David Finlay talks Tekken entrance, Hornswoggle, online critics

Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful spoke with New Japan Pro Wrestling’s David Finlay ahead of the Windy City Riot show on April 11th at the Wintrust Arena. The show features Hiroshi Tanahashi's final U.S. match, Gabe Kidd vs. Tomohiro Ishii in an Ironman match, and the highly anticipated Zack Sabre Jr. vs. David Finlay.

You can hear the whole interview early on tier 2.

Finlay addresses the initial backlash when he took leadership of Bullet Club, admitting he took the criticism "personally," citing Michael Jordan as inspiration. He and the War Dogs faced doubt from fans, but he was determined to silence doubters. That chip-on-the-shoulder mentality drove him and the group to prove they belong at the top.

One of Finlay’s significant moments was his global title run. He believes it was possibly the best title reign in New Japan in 2024. However, he knows there is confusion about title lineage, especially after the unification of the IWGP World and Intercontinental titles. He misses the history tied to the old belts and believes continuity would have served the company better.

Finlay discusses his entrance in collaboration with Tekken, which was designed after the character Bryan Fury and features a Gatling gun prop. This moment was meaningful for him as it was a dream come true for the wrestler in him as a kid. Transporting the prop to Tokyo was a logistical challenge, with fears of damage in transit, but everything went smoothly.

They talk about his New Japan Championship match with Goto, and heading straight into a rematch with Zack Sabre Jr., Finlay compares the grind to the G1 Climax tournament. With little recovery time between high-caliber matches, the intensity is relentless, but Finlay feels well-conditioned and thrives under pressure. He’s been wrestling since age 19 and embraces the nonstop schedule as part of his calling.

Sean asked Finlay who he clicks with in the ring. Finlay highlights his favorite opponents, particularly Yota Tsuji and Shota Umino, describing them as wrestlers with whom he has incredible in-ring chemistry. The conversation shifts to New Japan’s ability to develop new stars, even as veterans leave. Finlay credits the dojos and competitive environment for ensuring a constant talent pipeline.

Reflecting on his long history with Zack Sabre Jr., from tags to singles matches, Finlay acknowledges how much their styles have evolved, especially with Sabre’s recent accolades, including world champion and G1 winner. The respect is mutual, and their upcoming match is expected to showcase the best from both.

Asked about the hardest he’s ever been hit, Finlay recalls a street fight at a previous Windy City Riot, where Jonah (Bronson Reed) hit him with a kendo stick twice in the same spot. David said it was so painful he had to hold back tears. However, regarding non-weapon strikes, he says New Japan’s hard-hitting style, but nothing stands out anymore; it’s all part of the game.

As for dishing out punishment, Finlay grins, admitting he probably hits people a bit too hard himself, without regret.

The conversation continues as they talk about Bullet Club factions. Finlay maintains his previous stance: no love for other Bullet Club groups. While he shows some surface-level courtesy toward Bullet Club Gold, he subtly jabs at their current injury woes with a cheeky "get well soon," implying a lack of legitimacy compared to his faction.

The conversation opens with a light-hearted exchange about the current state of Bullet Clubs worldwide. The speaker asserts that "the right one is on top," likely referencing Bullet Club Gold, and acknowledges that the group has been plagued by injuries recently. This comment is met with mutual understanding, setting a relaxed and friendly tone for the interview.

The discussion shifts to Gabe Kidd. They describe the wrestler as an unrelentingly intense personality who is always "on," even in public. There's amusement in how average people react to Kidd’s energy, calling him “a for real crazy person.” Despite Kidd's fiery demeanor, the speaker appreciates him deeply, calling him a brother and praising his authenticity and ability to sell fights. He genuinely wants to fight people, which adds to his magnetism as a performer.

Finlay then talks about his father, the legendary wrestler and WWE Producer, Fit Finlay, and his surprising late-career resurgence. Kidd said that when he was a child, he was in seventh grade when Finlay debuted on WWE’s SmackDown. Despite not wrestling for years, his father returned with an incredibly demanding schedule, wrestling around 130 matches annually. Finlay highlights his father’s toughness, saying he never complains or admits pain, attributing this to his Irish stubbornness and resilience.

When asked how many people are surprised he doesn’t have an Irish accent, Finlay laughs and says it happens often. Though his father has a slight accent, he grew up in Atlanta and doesn’t have one. Some fans are confused or mistakenly believe he does have an accent, reflecting the strong association with his father's heritage.

Sean mentions Hornswoggle, who has long been tied to jokes involving the Finlay family. Finlay admits he’s heard countless jokes and references, especially people quoting Finlay's catchphrase, “I love to fight.” Despite the repetition, he seems to take it in stride and even shares a humorous anecdote about being chokeslammed by Hornswoggle. He said they weren’t especially close, but Hornswoggle was always friendly. A funny family memory is also shared: a storage space in their garage was dubbed “Swoggle’s room.”

The conversation transitions to Brody King and their match at the Tokyo Dome. David said he would love to wrestle Brody again, praising him as a perfect fit for Japan and someone who hits incredibly hard. He recalls how brutal Brody’s chops were during the match, particularly a painful moment where he audibly groaned in anticipation. Despite the pain, he admires King’s style and chemistry in the ring.

He describes wrestling as a mental game and says his amateur background has instilled a “plenty left in the tank” mindset. This early experience built his physical and mental toughness, which are crucial traits in the pro wrestling world.

The topic moves to an unusual New Japan show where the ring broke mid-event. Finlay praises wrestlers who adapted to the situation, noting how those with amateur or catch wrestling backgrounds could perform without ropes or turnbuckles. He humorously suggests that future G1 participants might intentionally sabotage the ring to get a night off.

In closing, Finlay talks about the New Japan ring to others globally. Finlay says it’s his favorite and made him a "ring snob" due to its quality. While he’s wrestled in poor conditions during the early days on the indie circuit, he appreciates the consistency and size of the New Japan ring. Despite the rare ring break incident, he emphasizes its usual reliability and high standard.