David Finlay: ‘I am going to prove I am undeniably the best in the world’
The son of Fit Finlay is poised to become New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s IWGP World Heavyweight Champion
Follow Undisputed on Instagram & Facebook
The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Contents for The Week in Wrestling:
David Finlay preparing for world title bout
An inside look at the past week in wrestling
What happens if John Cena doesn’t win at WrestleMania?
Tweet of the Week
David Finlay: “I truly believe that the best wrestlers in the world are in New Japan”
Ten years ago, David Finlay embarked upon the first step in his wrestling odyssey, leaving home to live and train in Tokyo at the New Japan Dojo. Now, a decade later, he is the reigning New Japan Cup winner–and set to challenge IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Sakura Genesis card on April 5.
Finlay is exactly where he should be, even if it took some time to arrive here.
But Finlay sees it through a different lens. If you ask him, he is a year behind schedule. Had he not been forced out of action a year ago, when a brain issue caused him to withdraw from the New Japan Cup, Finlay believes he would be in the exact position Goto currently stands–as world champ.
“I was supposed to wrestle Goto in last year’s New Japan Cup, but I had some swelling in my neck that was restricting my arteries,” said Finlay. “That led to blood flow issues in my brain, so I couldn’t wrestle.”
The swelling formed after Finlay’s 64-minute performance in the Dog Pound cage match from February of 2024, which he further exacerbated by continuing to wrestling at his nonstop pace.
“It was gut-wrenching to miss last year’s New Japan Cup,” said Finlay. “Every singles match in New Japan is a big opportunity to up your stock, and I didn’t want to lose that opportunity. New Japan was protecting me from myself. If it were up to me, I was going to wrestle.”
Finlay refused to miss any dates. Remarkably, he returned in time for the next tour, recovering quickly after spending time in a hyperbaric chamber. But with Finlay’s name crossed off the card, Goto was the one who advanced to the finals of the 2024 New Japan Cup. That led to his appearance in the G1 Climax, which started a career resurgence. The momentum carried Goto all the way to his first-ever reign as IWGP champ, as the 22-year wrestling veteran–at the age of 45–dethroned Zack Sabre Jr. for the belt earlier this year.
“We’re in the timeline where I got pulled and Goto made the finals instead of me,” said Finlay. “That put him in the G1, where he won over the fans, had this Goto Revolution, and won the belt. There would be no Goto Revolution without me, and now I get to be the one to end his title run.”
Time is on Finlay’s side. If it doesn’t happen now, then it will–soon.
The son of the famed Fit Finlay, he is deeply intertwined with professional wrestling. Despite opportunities to explore WWE or AEW, Finlay has preferred to build his reputation in New Japan–where he is leading a new-age version of the Bullet Club and wreaking havoc on anyone standing in his way, all while putting forth outstanding matches.
Finlay’s run in this year’s New Japan Cup showcased his ferocious style. He won his final three matches over a six-day span, defeating Yuya Uemura, Sabre Jr., and Shota Umino to capture one of New Japan’s most prized tournaments.
“New Japan is known for its prestigious tournaments–the New Japan Cup and the G1 being the two most noteworthy–so to win one of those big two, it’s a very big deal,” said Finlay. “I’m not up front waving the New Japan flag. That’s not me. But when you look at the wrestling landscape, I truly believe that the best wrestlers in the world are in New Japan. It’s the most competitive. We have the highest quality of wrestling and the hardest style. My goal is to be undeniably the best in the world, and the only place I can truly achieve that is New Japan.”
The charismatic Finlay was in full spirits at the New Japan press conference following his tournament victory. Clad in his pink suit–which is his favorite, as well as an ode to Nattie Neidhart and TJ Wilson (“They’ve been strong influences in my life since I was 14”)–he is now in a position where he is headlining a major show for the top wrestling title on the continent.
“I come from a pro wrestling family four generations deep,” said Finlay. “You trace it back and damn near everybody in the family has had their hand in the business in some form or fashion. I am a pro wrestler through and through, and I get to do my pro wrestling in New Japan.
“I’m wrestling for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Ryogoku Sumo Hall. I’m one win away from being where I need to be. New Japan has been around since 1972, and when you think of the people who have held this belt, from Antonio Inoki to Brock Lesnar to Kurt Angle to AJ Styles to Kenny Omega, you’re in good company. That’s my goal–reach the pinnacle of pro wrestling.”
There comes a time in pro wrestling when a wrestler’s rise is inevitable. Even more, it becomes unstoppable. That transcends wins and losses–when a wrestler reaches that level, it is only a matter of time before the world title is wrapped around their waist.
Whether Finlay has reached that tier is yet-to-be determined. His upcoming match against Goto comes with massive stakes. This is the long-awaited opportunity to substantiate the belief that he is destined to become IWGP champ. After losing his spot a year ago, he intends on making the most of the moment.
“There is undeniability in pro wrestling,” said Finlay. “I am going to prove I am undeniably the best in the world. I’ve felt that way about myself for a long time, and people are finally starting to see the vision. It’s almost poetic. Almost exactly 10 years after leaving home for Japan, I’m getting my shot for the world title.
“The universe is pointing to this moment. This is my time.”
This past week…
John Cena and Cody Rhodes worked their magic again this past Monday on Raw. Cena is due back again next week, but he’ll have to make more appearances–right?–in order to continue the build to this match.
Roman Reigns will not close out this year’s WrestleMania. But he will likely main event the opening night of the event in his triple threat against Seth Rollins and CM Punk.
News that impacts WWE: Ari Emanuel, who is chairman and CEO of TKO Group Holdings, which is the public company that owns UFC and WWE, is now the executive chairman of the WME Group, which is effectively replacing Endeavor–the longtime parent company of the UFC–as it moves from public to private.
I still can’t get over the image of a spiked bat stuck in Jon Moxley’s back last week on Dynamite.
Homicide revealed he is retiring because of a cyst on his brain. The wrestling trailblazer wrestled his final match last week, ending his career with a final victory.
Per Tokyo Sports, Mina Shirakawa will finish with Stardom this month. She is expected to sign a full-time deal with AEW.
What if John Cena doesn’t win at WrestleMania?
John Cena needs to win the title at WrestleMania.
If that does not happen, then what was the point of turning heel?
Throughout his past two promos, Cena repeated that he is here to tell the truth. And the truth is that Cody Rhodes doesn’t need this victory. Rhodes needs to chase Cena, then ultimately overcome this gargantuan challenge presented by Cena, The Rock, and the rest of obstacles put in his way.
Rhodes is enjoying a tremendous run as champion, but for the babyface, it’s all about the pursuit. It was the secret ingredient to the Rhodes-Roman Reigns feud for two years, powering their program and providing such a satisfying ending when Rhodes finally won the title. It’s why Steve Austin’s title reigns were always so short. The money in wrestling is all in the chase.
It is time for Rhodes to chase the champ. Fortunately for him, he gets to do it against a legend in Cena.
That’s the story. And it is why Cena has to be victorious at WrestleMania.
Tweet of the Week
Earthquake belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame, and I’m happy for Typhoon, too. Maybe you had to be there, but watching the Natural Disasters as a child was a sight to behold.