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David Finlay on Wrestle Kingdom 18: ‘This Is My Time’

Finlay on Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay: “They say they love Japan… then they dry their tears with first-class tickets home”

Justin Barrasso

David Finlay on Wrestle Kingdom 18: ‘This Is My Time’
David Finlay on Wrestle Kingdom 18: ‘This Is My Time’ /

SI.com’s Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.

David Finlay: “Japan is a kingdom I’m going to conquer”

New Japan Pro-Wrestling star David Finlay’s full name is David Finlay III. He is the son of David Finlay Jr.–best known as wrestling legend Fit Finlay–and the grandson of Dave Finlay Sr. (“We don’t have a lot of creativity with names,” Finlay deadpanned).

Courtesy NJPW
Courtesy NJPW

Finlay is a fourth-generation wrestler. Following Finn Balor, AJ Styles, Kenny Omega, and Jay White, he is the fifth man to lead Bullet Club.

Tomorrow at Wrestle Kingdom 18 in the Tokyo Dome, Finlay looks to become the first-ever IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.

“Some people expected me to be my father,” said Finlay. “Or they questioned why I wasn’t like Bullet Club leaders from the past. I’ve always had big boots to fill. This is my opportunity to make my own history.”

Contents

  1. The (Online) Week in Wrestling
  2. When will Damian Priest’s time come?
  3. Tweet of the Week

The match is a triple threat, as Finlay shares the ring with Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay. There is no question that Moxley–who is an AEW staple and former WWE champion–is the match’s most prominent star, though Ospreay–an athletic marvel coming off the most spectacular year of an outrageously entertaining career–is also becoming a worldwide commodity. And then there is Finlay, who is hungry to seize the moment.

“It’s the biggest match of my career,” said Finlay. “They’re both mega-stars. Moxley transcends wrestling. He had an incredible time in WWE, and he’s a cornerstone of AEW. Ospreay had an incredible year, which is something we seem to say every year. I’m going to be in the ring with two big stars, but this is my time.”

Courtesy NJPW
Courtesy NJPW

Finlay has devoted the past nine years of his life to New Japan. In spite of the fact that his father works for WWE and he could have undoubtedly found opportunity to wrestle there, he yearns to be great in Japan. He started as a Young Lion in 2015, paying his dues. Throughout this journey, he clawed his way from the pre-show to his current position–the triple threat for a prestigious new championship.

“I’ve been a constant for the past nine years,” said Finlay. “Mox is coming for a cup of coffee. Ospreay is leaving soon [to wrestle for AEW]. They say they love Japan and they say it’s so hard to leave, then they dry their tears with first-class tickets home.”

As leader of Bullet Club, Finlay has given a new ethos to the entrenched squadron of villains. Alongside Alex Coughlin, Gabriel Kidd, Clark Connors, Dan “Drilla” Moloney, and Gedo, there is a new flavor to an established brand.

“When I was given the keys to the kingdom, I knew what I was getting myself into,” said Finlay. “I wanted to revamp it and make it our own. Clark Connors, Gabriel Kidd, Alex Coughlin, they’re all badasses. I thought they were treading water, and they’re too good for that, so I asked if they wanted to make some money together.

“Then we came across Dan Moloney, and I felt he was our missing piece. Gedo is our advisor, and he’s mentored a lot of world champions, and we’ve built something that is very genuine.

“We can’t make this a tribute act. This isn’t about paying homage to the past. We are building the future.”

Courtesy NJPW
Courtesy NJPW

The opportunity now exists for Finlay to lay the future’s foundation. He is aware that there are people who would have preferred that this were a traditional singles bout pitting Moxley against Ospreay, but rattling the cage is his modus operandi. He plans on causing a disruption in the Tokyo Dome while proving he is every bit the equal of Moxley and Ospreay.

“I absolutely belong here, and I’m going to show why,” said Finlay. “Japan is a kingdom I’m going to conquer. I’m not leaving until I do.”

The (Online) Week in Wrestling

  • The Rock was electrifying in his return on Raw. Can you imagine a WrestleMania with The Rock, Roman Reigns, John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton, Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins, Rhea Ripley, and CM Punk? WWE is entering a golden age as it approaches WrestleMania 40.
  • Kazuchika Okada against Bryan Danielson is not the headliner, but it is a must-see bout at Wrestle Kingdom 18.
  • Congrats to Shotzi on her marriage. Hopefully 2024 is a breakout year for her in the ring.
  • Who knew Arnold Schwarzenegger would tell such great stories about Andre The Giant?
  • RIP, Killer Khan.
  • Human highlight reel material from Joaquin Wilde.

When will Damian Priest’s time come?

There have been ample opportunities to crown Damian Priest the new world heavyweight champion. The most recent came this past Monday.

Seth Rollins defeated Drew McIntyre in the main event of the “Day One” edition of Raw. Priest made his way to the ring in the waning moments, but was blindsided by McIntyre, rendering him unable to cash in his Money in the Bank title contract.

It felt like a moment in the making. Rollins has successfully established the world heavyweight championship, and had he lost the belt to Priest on Raw, there would still be plenty of time to get it back around Rollins’ waist before he wrestles CM Punk at WrestleMania 40. But what if that is the plan? What if Priest cashes in during the Rollins-Punk match at WrestleMania?

That would be poetic, as Rollins memorably cashed in during the main event of WrestleMania 31. If Priest interrupts the match between Rollins and Punk, then it would prevent Punk from getting pinned in an extremely high-profile match, as well as avoid Rollins having to drop the belt to Punk.

A rare commodity in pro wrestling, Priest is a versatile big man that has the athleticism to work with a variety of talents. He is also full of charisma, and his support system in The Judgment Day–particularly Finn Balor–has helped elevate him to the next level.

Priest needs a lengthy title run to cement himself as champion, especially considering this will be his first reign as world champ. Winning the belt at WrestleMania, in a match that features icons in Rollins and Punk, would be exactly the type of moment needed to put him in the best possible position to start his title reign.

Tweet of the Week

In a classy move, Andrade bids farewell to AEW.

Published
Justin Barrasso
JUSTIN BARRASSO

Justin Barrasso has been writing for Sports Illustrated since 2014. While his primary focus is pro wrestling and MMA, he has also covered MLB, NBA, and the NFL. He can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com and followed on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.

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