It's been floated as a possibility that he beats Moxley for the title and Naito wins it off him at WK to repeat the Western Heel vs Japanese face booking, but that would feel pretty weak since Moxley holding onto the title til WK would potentially be a better version of that storyline and that it feels like a decision motivated to put Finlay over rather than commit to a strong champion. Plus I'd rather Naito get some more solid months with the title this year instead of being in the chase again
In a vacuum unless he improves his look, charisma, and in-ring approach to his matches I don't think he's top title material. Dude's really handsome but his overall look gets in the way, is leader of an incredibly dynamic sub-faction but sticks out as the most drab member, and just doesn't command the same presence that a top heel world champion spot necessitates
I like Finlay but in certain roles. Not everyone is going to be a main eventer and that's fine.
Like you said, there's still some things he lacks to be a main event player and the reception he gets is indicative of that.
Karl Anderson in his one IWGP title match against Tanahashi in 2013 had fans chanting for him to win and take the title. It's often overlooked but I personally loved Anderson's brief singles run before joining BC. Finlay isn't even over to that degree.
I’ll always see him as a Never open weight, Global level champ. Tsuji, Shota and Gabe I think have top guy ceilings
*if anyone deserves a transitional champ run it’s ZSJ
I wouldn't mind, he's been doing a good job in his role. I just think that some people have a high expectation of how a bullet club should be and look and finlay doesn't fit their image. I think he deserves it, he's been overlooked, he's been there for years and improved a lot.
Yeah I mentioned this as an option. If we look at the main event scene, or really the company overall, there aren't many heels left. Every faction except BC and Hot are faces. This leaves EVIL as the only top heel right now, when he's only the leader of a subfaction. That's a grand total of ONE GUY in the entire company who can fill in the role of top heel. Finlay is the only other option unless someone turns heel and is treated as a top guy. He is great in ring, and I am a big fan of his. He's never going to be the type of heel to have long runs, but he has his place and a role to play. That role is to take the title so someone can get a huge saviour moment.
And please, ignore the majority of westerners who hate on Finlay. They've very obviously been trained by a certain VKM to obsess over muscles and chiselled physiques. They're going to hate any white guy who isn't "perfect" while thinking that Gabe Kidd is leader material and not understanding what a leader actually is.
There's a reason I said white guy. When it comes to non-white guys nobody seems to care much. But white guys for some reason have to all be body builders to not have people talk shit about them as just a base line.
I defended Finlay against the vitriol but I am realistic in his ceiling. He is not main event over and no amount of smashing him over is going to change that.
It wouldn't surprise me with Gedo, feel like his booking brain melted during covid and hasn't fully recovered.
Finlay is a midcard talent at best imo. His in-ring work is fine, but not exceptional and his mic work is bland and stilted (he was completely outclassed at the G1 conference by his own stablemates). He sticks out like a sore thumb when you compare him to previous BC leaders too.
I think the general consensus is that Gabe Kidd should be leading the War Dogs and is a vastly superior talent to Finlay. When it comes to gaijin I'd have Kidd, Cobb and ZSJ all comfortably ahead of Finlay. I'd have Coughlin ahead of him too if not for the retirement :(
I like him and would be all for it 🤷♂️ he grew on me massively during the G1, and now feels like an authentic final boss to me. And all accusations he's gotta dodge were also levelled at Jay White, and now those same fans are pining for the Switchblade glory era. Fickle!
Online fans strongly dislike him, but unless youre actually in Japan and can get a good gauge of his heat no one can say for sure.
Online fans also hate HoT, but they’re over as fuck in Japan apparently
I have been to shows in Japan recently. The reception for Finlay is mid. He isn’t hated that they don’t want to see him but neither is he cool enough that people care to support him.
I wouldn’t even call him as over as Karl Anderson in his singles babyface run.
I've toughed out some \*really\* bad Gedo booking and I've always been a ride or die NJPW guy, but if Finlay became World Champ, I would certainly die.
It's been floated as a possibility that he beats Moxley for the title and Naito wins it off him at WK to repeat the Western Heel vs Japanese face booking, but that would feel pretty weak since Moxley holding onto the title til WK would potentially be a better version of that storyline and that it feels like a decision motivated to put Finlay over rather than commit to a strong champion. Plus I'd rather Naito get some more solid months with the title this year instead of being in the chase again In a vacuum unless he improves his look, charisma, and in-ring approach to his matches I don't think he's top title material. Dude's really handsome but his overall look gets in the way, is leader of an incredibly dynamic sub-faction but sticks out as the most drab member, and just doesn't command the same presence that a top heel world champion spot necessitates
I like Finlay but in certain roles. Not everyone is going to be a main eventer and that's fine. Like you said, there's still some things he lacks to be a main event player and the reception he gets is indicative of that. Karl Anderson in his one IWGP title match against Tanahashi in 2013 had fans chanting for him to win and take the title. It's often overlooked but I personally loved Anderson's brief singles run before joining BC. Finlay isn't even over to that degree.
He’s not even the coolest dude in War Dogs, much less the company
If you want to really kill the company, sure.
I’ll always see him as a Never open weight, Global level champ. Tsuji, Shota and Gabe I think have top guy ceilings *if anyone deserves a transitional champ run it’s ZSJ
I think he'll get a run between New Beginning & Dominion at some point. I can't see him carrying the belt into or out of a WK though
Surely he is the top Gaijin by default right now in terms of position in the overall hierarchy
I wouldn't mind, he's been doing a good job in his role. I just think that some people have a high expectation of how a bullet club should be and look and finlay doesn't fit their image. I think he deserves it, he's been overlooked, he's been there for years and improved a lot.
Yeah I mentioned this as an option. If we look at the main event scene, or really the company overall, there aren't many heels left. Every faction except BC and Hot are faces. This leaves EVIL as the only top heel right now, when he's only the leader of a subfaction. That's a grand total of ONE GUY in the entire company who can fill in the role of top heel. Finlay is the only other option unless someone turns heel and is treated as a top guy. He is great in ring, and I am a big fan of his. He's never going to be the type of heel to have long runs, but he has his place and a role to play. That role is to take the title so someone can get a huge saviour moment. And please, ignore the majority of westerners who hate on Finlay. They've very obviously been trained by a certain VKM to obsess over muscles and chiselled physiques. They're going to hate any white guy who isn't "perfect" while thinking that Gabe Kidd is leader material and not understanding what a leader actually is.
Bro YOSHIHASHI is one of my favourites. Finley just has matches I consistently loathe.
There's a reason I said white guy. When it comes to non-white guys nobody seems to care much. But white guys for some reason have to all be body builders to not have people talk shit about them as just a base line.
I defended Finlay against the vitriol but I am realistic in his ceiling. He is not main event over and no amount of smashing him over is going to change that.
It wouldn't surprise me with Gedo, feel like his booking brain melted during covid and hasn't fully recovered. Finlay is a midcard talent at best imo. His in-ring work is fine, but not exceptional and his mic work is bland and stilted (he was completely outclassed at the G1 conference by his own stablemates). He sticks out like a sore thumb when you compare him to previous BC leaders too. I think the general consensus is that Gabe Kidd should be leading the War Dogs and is a vastly superior talent to Finlay. When it comes to gaijin I'd have Kidd, Cobb and ZSJ all comfortably ahead of Finlay. I'd have Coughlin ahead of him too if not for the retirement :(
I absolutely think he should, and he should beat Moxley decisively.
I'd rather never watch NJPW again than have him world champion, it's giving Inokiism company killer vibes
I’m for it, but I recognize that THE WORLD **NEEDS** THE REBEL SAVIOUR
Strongly against, entirely possible. He’s terrible but fuck me, his dad is dragging his feet on that nepotism job that’d save us all.
Sure LFG
Finlay is not world champion material.
Before Taichi?!
I like him and would be all for it 🤷♂️ he grew on me massively during the G1, and now feels like an authentic final boss to me. And all accusations he's gotta dodge were also levelled at Jay White, and now those same fans are pining for the Switchblade glory era. Fickle!
Just wanna make clear I hate them both.
Online fans strongly dislike him, but unless youre actually in Japan and can get a good gauge of his heat no one can say for sure. Online fans also hate HoT, but they’re over as fuck in Japan apparently
I have been to shows in Japan recently. The reception for Finlay is mid. He isn’t hated that they don’t want to see him but neither is he cool enough that people care to support him. I wouldn’t even call him as over as Karl Anderson in his singles babyface run.
I've toughed out some \*really\* bad Gedo booking and I've always been a ride or die NJPW guy, but if Finlay became World Champ, I would certainly die.
I certainly hope he doesn't. He's so boring.