NXT Champion Finn Balor speaks on acclimatising to the WWE, maiden ladder match and more

Finn Balor speaks on life in the WWE

SportingNews.com’s Brian Fritz spoke to NXT Champion Finn Balor in an interview promoting the imminent NXT: Takeover event in Brooklyn, New York. Here is an excerpt from the interview where Balor spoke about adjusting to the WWE, his wrestling past in Japan and his maiden ladder match at the sold out NXT: Takeover event set to take place on Saturday, August 22 in the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York :

THE TRANSITION TO WWE:

Well, I'm not sure how it looks from the outside but for me personally, it's been very difficult. There's a lot of subtle differences that go into changing your style up and adapting to a new style of work here in WWE. I'm very grateful for the help I've been given by the company. It's not just in the ring but outside and in the back and life. It's been a bit of a struggle getting used to life in the states, adapting to a new lifestyle. I was used to getting home maybe once a month while I was in Japan. Trying to battle a bit of home sickness at the moment but professionally it's been going great. I feel like I've been improving every day and learning. I thought that maybe I peaked in Japan. I feel like now I'm starting at the bottom again and working my way up. I had to apply myself differently to different things. It's been a real learning experience over the last year and I'm looking forward to the next couple of years.

CONNECTING WITH WWE FANS:

It's really humbling. And I always go back to this one point. It was my first appearance for NXT at Full Sail when I came out to help Hideo (Itami). You kind of forget how big the reach is that pro wrestling has around the world. I guess I got stuck in my own little bubble in Japan, thinking that what I was doing in Japan was only available to the New Japan fans. But when I first walked out on NXT and they flashed Prince Devitt and the reaction that it got! And then I came to the ring at Full Sail University, the crowd was just on fire. From there, it's just kind of snowballed around the WWE Universe. It's very humbling, the effect that my work — my previous work — has had. Just the extent of the reach that the WWE Universe has around the world is incredible. I just got back from Australia, where I've never wrestled before and there were Finn Balor shirts and kids painted as Finn Balor. It's really a very humbling experience.

HIS FIRST LADDER MATCH AT TAKEOVER AGAINST KEVIN OWENS:

I've been involved in a few stunts and hardcore matches that have involved ladders but I've never been in a specific ladder match. So this is something very new to me. I've been doing a good bit of homework watching my good buddy Neville and his match against Bo Dallas for the NXT Championship. I know I may be considered the underdog going into this match with Kevin having a lot of experience in ladder matches but I'm up for the challenge. I'm excited. It's something new. I think the sold out Barclays Center in Brooklyn is going to be in for a treat.

For the complete interview, click this link.