David Finlay was a recent guest on Total Engagement with Matt Koon; the multi-generational star spoke about his immediate future following shoulder surgery:
“Well, the next six months would have been a very important six months in my career. I don’t know, I’m at a mental crossroads right now. This injury could be a good thing depending on how I spin it, could be a bad thing. Only time will tell.”
Finlay also spoke about being a fourth-generation star and if he ever considered anything else but wrestling, which he said was always a passion of his:
“No. [Laughs] It’s actually what I wanted to do though. Like, it’s the only thing I ever wanted to do, and maybe that’s because it’s the only job I ever thought was available growing up. This is what I always dreamed of doing, my passion, what I want to do with my life.”
Finlay said the first time he ever got in the ring with his father was when he was in high school, but he never truly did pro wrestling training until a few weeks before his debut. He also spoke about other influences in his career, saying his dad did play a big role, but he feels like he figured things out in his own way:
“I go by the saying “if it’s good, it’s good.” I like plenty of wrestling, and there is other wrestling that I don’t like as well. As far as my own personal influence, the only wrestling I can say that I look up to is my dad. Maybe another one would be Shawn Michaels. Outside of that, I just feel like I figured it out as I go. Of course, I’ll naturally start doing what my dad does but really I’d just say I’m my father’s son.”
Finlay was asked about New Japan talent feeling the need to step it up after Bullet Club’s / The Elite’s departure, saying it’s a mixed answer. He cited it feeling much like when AJ Styles and other talent left for WWE, but that it does provide an interesting situation:
“Yes and no. We weren’t worried about business or number. We were more worried about the unknown opportunities. It felt very much like when Machine Gun and Gallows and AJ and Shinsuke all left. It was very similar, just without the panic. I think it’s going to be a very different time in wrestling, very interesting over the next year.”
Finlay was asked to sell New Japan Pro-Wrestling to an American fan, which he said is more wrestling or sport, and less of the ‘entertainment’ aspects fans are used to domestically.
“I would describe it as actual pro wrestling. You tune in, you get a lot of actual pro wrestling, and you don’t get that a lot elsewhere. Talking, videos vignettes, that’s fine, everybody has their own flavor. I just feel like New Japan is the best pure pro wrestling out there.”
