During his time in WWE, Finn Balor has become one of the most popular wrestlers in the company with his excellent in-ring style and engaging character connecting with fans. Of course, his Demon gimmick has also proven to be a big hit, but Balor had already established himself in the industry prior to this.
Before becoming Finn Balor, he worked in New Japan Pro Wrestling as Prince Devitt. He was a massive star in Japan and was one of the most popular wrestlers in the company who was pushed heavily, but there are a lot of fans who aren't that familiar with this version of him.
10 He Named Bullet Club
Most fans are aware of the fact that Prince Devitt was a part of Bullet Club, as he was actually the original leader of the famous faction. While other big names have taken on that role since, he was the leader and the man who got to actually name the group.
He decided to call it Bullet Club due to the nicknames he and Karl Anderson had at the time. Both were gun related, as Anderson was the 'Machine Gun' while Devitt was known as the 'Real Shooter' which is why Bullet Club made sense.
9 He Also Worked For CMLL
The Forbidden Door is something that gets talked about a lot now in wrestling thanks to AEW, but it isn't the first time different promotions have had working relationships. When Prince Devitt worked for New Japan, they had a working deal with Mexico's CMLL.
This allowed him to go and appear for that company as well, flying the flag for New Japan during his time. He was a success in Mexico too, as he was able to win the NWA World Historic Middleweight Championship.
8 Why He Was Prince
When it came to creating his name in New Japan Pro Wrestling, the decision was made to slightly tweak things from what he had done in Europe. Rather than sticking with his actual name, the company switched out his first name and called him Prince instead.
The reason for that was because the Japanese fans couldn't pronounce his first name, which is actually Fergal. He was originally going to be known as King David, but due to him being so young at the time, they decided that being a Prince was more appropriate.
7 Pegasus Kid
Even though he would go on to become Prince Devitt, that wasn't the way he debuted in New Japan. When he first started appearing, he did so under a mask in order to become the second ever Pegasus Kid, which proved to be a popular choice.
He was instantly compared to the original, who was portrayed by Chris Benoit, with Devitt being heavily praised for his work which proved that debuting him in this manner was the right call overall.
6 Losing Streak
Even though Prince Devitt was treated like a top star during his New Japan run, when he first lost the mask and embraced his new character he actually went on a losing streak. The company booked him to be beaten regularly, which then became part of a storyline.
He was forced to prove himself and that is something that gave Devitt purpose early on, and helped to develop his character beyond just being a good in-ring worker so that fans had a reason to care.
5 More Than One Faction
The reason Devitt was out to impress was because originally, he was involved in a different faction. He was part of the Control Terrorism Unit faction which featured a group of top-tier talents from the company, including Jushin 'Thunder' Liger.
He ended up having to work alongside the legendary wrestler in order to prove his abilities and earn his respect. This is what started Balor truly getting over, even though it isn't talked about as much as his time with Bullet Club.
4 Tag Team Success
During Prince Devitt's time with New Japan, he got to enjoy working with Minoru, with the duo being a top tag team for the company. They worked brilliantly together and got to showcase their skills on a consistent basis where they enjoyed a lot of success.
Together, the two men held the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championships, with their first reign being the first title that Devitt held while working for the company, which was a big moment for him.
3 Best Of Super Juniors Success
The Best Of Super Juniors tournament is one of the most highly respected within the wrestling industry. Being able to win it is a major honor for any talent and that is something that Prince Devitt has not only been able to do once, but twice.
Few wrestlers have been able to win the tournament once, let alone twice, which just goes to show how big of a deal Devitt really was within the company. It's something that doesn't get talked about enough when it comes to his career, which is why many aren't aware of these accomplishments.
2 Different Moves
Fans who have only watched Finn Balor wrestle in WWE will be unaware of many of the moves that are in his arsenal. When working on the main roster and NXT, Balor has put together some fantastic moments inside the ring, but a lot of what he can do hasn't been seen.
Some of Devitt's best moves have been left behind in Japan, as he hasn't been allowed to use them in WWE. Because of that, fans should check out some of his older matches in order to see everything he is capable of.
1 Bad Luck Fale Was His Bouncer
One element of Prince Devitt's career that some people have forgotten about is the fact that Bad Luck Fale worked as his personal bouncer. He was the muscle to Balor's arrogant personality, standing by his side, often getting him out of trouble.
The two of them worked brillianty together, with Fale's strength being a great element of Devitt's character. During his time in WWE, he has never really had someone like this by his side, but it is certainly something that could work.