What if Finn Balor quit WWE and joined The Elite?

WWE recruited Finn Balor ostensibly based on his excellent work for New Japan as the leader of The Bullet Club. He went on to have a stellar run as the top star in NXT and looked primed for a featured spot on the main roster at the onset of the current brand split era. Upon his call up, he promptly defeated Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins to be crowned the original Universal Champion.

An injury forced Balor to vacate that title, though, and his standing within WWE has never been the same since. Meanwhile, The Bullet Club has exploded from successful faction to full blown brand with Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks now going by The Elite and rumored to be launching their own wrestling promotion.

What if Balor does not re-sign with WWE, but rather defects to work with All Elite Wrestling? This article takes a look at what that might mean.

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5. The return of Prince Devitt

Finn Balor made a name for himself before WWE and can go back to his roots.

On a practical level, WWE owns the Finn Balor name. The man beneath the name never used it before he signed with the company and it is unlikely he has any claim to it from the perspective of intellectual property.

Fortunately for the performer, he has another persona ready to go that the type of hardcore fans who will likely be at the foundation of All Elite Wrestling are little less familiar with.

As Prince Devitt, Balor would revisit the name he built from the ground up and the name he used when he was leading the Bullet Club as one of the top stars for New Japan. Sure, fans who only follow WWE may be confused or not recognize the star who has left WWE by name. Any choice to leave WWE at all would be a bit of a gamble, though, if not an open acknowledgment of sacrificing fame and fortune for and endeavor that’s more artistically fulfilling or, frankly, more fun.

4. A heel run for The Demon King

Finn Balor hasn't gotten to show his heel chops in WWE.

Finn Balor’s size, ring style, and look all make him feel like a natural fit for a face role within the WWE machine. However, in his work prior to WWE, and particularly his time running with The Bullet Club, he was best known for his work as a heel. Leaving WWE behind, it is not at all far fetched to think that Balor might embrace his heel roots.

Pitted against other smaller sized opponents than he faced in WWE, Balor could slide naturally into a heel role and show more of his personality in the process. Sure, the Demon King alter ego is a fun device for face Balor to psyche out heels, but as a way of creating a genuine aura of fear and intimidation against face rivals?

That’s where Balor could really shine as one of the best villains active in the business today.

3. Balor as champion

Finn Balor may have more potential for a top title reign outside WWE.

Just who might wind up on the All Elite Wrestling roster and what such a promotion might entail remain to be seen. We do know, however, that any wrestling brand that promotes nationally without ties to WWE is facing an uphill battle. Summoning the resources to not appear bush league relative to WWE is no small feat, and luring in more casual fans is all but impossible for even companies as well established as Ring of Honor.

Finn Balor isn’t the biggest star on the wrestling landscape today, but his WWE credentials could easily make him one of The Elite’s most recognizable talents. That’s not to mention the fact that he is very much in his prime as an athlete and experienced performer who can adapt to different circumstances. Balor would make all the sense in the world as an early champion for the All Elite Wrestling brand.

2. Finn Balor vs. Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor could be a dream match in the making.

Just a few years ago, Finn Balor vs. Cody Rhodes probably wouldn’t have registered on any fan’s radar as a dream match. After all, as recently as four years ago, Finn Balor was an unknown prospect for WWE-only fans just getting started in NXT. Meanwhile, Rhodes was stuck on the mid-card treadmill cycling through gimmicks, tag teams, and mid-card title programs. Those who gave such a match any thought at all probably presumed it would occupy a forgettable middle of the show spot on an episode of Raw or SmackDown.

A lot has changed. Balor may not have fully realized his megastar potential, but he’s clearly talented. Even more has changed for Rhodes, who became one of the most prolific performers outside of WWE and had captured the imagination of hardcore fans not only as a wrestler, but as a promoter.

Particularly to the hardcore fans who will undoubtedly provide the foundation for All Elite Wrestling, this would come across as a must see dream match.

1. Balor on WWE’s blacklist

WWE wouldn't be happy if Balor decided not to stay.

Not all that many wrestlers occupy WWE’s blacklist these days, at least relative to years past. Sure, there’s CM Punk who made things ugly with management on the way out the door before a nasty tell-all podcast interview that resulted in litigation.

There’s Alberto Del Rio, who was also vocal about his enmity toward the company and specific executives, though even he reportedly has mended fences to the extent of providing talking head sound bites for documentariy projects.

Still, without a viable competitor to turn to, fewer talents burn bridges with WWE nowadays, and what’s more, WWE has forgiven names ranging from Brock Lesnar to Alundra Blayze to Jeff Jarrett in the name of doing business.

Rumor has it that All Elite Wrestling has WWE concerned, because the top names involved not only rejected big money deals from WWE, but already have some track record of promotional success from All-In. If Balor sides with these insurgents—presumably taking a pay cut, and, whether it’s his primary motivation or not, sticking it to WWE—there’s little chance WWE will do business with him again for quite some time.