Let Finn Be a Superstar
Possibly one of the more frustrating things about catching glimpses of WWE’s current state of being is witnessing the lackluster impact of so many wrestlers. I’ll catch .gifs or tweets running down Raw and SmackDown throughout the week, and despite the occasional eye-catching move or match, I’m almost always left with a heavy sigh. After years of waning and struggling to put forth any meaningful product that could inspire fans to truly be excited, the WWE was flooded with star after star. AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Asuka, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and Finn Balor now all wrestle for the biggest promotion in the world. And yet, what have any of them significantly done?
Finn is the real sore spot. The name and face that is often clearly underwhelmed by what’s going on around him. Finn always looks happy to play along, but when you compare today’s Balor with the one who competed for the Universal championship years ago, there’s a stark difference. And WWE has done their best to strip away the key markers of Balor’s persona. What make Balor so big wasn’t just his appeal in the ring, but outside as well. His ‘demon’ character added depth and layers to what could have been just another European small guy who wrestles well. Instead Finn had a 6th gear he could go to. Another plane of existence that, at least in story, could give him and his promotion more to work with. Now he’s just another eye popping name on a roster full of them.
However Finn is just an example. Even AJ Styles, who clearly has a significant push, is still mired in lackluster matches and stories. Names who proved themselves in NXT and in the WWE are often placed back on the shelf for whatever awkward feud or returning star happens to be on this week. Organic creation constantly takes a backseat to formulaic forcefulness. What maybe was thought to be wrestling instinct now clearly isn’t.
Whatever got Vince and the WWE through the 80s and 90s wasn’t some form of magic. The McMahon family isn’t carrying around the genius gene. Take enough shots and you’ll eventually hit the bullseye. Vince and his company continue to take that approach wherever they may go. Finn, Styles, Nakamura, and whomever else joins with the company isn’t another sure thing floundering under the big lights of the big top. They’re another wild shot into the darkness and sometimes I wonder if Vince is simply hoping he can still hit the dart board.
