Turns on former NXT champion Finn Bálor's social media silence since his old Bullet Club running mates Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows showed up on Raw wasn't the end of mind games, rumor reports and massive speculation concerning the Irishman's promotion to the main roster.
It was just the beginning.
Obviously, dropping the belt to Samoa Joe on Thursday night in Lowell kicked things into overdrive, with both Bálor and Anderson contributing to the frenzy. Now, we're picking apart the above video - especially the moment at the 4:10 mark where the Irishman pauses at the top of the ramp before following Shinsuke Nakamura to the back.
Yes, it's ridiculous we're trying to interpret the intent behind a standard gesture. But it's the kind of ridiculous we love... and just watch the whole video, because even someone who's lukewarm on Finn like me can't help but grin when he and Nakamura time their exits to Shinsuke's theme.
While you're enjoying that, consider the reports from yesterday (April 22)'s Wrestling Observer Live show (subscription required but recommended) which reveal that the plan for a NXT title change has been in the works for months, just waiting for the right event on which to do it. The idea was to use it to build to Joe defending against Bálor at the June TakeOver in a bout with a major stipulation.
On WOL, Bryan Alvarez and company talk about that having been the blueprint prior to Anderson & Gallows debut, so it's unclear if plans have changed now. We'll know more when they tape back at Full Sail this upcoming Thursday, April 28.
From a historical perspective, former NXT champs have returned to the brand after main roster call-ups to put over their successors. Neville did it for Kevin Owens in a pre-taped bout, and Owens did it for Finn at TakeOver: Brooklyn.
What we believe they'll be doing with Bálor, Anderson, Gallows & AJ Styles on the main doesn't seem like the kind of angle you'd want to distract from, but even Seth Rollins returned to NXT with the Shield after he left as a babyface titleholder.
Finn Bálor waves goodbye to NXT... or does he? Watch and decide appeared first on http://www.cagesideseats.com
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