AEW and NXT Wednesday Night Wars: 3 winners of night #5

Finn Balor

For the last week, Finn Balor has left cryptic clues as to why he attacked Johnny Gargano as the Oct. 23 episode of NXT came to a close. He’s said that the attack was “a long time coming”. He compared the glitziness of the main roster to the relative artistic grunginess of NXT. He even teased that “The Prince is back”. But he didn’t officially explain himself until this past Wednesday.

Balor, whose entrance included a spotlight that shined only on him instead of the fans as he performed his signature pose, started off his soliloquy with a not-so-subtle shot at The Fiend (“Two months ago, I’m laying down for what’s supposed to be the hottest thing in the business just because he put on a new mask. Well, I just took my mask off, and now I’M the hottest thing in the business.”) before turning his attention to the rest of the roster, particularly Gargano.

After he all but called the other NXT wrestlers marks, he offered feint congratulations to Gargano for getting out of the hospital — not “medical facility” — and said that if “Johnny Wrestling” wanted to try him again — and he probably will at TakeOver: WarGames — he would turn him into “Johnny Watches Wrestling”.

Underwhelming nickname aside, Balor’s heel turn is off to a great start. This promo was fantastic and his expected match with Gargano in a few weeks should be a Match of the Year contender.