Finn Balor reflects on his respect for Edge despite their long rivalry on camera.
When Finn Balor joined Judgment Day, Edge was excommunicated from the group. Dominik Mysterio would then be added to the faction, and they have now come into their own, far away from the original concept of Edge leading Damian Priest and Rhea Ripley to new heights.
Edge and Finn Balor engaged in several bouts along the way, including a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania 39.
Speaking about his time working against Edge and his overall thoughts on Edge as a person and performer, Finn Balor revealed on the WWE After The Bell podcast that he will always have a great deal of respect for "The Rated R Superstar" and is forever grateful for the creation of the Judgment Day faction.
“I’ve been a huge admirer of Edge, not only as a performer but as a person for his whole career. We became close many, many years ago," Finn recalled. "When he retired, I was personally disappointed for the fact that I’d thought I’d missed out on that opportunity to possibly someday share a ring with him. I always admired how he transitioned out of pro wrestling so gracefully, and I thought ‘If someday I’m gonna retire from this business, I wanna do it the same way Edge has done it.’ A lot of people don’t transition out of the business as gracefully or with as much dignity as he returned the first time, and for that, I respect and admire him. On top of that, for him to have the opportunity to come back, that spark that had been extinguished was reignited on the thought, ‘Oh, maybe this match will happen, maybe there is a possibility that I’ll get to share the ring with him.’
Fast foward three years, and all of the sudden, I’m almost in an eight-month program with someone I’ve looked up to for many many years, in and outside of the ring. Despite the rivalry or the disagreements or the fourteen staples, there’s still a mutual respect, certainly from my end, I hope from Edge’s end. He started something in the Judgment Day that has certainly had a profound impact on my career, Damian’s career, Rhea’s career, and Dominik’s career. If not just for him starting the Judgment Day, there’s a lot to be grateful to Edge for,” Finn concluded.
Edge will return for the first time since competing in the World Heavyweight Championship Tournament as part of the July 7 episode of SmackDown from Madison Square Garden.
Edge has previously stated that he is considering retiring this year in Toronto. Read more here.
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