Fight for the Future: Kevin Owens VS Finn Balor

At the beginning of 2015 I would've expressed some trepidation over NXT's course. A run of remarkably bland RAW episodes combined with an utter absence of acknowledgment of NXT's operation during that program had me believing that politics was going to get in the way of the exciting fledgling brand continuing to flourish. I had even at one point made note of NXT's place on the In Ring section of the WWE Network listings being shunted toward the end, almost out of sight. Fortunately, a reversal has taken place, NXT has been getting plenty of opportunities to shine with the party line touted around town being it is no longer a developmental program, but a full fledged brand unto itself. While the rapidly heating up show still squarely falls under the WWE flagship, it has made giant strides by way of developing its own unique identity, taking the show on the road for highly sought after tour dates, and in its most recent step forward, integrating its characters and storylines within the action on the WWE main roster. Not only does this mark a realization that WWE proper should be finding ways to put over its new, hip show, but has shown that with the right storytelling, the connection between the two rosters can generate buzz that affects the WWE's main product positively as well. Those that have been following this unfolding scene can easily connect the dots and form the burly outline of one Kevin Owens.

Owens has been like bottled lightning since debuting in NXT last year, bringing a quiet storm presentation to his few but impressionable confrontations. It helped that a ready made rivalry between him and Sami Zayn, hearkening back to their days in the indies and in Ring Of Honor, was lying in wait of his arrival. He does not only present himself as a compelling and unique heel during promos and interviews, he has an amazing move set. During his match with John Cena at the Elimination Chamber special, he pulled off acrobatic maneuvers that seem impossible for a man of his size and build, not to mention an offensive that looks devastating to anyone on the receiving end.

I wonder if original intentions were to just have Owens come out on Raw during Cena's US Championship open challenge, blindside him, and build some buzz around the then upcoming NXT special while teasing a confrontation between the champions down the line. No matter, the decision to move Owens into the picture on Raw was an excellent one. He presents a fresh and credible threat to others on the main WWE roster, and those savvy fans who have grown tired of WWE's repetitiveness but are tuned into NXT's competition-centric presentation will be more likely to check WWE's main programs to see Owens in action. Owens' increased presence on WWE proper can also do great things for NXT in return, and arguably already has. With the NXT title still in Owens' possession as he defeats top level stars like John Cena, the belt looks that much more valuable and will cause eyeballs to turn toward NXT, and possibly the WWE Network, for those not already subscribing, to see what happens to the championship. Anyone associated with Owens also stands to benefit from the increased exposure, and those names are numerous. Sami Zayn, whose feud with Owens is stll unresolved, would appear to have the potential to move up to the main roster any time to continue unfinished business with the now main roster-cized Owens. Finn Balor, current number one contender to the NXT championship can also get to be more well known, and that much closer to appearing on the WWE's bigger stage. Hideo Itami was last seen expressing his desire to fight Kevin Owens for the NXT championship, before he was sidelined by an injury, and was shown on screen as the victim of a storyline attack, with a suggestion of Owens' possible involvement. Then there is Samoa Joe, who also seems to have immediately gained from NXT's increased prominence, as well as stare-down confrontation with the current NXT champ that went down with an atmosphere slicing tension. His initial contract with pro wrestling's dominant company quickly received an upgrade to main roster status.

Right on the horizon is an intriguing viewing opportunity scheduled for July 4th on the WWE Network that I feel is the perfect moment for the company to shake things up on NXT. Finn Balor is scheduled to make good on his number one contender status and face Owens in a title match at a house show in Tokyo, Japan's Sumo Hall, and it will be broadcast via the Network. From this vantage point, it makes complete and utter sense for them to not only put on a fantastic match, but for the NXT championship to change hands and go from Kevin Owens to Finn Balor, with the man with the demon within picking up the win.

I'm sure whatever this pair does in the ring will make for excellent viewing, but the title change would work for so many reasons. First, Owens is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the main roster activity, and the more he achieves over there the less he needs the NXT title to bolster his image. In fact, midway through slogging through this post, he has just issued a challenge for Cena's US Title after the two have exchanged victories. Second, Finn Balor has amazing potential to be the focal point of NXT, with little more that can be done to help him reach the next plateau other than winning a championship. From there, his eventual elevation to WWE proper seems inevitable. This kind of newsworthy occurrence might seem better saved for a more high profile event and one that is not competing with a major holiday like Independence Day. However, it is the perfect sort of buzz generator to get more eyes and as a result sign-ups for WWE's much touted online streaming subscription service. With the time difference, an evening event in Tokyo would be taking place around 7:30 AM Eastern Standard Time, presuming the whole show will be broadcast, with the main event probably occurring a bit after that; that's not interfering as much with fireworks and other people's holiday plans, and once the diehard fans start tweeting about it, news will spread over a must-see match even more-so if it had some drastic consequences.

What's most poignant about the circumstance is how its location dovetails with Balor's history. It is well known to Japanese wrestling fans that before becoming Finn Balor, Prince Devitt made his bones as a dominant Super Junior Heavyweight and went on to become a core member of the widely known heel faction, The Bullet Club. If facts around Balor's wrestling career in Japan were mentoned, regardless of whether the company NJPW were acknowledged or not, it could make for a very plausible stage on which Balor was victorious. I think it's a near sure thing that fans in attendance of the show will all be rallying behind him, something akin to giving him a home field advantage. And, I am pleased to say that during the time this was being drafted, a video package did in fact bring up Balor's extensive career in Japan.

For a video presentation epitomizing brief, effective marketing of a star on the rise in this era, seek out an ad for the July 4 special - it has been shown on the Network during recent NXT episodes, showing Balor transforming into something otherworldly against a stark white background. A quick, cutting edge looking  thrill ride for the eyes.

With Kevin Owens changing the WWE landscape, and Balor not far behind in his own rise to prominence, I would keep a close on this rare opportunity to see an overseas event broadcast online only, between two wrestlers who, between them, hold some of the greatest potential influence in the industry.

twitter: MondoCurryMark