Tag: david finlay

New Trios Champions crowned on AEW Collision

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

We have brand new Trios Champions before AEW Dynasty!

In the opening match of the night on the April 11 edition of AEW Collision, taped previously on Wednesday, April 8th, after Dynamite, fans saw The Dog become the new Trios Champions.

The Dogs, consisting of David Finlay, Clark Connors, and Gabe Kidd, defeated JetSpeed (Kevin Knight & Mike Bailey) & Mistico to win and capture the AEW World Trios titles.

The final moments of the match saw Finlay hold Bailey for a vertical suplex while Connors delivered a spear from the middle rope. Kidd then followed it up and pinned Bailey for the three-count to secure the gold for his team.

This marks the first reign for The Dogs as AEW Trios Champions. Previous champions JetSpeed & Mistico held the championships for 24 days (recorded from the time they actually won the titles and later lost them on the April 8 taping of Collision. They won the title previously at AEW Revolution and made two successful title defenses, including one in CMLL.

David Finlay says ‘the choice was easy’ to join AEW over WWE

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Once speculated to join WWE, former NJPW star David Finlay recently crushed those rumors and began his new journey with AEW.

Recently, speaking to Bill Pritchard of WrestleZone, Finlay explained why the decision to join AEW over WWE was an “easy” choice, despite having his family there.

Reuniting with Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors on AEW Dynamite, the trio reformed their War Dogs stable. Despite having his brother and father working in WWE, Finlay made a financial decision to join Tony Khan’s promotion and reunite the War Dogs with Kidd and Connors.

“Let’s see, I was in New Japan for 11 years, and every single year there were rumblings that I was going to leave. Every single year, they kept growing louder and louder. Finally, I got over doing a 14-hour flight four times a month and decided I wanted to leave Japan behind,” Finlay said.

“Obviously, I’ve got family ties in another company, and I sat and thought about it. I was like, well, you know, I’ve never made a dime with my brother,” he continued. “I’ve never made a dime with my father. And I’ve made fat stacks of cash with these boys here. So the choice was easy.”

Finlay joined AEW on the March 4 episode of Dynamite, where he joined forces and helped Kidd and Connors out in their rivalry with Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin.

Finlay’s brother, Uriah Connors (Brogan Finlay), and father, Fit Finlay, are currently together in WWE NXT as a part of the Birthright stable.

Fight Game: Does CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns feel big enough yet?

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

John LaRocca and I return with a brand-new Fight Game to discuss some of the most interesting topics in pro wrestling.

We give out our thumbs up and thumbs down before talking about Brian “Road Dogg” James resigning from WWE creative, David Finlay’s AEW debut and why he didn’t choose WWE, and whether or not CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns is cooking yet.

We finish up the show with our new Observe This segment talking about stories from Dave Meltzer’s 1985 Observer Book. We cover the infamous 20/20 segment with John Stossel about whether wrestling was fake or not and give Dave’s thoughts at the time.

Click Here to Listen (sub needed)

AEW announces signing of NJPW faction following surprise Dynamite appearance

Posted on by Josh Nason

Amid plenty of discussion the past few months about his status with NJPW and interest from WWE, David Finlay made a surprise appearance on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite alongside some old friends.

Now Finlay, Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd are officially under AEW contract as The Dogs, announced by Tony Khan on X.

Finlay appeared after Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin’s victory over Connors and Kidd, hitting both Allin and Cassidy with a shillelagh. The three stood tall afterward, reuniting three key members of the Bullet Club War Dogs faction from NJPW.

It’s unclear as of this time whether the three men are under dual contracts with NJPW or exclusive to AEW. Fightful did report shortly afterward that Finlay’s deal is for multiple years and came together over the last week.

Kidd and Connors have been regulars on AEW TV over the past month, feuding with Allin. Finlay has wrestled once in AEW, losing to Hangman Page back in June 2022.

Finlay’s contract expired with NJPW in February, but he continued to wrestle through last weekend’s New Beginning USA, Kidd’s last NJPW match came in mid-February, and Connors last appeared for the promotion at January’s New Year Dash.

It was reported by Fightful that Finlay and WWE had been in contact, but that he wasn’t factored into any plans.

It was noted on X that the third, fourth and fifth leaders of Bullet Club are now under AEW contract (Kenny Omega, Jay White, Finlay).

Report: David Finlay not currently factored into WWE’s creative plans

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Major updates have emerged regarding the 32-year-old David Finlay’s wrestling future, with WWE and NJPW both heavily rumored to secure him.

Following his run with NJPW, Finlay is now allegedly a free agent. Previously reported, Finlay became a free agent after his contract with NJPW expired last month. With reports and rumors about WWE’s heavy interest in him, Fightful Select recently reported that, according to their sources, there has been contact between Finlay and WWE. Although he is not currently “factored in to creative plans.”

Fightful Select also noted that they have not heard any recent updates between the two sides, although there was contact at one point between them. It was also stated that NJPW is actively trying to re-sign the former IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion.

He was also given a farewell at NJPW New Beginning in Osaka on February 10th, following his loss to Callum Newman, which also happened to be his last NJPW match, as of now.

Finlay joined NJPW in 2015 and stayed with the promotion since then, winning multiple titles and actively participating in several high-profile feuds. He also once wrestled on AEW Dynamite against Adam Page.

Report: David Finlay officially a free agent

Posted on by Bryan Rose

David Finlay is a free agent.

Fightful Select reported on Monday that Finlay’s contract with NJPW had expired and was officially a free agent. Despite this, they are reporting that the company is “actively” trying to re-sign him. They first reported back in December that Finlay was looking to explore free agency.

Finlay last wrestled for the company on February 11, when he lost to Callum Newman at New Beginning in Osaka. After the match, Finlay seemed to bid his farewell to the company, bowing in front of the crowd and embracing manager Gedo. Despite what seemed like a goodbye, however, Finlay is booked for the New Beginning USA event on February 27. 

Joining NJPW in 2015, Finlay started out as a Young Lion before establishing himself as a babyface, winning the IWGP Tag Team titles once with Juice Robinson. His big break came in 2023 when he attacked Jay White, establishing himself as the newest leader of the Bullet Club, adjusting the group to his style and re-establishing the group as the Bullet Club War Dogs. He attained newfound success in that role, winning the Global title twice and winning last year’s New Japan Cup.

Fit Finlay excited for son David’s ‘next chapter’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Fit Finlay is excited for his son David’s next chapter — which could include joining the rest of his family in WWE NXT.

David Finlay bid an apparent farewell to Japan earlier this week at the New Beginning in Osaka. During the years he spent wrestling in the country, Finlay was one of NJPW’s top foreigners and a leader of Bullet Club. He still has at least one more NJPW match left with Finlay vs. Fred Rosser set to take place at New Beginning USA on February 27.

Though his next destination is still unconfirmed, there are rumors Finlay could be headed to NXT. His father Fit is a coach at the Performance Center, and his younger brother Uriah Connors (Brogan Finlay) is part of the NXT roster. Fit Finlay sent out a tweet today expressing pride in David ahead of whatever is to come.

“Whats next? I’m proud of the journey you have been on,” Fit wrote. “I’m excited for the next chapter. Your eminence in Wrestling is undeniable! 4th Generation, ya can’t slow that juggernaut.”

If David Finlay does sign with WWE, he could potentially end up in NXT’s newly formed Birthright faction. There was a segment on Tuesday where Lexis King (the son of Brian Pillman) and Arianna Grace (the daughter of Santino Marella) approached Uriah Connors about joining. The idea behind the faction is that these wrestlers believe their families have earned their legacies — while the other talent in NXT are influencers and athletes who have gotten everything handed to them.

NJPW New Beginning notes: David Finlay, Drilla Moloney, Hiroshi Tanahashi

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Notes from Wednesday’s New Beginning in Osaka.

David Finlay strongly hinted at his departure from NJPW following his match with Callum Newman, where he lost cleanly after a lariat. After Newman mocked his opponent and left the ring, Finlay recovered and quickly became emotional. He bowed to the crowd and hugged manager Gedo as he exited the ring. He then bowed in front of and hugged Hiromu Takahashi at ringside before making his exit.

Despite what seemed like a final farewell, Finlay has been announced for New Beginning USA on February 27. But the scene on Wednesday comes as reports indicate that Finlay is looking to explore free agency.

One person who is remaining with the company is Drilla Moloney. After he and Shingo Takagi were victorious in their tag match, Moloney announced that he had renewed his contract with NJPW. Additionally, he declared for the NJPW Cup tournament, which takes place next month.

Prior to the NEVER title match, Hiroshi Tanahashi made a surprise appearance and announced that their next broadcast on national television will take place at NJPW Dominion on June 14 in Osaka-jo Hall. TV Asahi aired Wrestle Kingdom 20 on January 4, the first time the network had aired a Tokyo Dome event since 2004.

Knockouts Brothers & David Finlay announced for NJPW New Beginning USA

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

NJPW has officially announced both IWGP Tag Team Champions The Knockout Brothers (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) and David Finlay for NJPW New Beginning USA 2026.

Their opponents were not revealed for the February 27 event at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey.

Finlay has been in the news recently as his status as a free agent looms with him reportedly drawing interest from WWE where his father coaches at WWE NXT and his brother is under contract.

The three men will join Syuri, Tomohiro Ishii, Konosuke Takeshita, Oleg Boltin, and El Desperado as some of the talents announced for competing at the event. Syuri will enter the show as a double champion, while Ishii is set to compete as the men’s NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. IWGP Heavyweight Champion and Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji is also scheduled to be in action.

NJPW New Beginning USA lineup | February 27th, 2026

  • El Phantasmo (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita for the NJPW World TV Championship
  • IWGP Women’s and NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion Syuri to compete
  • Oleg Boltin to compete
  • El Desperado to compete
  • NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Tomohiro Ishii to compete
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions the Knockout Bros (OSKAR & Yuto-Ice) to compete
  • David Finlay to compete

David Finlay reportedly looking to explore free agency

Posted on by Josh Nason

A new report out Saturday has former IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay looking to explore free agency in the early part of 2026.

Fightful Select reported that Finlay’s NJPW contract is set to expire “in the near future” and that the 32-year-old is looking to explore his options which includes promotions in the United States due to “interest from companies.”

Finlay is set to compete at next weekend’s Wrestle Kingdom 20 and is expected for some additional NJPW dates after that, according to Fightful.

Finlay has been with NJPW since 2015 and has held the Global title twice, the NEVER Openweight title, the NEVER Openweight Six-Man titles, and the IWGP Tag Team titles.

Of note, Finlay’s brother Brogan (Uriah Connors) is currently under contract in WWE NXT where he’s competed since February 2024. Their father, Fit Finlay, has longtime ties to WWE and works as a coach/trainer/producer at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

Three matches added to NJPW Windy City Riot

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Three matches have been added to the card for NJPW Windy City Riot 2025 — including a potential IWGP World Heavyweight title bout.

NJPW returns to Chicago for Windy City Riot on Friday, April 11. It’s been announced that David Finlay vs. Zack Sabre Jr. will take place at the show. If Finlay is able to dethrone Hirooki Goto at Sakura Genesis on April 5, this will be his first title defense. Finlay vs. Sabre will still happen as a special singles match if Finlay loses to Goto.

Finlay earned the Sakura Genesis title shot by winning New Japan Cup 2025, and Sabre was the opponent he defeated in the semifinals. Sabre dropped the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship to Goto in February and is looking to get the title back.

The IWGP World Heavyweight Championship will be defended at Windy City Riot no matter what. A challenger for Goto if he’s still champion has not been named yet.

NJPW’s Strong Openweight Tag Team titles will also be on the line in Chicago with Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson defending against KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight.

Plus, a tag team match has been added to the show with Tetsuya Naito & Titan facing Rocky Romero & El Phantasmo.

Wintrust Arena is hosting Windy City Riot, which will air as a pay-per-view on NJPW World. Here is the updated lineup:

  • Hiroshi Tanahashi’s last match in the United States: Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • 30-minute Iron Man match: NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Tomohiro Ishii
  • David Finlay vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
  • NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team Champions Royce Isaacs & Jorel Nelson defend against KUSHIDA & Kevin Knight
  • Tetsuya Naito & Titan vs. Rocky Romero & El Phantasmo

Big Audio Nightmare: New Japan Cup wrap-up, Sakura Genesis, Stardom

Posted on by Adam Summers

The Big Audio Nightmare is back as myself and Mike Sempervive talk about everything happening in the very busy world of Japanese wrestling.

This week’s topics include:

  • Full analysis of the recently completed New Japan Cup
  • Thoughts on the David Finlay vs. Shota Umino final and where both men go from here
  • The longtime fan service that is Hirooki Goto
  • A look at the Sakura Genesis card and the direction heading into Windy City Riot
  • The Saya Kamitani vs Tam Nakano feud as we head toward the career match
  • All that and much more

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Full card revealed for NJPW Sakura Genesis 2025

Posted on by Joseph Currier

With New Japan Cup 2025 now over, NJPW has revealed the full card for Sakura Genesis.

The Saturday, April 5 event will be headlined by Hirooki Goto vs. David Finlay for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Finlay earned the title shot through his New Japan Cup win, where he bested Shota Umino in the finals after getting past EVIL, Yuya Uemura, and Zack Sabre Jr. in the earlier rounds.

Goto will be making the third defense of his title reign, which has already seen him defeat Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yuji Nagata.

Finlay, the leader of Bullet Club War Dogs, has never been IWGP World Champion before.

Sumo Hall is hosting Sakura Genesis on April 5 with the show airing live on New Japan World. Six title matches in total are set for the event. The full card can be seen below:

  • IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Hirooki Goto defends against David Finlay
  • IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion Yota Tsuji defends against EVIL
  • IWGP Tag Team Champions Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi defend against Jeff Cobb & Callum Newman
  • NEVER Openweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita defends against Ryohei Oiwa
  • NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team Champions SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita defend against Gabe Kidd, Drilla Moloney & Taiji Ishimori
  • Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Shota Umino
  • NJPW World TV Champion El Phantasmo defends against Great-O-Khan
  • Yuya Uemura vs. SANADA
  • Katsuya Murashima vs. Daiki Nagai

March 24, 2025 Observer Newsletter: John Cena’s first heel promo, WBD interested in UFC, David Finlay wins New Japan Cup

Posted on by F4W Staff

Image: WWE

Subscribers can now read this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Dave Meltzer leads off with his thoughts on John Cena’s first heel promo and appearance after the big turn at WWE Elimination Chamber.

He recaps the New Japan Cup finals that saw David Finlay take home the top prize, WBD’s public comments about interest in the UFC and what that could mean for AEW, and lots more.

Click here to read.

NJPW crowns New Japan Cup winner, Sakura Genesis main event set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

David Finlay is heading to Sakura Genesis with a chance to win the first IWGP World Championship of his career.

Finlay was crowned the winner of New Japan Cup 2025 on Thursday, prevailing over Shota Umino in the tournament finals. The victory has earned Finlay an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship shot against Hirooki Goto in the main event of NJPW Sakura Genesis on Saturday, April 5.

In a post-match promo, Finlay promised to end Goto’s “Cinderella run” as champion. The two had a face-to-face confrontation before Finlay celebrated with his stablemates in Bullet Club War Dogs.

“I am the Savage King. I am coming for my crown, so your fairytale is over,” the 31-year-old Finlay declared. “I am taking your title — because hate always finds a way.”

This is Finlay’s first time winning a major NJPW tournament as a singles wrestler. During his New Japan Cup run, he had victories against EVIL, Yuya Uemura, Zack Sabre Jr., and Umino.

Goto, a veteran of the NJPW roster for more than 20 years, began his first reign as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion by dethroning Sabre last month. He’s already made title defenses against Hiroshi Tanahashi and Yuji Nagata.

Sakura Genesis will air live on New Japan World from Sumo Hall in Tokyo on April 5.