Although plenty of fans want to see main roster stars like Kevin Owens and Ricochet compete on NXT, Randy Orton isn’t the first name that comes to mind. That said, NXT Champion Finn Balor recently explained why he thinks the black-and-gold brand would benefit from “The Viper.”
“I think we could all learn so much from Randy Orton,” Balor told Corey Graves on WWE After The Bell. “I feel like Randy could really bring NXT to the next level with regards to the effect he would have on the people around him in the locker room, you know, in the ring, his professionalism, his experience.”
Balor recently retained the NXT Championship in a remarkable main event match at NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day. “The Prince” praised his opponent, Pete Dunne and called him one of the best talents he’s ever faced.
“I’ve been doing this 20-plus years, and I’ve been in the ring with all sorts of talented guys throughout my journey, and I feel like Pete Dunne is right up there in the top five guys I’ve ever been in the ring with,” said Balor. “He’s absolutely a special talent, and at his age, his confidence that he has in the ring, his ability, his skill, he’s one of the absolute best I’ve ever been in the ring with.”
The former WWE Intercontinental Champion also looked back on he has grown since he returned to the black-and-gold brand in 2019. Balor explained that he has gained a lot of confidence in himself as a performer. He went on to say that while he had been a main eventer during his run on the main roster, he never felt like he belonged in the most prestigious spot on the card. But that’s no longer the case.
“I’m a lot more centered,” said Balor. “I, maybe in the past, would not have the confidence in myself or not even realize the level that I was at. In the past, I always felt like I was the guy on RAW or SmackDown that kinda they left the back door open and I snuck in, and I wasn’t really supposed to be there.
“Even though I was in the main events with Roman [Reigns] and Braun [Strowman] and all these guys, I didn’t really feel like I belonged. And I feel like now, in the ring, I know that I belong, and I know I belong in WWE, and I know I belong in any ring in the world.”
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The full interview is available here:
