Finn Bálor’s been very much in the public eye of late. And, for the first time since suffering a severe shoulder injury at SummerSlam, we’re seeing him without a sling.
That’s led to a lot of speculation he could return as a surprise entrant at next month’s Royal Rumble. It would mean he’s recovered a little faster than what was expected, but we’ve seen John Cena comeback early for a big pop, so why not Finn?
Because, according to an interview the 35 year old Irishman recently gave ESPN, shocking the crowd in San Antonio isn’t worth possible long-term damage to his body:
It's not something I want to risk unless I'm 100 percent confident that this [pointing to his injured shoulder] is 100 percent.
...with the condition my shoulder is in, I'm not willing to risk sustaining any more long-term injury, just for the sake of two or three weeks. Since I got hurt, it was six months. The target was to be back for WrestleMania. Everything's on plan, everything's on schedule.
There is, of course, one way Finn might make an exception:
If the day of the Royal Rumble, Vince McMahon says, “You got your gear with you?” Then I'm sure I'll be around.
Maybe Bálor and Undertaker have more in common than just an iconic entrance. Neither can say “no” to the man in charge.