't know if the bullet club thing would carry to America (gun nuts etc)

Also his being carried to the ring thing was done by nunzio before so for the 2 people that would remember that it's a jobber status :P

Jamie OD · 17-02-2014 2:58pm

I'm starting to think if Devitt is going to show up on any American promotion this year, it will be with ROH first. They have an announcement to make soon and the popular guess is it will be a new relationship with New Japan. I could see him popping by for a match or two Mania weekend. Probably not going to happen but I like the idea of ROH being a dark horse in this story.

Edit: Just remembered NJPW has a major show on Mania weekend so that idea is out the window.

rovert · 17-02-2014 3:06pm

Jamie OD wrote: »

I'm starting to think if Devitt is going to show up on any American promotion this year, it will be with ROH first. They have an announcement to make soon and the popular guess is it will be a new relationship with New Japan. I could see him popping by for a match or two Mania weekend. Probably not going to happen but I like the idea of ROH being a dark horse in this story.

Edit: Just remembered NJPW has a major show on Mania weekend so that idea is out the window.

I do expect a New Japan-ROH relationship. ROH's new Marketing guy Court Bauer has been dropping thinly veiled hints. He specifically has the horn for Devitt too.

ibFoxer · 17-02-2014 10:43pm

Anyone else think the ring is built for Devitt & Bryan?

rovert · 18-02-2014 6:07pm

Must read Q&A much, much in depth than he usually goes:
http://culturecrossfire.com/wrestling/qa-with-prince-devitt/#.UwOSv2J_tA0

I had 2 ideas for the Dome. One was to rig the ring with lights the same as my jacket. But I felt that we had already done the lights and I wanted something new. I was looking around and decided I wanted to be painted entirely black. That was what I thought was happening. Then on the day the artist when with her own ideas and it turned out looking like Carnage but was never meant to be. It was meant to be more like Venom. The paint turned out to be a blessing as it disguised the fact I had lost 10lbs in the 2 days before the Dome in the hospital with a vomiting bug.

mrkiscool2 · 22-02-2014 8:02am

Just want to say, doing the draft and have had Devitt feature pretty prominently so have being listening to his entrance theme a lot. It is fcuking class, I am so in love with it! If he does come to the WWE hopefully they have something similar!

rovert · 22-02-2014 10:39am

Devitt doesn't really talk about his private business in public and WWE prefers talent to keep quiet so this is the best you are going to get re: going to WWE.

Prince Devitt recently spoke with Ryan Devlin of The Wrestling Mania. Here are some highlights from the interview.

Being backstage at TNA in Dublin: “There are lots of rumors going around. Wrestling fans in general prefer the rumors to what actually happens in the ring. I prefer to talk about what happens in the ring but I did tweet about it and went there to see friends. At the moment I’m still a New Japan Pro wrestler.

Possible WWE offer: “Of course it’s on my radar; it’d be silly of me to say it’s not on my wish list of things to do in life. It’s very flattering because I grew up watching WWE, but to be even considered employable by a company like that is a big honor for me. I’m very happy with what I’m doing now, but if the situation came up and it was the right move, I’d like to try it.

Full 30 minute interview here: http://www.thewrestlingmania.com/radio-shows/interviews/twm-interview-prince-devitt/

Devitt discusses his start in pro wrestling, his experiences travelling all around the world and making a name for himself in Japan, we ask him what he was doing at the TNA tapings in Glasgow, his time touring the UK, we ask him if he will sign for WWE, where his inspiration comes from for his amazing body art, his upcoming tour in Preston and so much more in this exclusive interview.

gnfnrhead · 22-02-2014 2:08pm

I’m very happy with what I’m doing now

That's the important part for me. He pretty much only works for NJPW meaning he cant be short on the money side of things. A new contract would see him make even more due to his higher card position now. Walking away from that, for nothing more than a maybe, would be a retarded move for me. If you're happy and making good money, dont leave it.

A Primal Nut · 22-02-2014 2:29pm

gnfnrhead wrote: »

That's the important part for me. He pretty much only works for NJPW meaning he cant be short on the money side of things. A new contract would see him make even more due to his higher card position now. Walking away from that, for nothing more than a maybe, would be a retarded move for me. If you're happy and making good money, dont leave it.

As he said he grew up watching WWE. I can't imagine any Irish wrestler not wanting to wrestle in WWE at some point, even as a bucket list thing, and if he is going to do it now is the time. It's a risk but at least he has some leverage regarding money and position in WWE.

Then again, he could end up like Tensai.

gnfnrhead · 22-02-2014 2:37pm

A Primal Nut wrote: »

As he said he grew up watching WWE. I can't imagine any Irish wrestler not wanting to wrestle in WWE at some point, even as a bucket list thing, and if he is going to do it now is the time. It's a risk but at least he has some leverage regarding money and position in WWE.

Then again, he could end up like Tensai.

He's currently happy and making good money. That's pretty much what everyone wants in life. He has it. If he wasnt happy, fair enough. If he wasnt making money, fair enough. But he has both right now.

Pretty much everyone grew up watching WWE or WCW.

DM_7 · 22-02-2014 3:13pm

gnfnrhead wrote: »

That's the important part for me. He pretty much only works for NJPW meaning he cant be short on the money side of things. A new contract would see him make even more due to his higher card position now. Walking away from that, for nothing more than a maybe, would be a retarded move for me. If you're happy and making good money, dont leave it.

Was he going to say anything other than he is happy?

gnfnrhead · 22-02-2014 3:16pm

DM-ICE wrote: »

Was he going to say anything other than he is happy?

Why would he lie?

ricero · 22-02-2014 3:17pm

I say he will regret not going to wwe in later life if he decides to stay in Japan

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

Comments