Author's Note: Just not to confuse everyone, imagine Becky and Finn in dark, separate rooms delivering a promo against a black backdrop with little lighting. During the promo, you can just imagine a video/photo collage of their personal and professional lives as they talk back and forth. Think of that NXT Takeover: New Orleans promo with Tommaso Ciampa vs Johnny Gargano, where this chapter is literally inspired by its structure of presentation and storytelling. The italicized are spoken by an unseen narrator that's telling the story in a sort of folkloristic way. Also other inspirations for this chapter is the Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker promos (WM 25 and 26) and the song "My Demons" by Starset. Hell, make a fanmade video of this and put it on YouTube, I don't know. But I hope you'll love this special chapter. Enjoy!
CH 5.5: Promo
Many years ago, there was a young prince and he was one of the greatest warriors in Ireland. He was admired for his strength and courage, but what made him beloved by many was his heart. The prince built a school to train aspiring warriors not just how to fight, but to value life to the fullest and to never give up on your dreams. Then one day, he stumbled upon a maiden who wanted to meet him.
Becky: When I first met Finn...it felt like I was meeting a superhero. He had this presence, this warmth, this charisma that people inspired to be. Since I was a teenager back then, I looked up to him like a big brother, an idol, someone I wanted to learn from.
Finn: Becky wasn't like the other girls. She learned quickly and tend to understand instructions during training, plus she's never afraid to kick a man's ass when necessary. She was something special.
The prince took the maiden into his school and taught her everything she needs to know. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months as the maiden grew stronger with each passing time. It wasn't until one autumn that she displayed her talent firsthand, quickly becoming the prince's favorite student.
Finn: There was one time in her first match, she took her opponent's arm and started twisting it back. The female wrestler managed to move free, but Becky was too fast and delivered a flying armbar to secure the victory. And that's when I knew...she's gonna go far. Probably more over than I.
With her early accomplishments at hand, the maiden became one of the fiercest warriors in the land. She continued to battle against the best around the world, gaining knowledge and learning over time. Her brash style and incredible wit made her a formidable foe among the elite, including women warriors who envied her abilities.
Becky: I was on top of the world. One Pro Wrestling, SuperGirls Wrestling, New England Championship Wrestling, International Women's Grand Prix, Shimmer. Everytime I'm in the ring, I don't treat my matches as if they were simple matches. I wanted to give 100% to every single one of them so that fans can appreciate what I've accomplished. That's why hard work earned me championship after championship.
Despite her ever-growing success, the maiden learns that her mentor is no longer with her. The prince has decided to move on beyond his homeland and enters into new territory overseas.
Finn: My contract signing at New Japan back in 2006 is something I would never forget. This feeling of 'you've made it'...kinda defines where I'm as a pro wrestler. I get goosebumps every time I talk about it because it was a big deal. Who would've thought that a young guy from a little Irish seaside town can make an impact on the Japanese pro wrestling world?
Becky: I was proud of him. He was ecstatic about the whole thing, so I hoped him for the best.
The prince joined a tribe of unique warriors - The Warriors from the Rising Sun - who took him under their wing as their apprentice. He learned how to fight like them, talk like them, ate their food, and appreciated their culture. Soon, he adapted to his new home and followed the same grounds as his new friends. Whenever he's seen in battle, his elders continued to praise him for his fearless spirit. And yet….
Becky: He was on a losing streak. He argued with his teammates and it annoyed the hell out of them. I was seeing...signs. Signs of desperation, aggravation, and total lack of impatience. Finn looked unhappy. All he wanted was to get noticed by the veterans…
Finn: It was horrible. Some of my days at CTU were good, but a number of them were horrible. Fought my way up, complained, became a part of their group, complained, gets plagued by injuries….left the stable entirely. In 2007, I joined RISE and I was back on my feet again. The year after that, I won the IWGP Tag Team Championship for the first time in my career. And this win led me to Ryusuke Taguchi the following year.
With his new friend Ryusuke, the two established a brotherly bond...a bond that lasted for 4 years. They fought many adversaries together to no avail, proving that they're one of the best warriors in the tribe. Their prowess gave new heights...
Becky: Apollo 55 were incredible, Finn and Ryusuke. They were so in sync that they've never seem to miss a beat. I wouldn't say it's like magic, but it was worth watching them perform in the ring.
Finn: I thought we were inseparable. If I was taken down, Ryusuke had my back. If someone was talking trash about me, he defends me. I learned a lot from that man, he was a genius.
But was it everything the prince perceived it to be?
Becky: I remember in March of 2013, I told Finn on the phone, "You know, you're getting a bit edgy last time. I need you to calm down a bit. Your non-title match loss to Tanahashi isn't worth complaining about. For now, promise me on three things: 1) always be humble in victory and defeat, 2) follow what your heart pursues on and off the ring, and 3) don't do anything reckless that'll hurt everyone."
For every great story, there's always a price to pay. So when the prince and Ryusuke battled their latest opponents on the battlefield, the prince does the unthinkable…
Becky:...What the f-k?
Ignoring the maiden's promise, the prince betrayed Ryusuke and turned to a new kind of leadership. A leadership he abuses to the utmost desires…
Becky: I told him the month before April that he shouldn't go overboard on his temper, but he refused. Seeing him knock down Ryusuke was the lowest of the low and that was unlike him. Not since he became my mentor.
Finn: I was a mess, okay? I didn't think they would accept me for who I was. The years I've been under their shadow, I've always felt like I wasn't good enough to impress the others in New Japan. So I returned the favor and hit one of their own. It was the era of Prince Devitt.
The prince's act of retribution was a statement against the people who took him in as family and failed to recognize him. A society who saw him as an outsider, an outcast….a "foreigner". Demanding he should be king of his own kingdom, the prince took over the land of the Warriors of the Rising Sun and summoned a group of devoted men - foreigners like him - to join him on his deadly quest for power. It became the birth of a new breed of rebel….
Becky: It's ironic when I look back on his debut in 2006, that was the last time….I've fought in the ring.
As for the maiden, she suffered a terrible blow. Injured and without reason to move forward, she abandoned her mentor's teachings and disappeared from a heroic life she once had.
Becky: I was diagnosed with a possibly damaged eighth cranial nerve over my left eye. I was competing at German Stampede Wrestling and my opponent - her name was Kisu - delivered a botched piledriver, which had my face nearly hitting the mat. I remember myself being in an awkward position and before I can recuperate, Kisu quickly slammed me down and I felt the left side of my forehead burn. After my loss in the match, doctors looked at me and said there is a small cut above my left eye. Put stitches on me, needed to recover for a couple of weeks. A few weeks after that fateful September day, it wasn't until the symptoms start showing. Headaches, vision problems, loud buzzing in my left ear.
The pain was just...unbearable. It was a total nightmare and without thinking twice about it, I just said to myself, "This isn't for me. I'm done, I don't want to do this anymore. To hell with it." So I left pro wrestling altogether for the first time.
The maiden continued to support herself, but her mundane life in working occupations outside of heroism was haunting her. Walking away from her warrior days left her with an identity crisis, desperate to seek glory once more. Surprisingly, she took that first step in her painful journey….
Becky: I was slightly overwhelmed when Shimmer called me in 2011 and said if I want to come back and I hilariously was like, "Yes, please! I've nothing to do back home!" So I took a plane to Chicago, arrived at the promotion, and they told me that I'm assigned manager to Sweet Saraya and Paige (who back then was called Britani Knight). 'Tis a lot of fun with those two.
Back to 2013, I've heard from a friend that Finn just started a revolution in New Japan. And I'm like "What revolution?" and my friend answered, "The Bullet Club. New hottest stable in town. Check it out." I looked it up and I saw several videos of Finn and his crew beating up New Japan officials, attacking wrestlers, cussing, acting tough. I'm like, "Are you kidding me? Am I seeing this?!"
Horrified by the bloodthirsty actions of the prince-turned-king, the maiden lost hope in her mentor and decides to follow a path of her own, one that doesn't require the help and presence of her former friend.
Becky: He was a brother to me. A best friend. A shining rode model in my early years as a wrestler. How does that debacle back in New Japan make me feel? Disgusted. Absolutely disgusted. I felt betrayed.
The "king" thought otherwise….
Finn: Bullet Club isn't just a stable….it's a brotherhood. We don't live by the rules, we break the rules. That is our creed. We are rebels of a movement that can never be conquered. And even if I left the Bullet Club, I'm still the original "Real Rock n' Rolla".
Becky: Can't you imagine what Finn's really saying? It's bulls-t nonsense. He acts like the leader of a motorcycle gang. You know, wearing a bandana over his face, wearing his club's logo, forming his hand like a gun and pretends to shoot at people. I mean….what?! Where did this attitude come from?
The maiden became confused of his behavior and needed answers. The king doesn't hold back….
Finn: You really want to know why I formed the Bullet Club, Becky? I thought you'd never asked again…
Well, the REAL reason I formed the Bullet Club...was to gain the attention of New Japan and summon foreign wrestlers like me to make a name for themselves, especially you. That's right….I made this club for you, so that once you're old enough and more experienced, you'll take over my place as the next heir to the throne.
But then, you've retired and was doing several jobs you didn't even like. You see...you did this to yourself, Becky. I could've saved you back in Germany, but…..I didn't think it was worth it.
Becky: Really? Is that what you thought about me during those 7 f-king odd years? The fact I didn't stand up for myself and didn't think wrestling was a great career choice for me? Haven't you realize years ago that I cried for hours trying to call you that I was in pain….yet you've NEVER CALLED ME BACK?!
As the dire months roll on, the maiden began to notice something wrong about her mentor. The way his eyes changed, the way his demeanor changed, the way his mannerisms changed. It was like she's seen a monster.
Becky: 2014 was a strange year for Finn. I don't know why, but...he looked unwell. There were backstage promos where he rarely often acts out of breath, his eyes slightly dilated, and his body was aching all over. It wasn't until Wrestle Kingdom 8 where there was this moment that he came out a coffin...and boom, I saw the demon.
I've never seen him transformed like that before. I was shook...he looked dead inside.
Finn: I didn't know what came over me. Except the fact that I felt this darkness as a friend and I let it consume me. My demon, at that time, was still adjusting to me. But now, I can summon the demon only when it's necessary.
Even if all these circumstances were coming into place, the king and the maiden reunited in the most unlikeliest of places….
Becky: While I was in NXT, I was still upset over what happened with Finn in New Japan, but I kept it to myself. So how did I hide it? I became his biggest "supporter". I wore Bullet Club merchandise and yes, I'm friends with former BC members AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, and Luke Gallows.
Finn: I met Becky backstage at NXT before I made my debut in 2014. Seeing each other for the first time in 8 years….wow. What a huge difference it made. I almost didn't recognize her due to her new hairstyle. After one of her matches, we began to talk to each other like we haven't spoke in years.
Becky: In that moment….it was like I forgot about everything about New Japan and I was talking to a new Finn Bálor.
The two renowned warriors (just like old times) fought against several opponents in battle and built their newfound lives to the top. They were no longer in Ireland, but they've stayed in a new home with some of the greatest warriors around the world. Finally recognized by their potential, the king and the maiden's dreams came true….
Becky: Being in the WWE today feels surreal to me because there's a lot I wanted to expect once I've been called into the main roster. I wanted women's wrestling to be taken seriously so we can share the same opportunities just like the men do. I've done a lot throughout these few years: winning my first major women's championship on SmackDown Live, taking part in a steel cage match, taking part in the first-ever Women's Money In the Bank ladder match, the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble, et cetera. This has been a great year for women's wrestling and I'm just blessed to be a part of it.
Finn: Since coming back from a shoulder injury in Summerslam 2017, I've yet to progress more in my career and continue to become one of the best wrestlers in the entire roster. I also reunited with some old friends - Anderson and Gallows - and I'm grateful to say that the spirit of the Bullet Club is alive and well in Bálor Club. I don't want to compare both stables too much, but with our presence in WWE, it'll create a more larger spectrum of fans dedicated to our original roots in New Japan.
But the story doesn't end here. During a social gathering of the finest warriors from the United Kingdom settling on Irish soil, old wounds tend to break loose. The king, believing that his favorite student isn't ready to face his demonic persona, angered the maiden and the two exchanged profanity and wretched blows. This dramatic moment will sow the seeds of a personal rivalry that is yet to erupt at Northern Ireland's greatest stage.
Becky: If there's one specific wrestler that I've wanted to face my entire life, that guy was you, Finn. I'm the only protégé that has ever caught up to you and be in the same promotion as you do now. And on August 4th at King's Hall...I'm coming at ya with every ounce of straight fire that your precious Demon King will fall out of your skin. Even if it'll take me a thousand times to stop you, there's no stopping my passion, my drive, my determination to get you out of the darkness.
Finn: You know damn well that my demon holds no prisoners. If you have what it takes to defeat the most powerful ruler of the underworld, then consider the challenge done. But heed this warning: you will not survive. There will be blood. There will be immense pain and anguish, so much so that every piece of bone in your body...would be fractured beyond repair. The Demon King loves suffering and unlike many opponents I've faced in the past few years, you'll be receiving the greatest punishment of all from his wrath.
This August, a maiden will make her shot for redemption and become Queen….
Becky: This is more than just a match for me. It's a deeply personal battle I've been fighting since Finn came into the picture. This is a chance….to make my moment count.
And a once ruthless king will unleash the darkness once again…..
Finn: There's always a demon in all of us. And sometimes, they win. My demon is the fear that's keep on giving…
Mentor vs. Student. Demon King vs. Maiden Ireland. A friendship tested, a bond severed, a new rivalry is born. There couldn't be any better story told and yet to be re-told for years to come than that of The Demon and the Maiden.
Becky: I will…
Finn: I will…
Becky and Finn:...never bow down to you!
This is just the beginning. How will Becky take down the Demon King? And what new moves will she add to her caliber moveset? Does the Demon King have certain weaknesses or not? Chapter 6: Legacy is coming soon!