Podcast Summary: "What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes"

Episode: Finn Bálor
Host: Cody Rhodes
Guest: Finn Bálor (Fergal Devitt)
Date: January 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode brings together WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes and guest Finn Bálor (Fergal Devitt) for an open, intimate, and often humorous conversation about wrestling, legacy, mentorship, and real life. The episode dives into Finn’s journey from Ireland to WWE stardom, creation of the Bullet Club, “The Demon” persona, the importance of routine, and the behind-the-scenes world of wrestling. The interview also unpacks the struggles, emotional moments, and bonds formed over decades spent on the road.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Finn’s Roots & The Irish Wrestling Scene (02:48–05:46)

• OTT Wrestling & Ireland:
  Finn and Cody share stories about OTT (Over The Top) Wrestling, an indie promotion in Ireland. Cody confesses to unwittingly overstaying his welcome at an OTT show, accidentally overshadowing a homegrown talent’s big moment, highlighting cultural differences and the importance of local stars.
  • "[OTT is] an independent company in Ireland who have a lot of the guys who I came up in the business now work there." – Finn Bálor (02:57)
  • Both recall the different role of public transport in Ireland and the unique vibe of Irish wrestling.
• Generational Connections:
  Finn reflects on how much the scene has developed, reminiscing about working with the new generation—including sons of people who helped him early in his career.
  • "It's generational... he has the chops... the level in OTT is really raising." – Finn Bálor (31:57–32:21)

2. Life on the Road & Maintaining Perspective (08:53–10:22)

• The Reality of ‘Home’ for Wrestlers:
  Finn and Cody discuss detachment from a traditional home life due to incessant travelling, and how wrestlers' sense of home shifts over time.
  • "Home really now is like, the airplane and the Marriott... Miami doesn't feel like home. Ireland now... I've kind of been gone so long. Don't really relate to the environment there anymore." – Finn Bálor (08:53)
  • Cody touches on the importance of compartmentalizing personal and professional life for longevity and mental health.

3. Family, Marriage & Support (06:36–08:50)

• Meeting & Marrying Veronica:
  Finn recounts how he met his wife—a Mexican TV personality—in San Jose during WrestleMania media obligations, building their relationship over years of sporadic contact.
  • "We met in San Jose... She was working for Fox... We just kind of crossed paths and that was it... Then about six years later... I asked for her number... She said no... We kept DMing... Finally, give me the number, and we never looked back." – Finn Bálor (06:41–07:49)
  • Talks about her shifting relationship to wrestling after experiencing the physical toll up close.

4. Childhood Inspiration & Early Wrestling Memories (11:09–13:35)

• Growing Up a Fan:
  World of Sport wrestling in Ireland, Saturday TV traditions, and transition to WWF heroes like Ultimate Warrior and Shawn Michaels left an indelible mark on Finn.
  • "One of my earliest memories as a kid was watching World of Sport Wrestling with my dad and my grandfather." – Finn Bálor (11:09)
  • The importance of crowd belief and authenticity in wrestling storytelling.

5. Wrestling Styles, Chain Wrestling, and Emulation (12:41–15:14)

• The Difficulty of “World of Sport” Style:
  Cody admits to “hating” World of Sport style wrestling due to its technical complexity, with both agreeing it’s often poorly imitated.
  • "They're very hard to pull off convincingly... a lot of it is emulated now, but really, really badly." – Finn Bálor (13:35–13:47)
  • Discussion of how storytelling context gives moves meaning, and pitfalls of copying high-profile “blowoff” matches without the build.

6. Creation of the Bullet Club & Wrestling Legacy (20:43–26:47)

• Bullet Club Origins:
  Finn details the inside story of how he was called the “real shooter” in New Japan, leading to the Bullet Club name (with Bad Luck Fale, Karl Anderson, and Tama Tonga).
  • "Suzuki... I caught him with an arm bar. Oh, David, you're a real shooter. And... Tiger Hatori... every day, hey, David, you're the real shooter... So when the time came... what ties us all together... it was Bullet Club." – Finn Bálor (20:43–22:07)
  • Cody stresses Finn’s industry-changing impact with Bullet Club. The legacy, global influence, and even the Hot Topic T-shirt phenomenon are credited largely to Bálor’s work.
  • "It was Bullet Club changes the entire business. Like, there's very few people who ever... changed our entire industry with a thing that they contributed." – Cody Rhodes (22:07)
  • Finn reveals his actual financial royalty from the club was minimal ($118), but the real reward was the mark left on the business.
  • "The payoff was not financial, but... way more valuable than any dollar amount... just what it's given to the business." – Finn Bálor (26:16)

7. The Demon Persona: Concept, WWE Evolution & Frustration (37:21–44:45)

• Conception in New Japan:
  Finn describes the original “Demon” (wanting to appear as a ‘shadow’), trialling it at the Tokyo Dome, and the unexpected success after initial skepticism from peers.
• WWE’s Handling & Personal Reservations:
  Finn confides that corporate storyline constraints muddled the persona’s simplicity, making it feel like Finn was “lesser than” the Demon rather than two sides of the same coin.
  • "It had to be storyline-based and advertised. In my mind, it was always just a cool entrance... In WWE, it had to be what made him turn into the demon... So then it became... Finn wasn't good enough. Only the demon could win." – Finn Bálor (38:48–39:49)
  • His favorite Demon moment: “NXT TakeOver UK – Jack the Ripper-inspired entrance.” (40:45)
  • Says he’d return to the Demon with more creative control: "I don't think I need it... I would love to have more creative control and I feel like I lost a lot of that, especially when I came to the main roster." (44:00)

8. Mentorship, Friendship & the Wrestling Brotherhood (46:18–49:16)

• Kevin Owens’ Heartfelt Message:
  Cody delivers a touching message from Kevin Owens, thanking Finn for his friendship and influence. Finn is emotional in kind, acknowledging their mutual support navigating NXT together.
  • "He's one of my favorite people and best friends in the whole world." – Finn Bálor about Kevin Owens (49:16)
• The Importance of Locker Room Bonds:
  Sharing the trials of “starting over” at the WWE Performance Center and the endurance required to adapt.

9. Building a Dream Team & Reflections on the Business (50:04–53:26)

• Survivor Series/American Dream Team:
  Finn’s picks for “ride or die” crew: JD McDonagh, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, Chad Gable, Otis, Adrian Neville, and his dad (Pops). (50:04–50:25)
• Underrated Talent:
  Discussion of Chad Gable’s talent and willingness to “show his ass” as a performer, and why he’s one of the best in WWE.

10. Wrestling Evolution & The Big Guys (53:43–58:38)

• Influences & Representation:
  Finn credits Sean Waltman/X-Pac as the first to make him believe he, as a smaller wrestler, could succeed.
  • "Sean Waltman made me... believe, oh, maybe I can do this. Because he was, like, the smaller guy... He was the one who... made me... have that belief that, oh, it's not impossible." – Finn Bálor (54:10–54:18)
• Big Men Then & Now:
  Amusing comparison of “big guy” definition across eras—Matt Bloom is highlighted as an underrated, transformative force in and out of the ring.

11. Mentorship & Gratitude to Matt Bloom (57:24–58:42)

• Professional & Personal Impact:
  Finn tells how Matt Bloom helped him acclimate to Japan and later took him in when he moved to Florida.
  • "I would like to always say thank you... they are like my American family." – Finn Bálor (57:31–58:03)
• Producer Role:
  Finn lauds Bloom’s work as a match producer in NXT, considering that run among his best.

12. Wisdom, Detachment & Wrestling Maturity (60:12–61:02)

• Looking Beyond the Ring:
  Finn speaks about separating “Finn” from “Fergal,” learning to not take wrestling anxieties personally, and advises wrestlers to zoom out and think long-term.
  • "The older I've gotten, the more I've detached and I've separated, like, Fergal from Finn... I try and zoom out and think of... 25 years, not, like, a month." – Finn Bálor (60:12–61:02)

13. Compliments & Mutual Respect (62:22–62:56)

• Best Compliment:
  Finn thanks Cody for elevating live event business for WWE, marking an upswing in attendance coinciding with Cody’s return.
  • "Now it's 100% capacity. When that upswing happened was coincided with your arrival. And I don't think that's a coincidence." – Finn Bálor (62:40)

14. Reflections on Interviews, Authenticity, and Realness (63:47–65:39)

• Why Finn Avoids Media:
  Finn explains his retreat from podcasts and interviews, feeling there’s “too much noise” and content-for-content’s-sake out there.
  • "I stopped wanting to contribute to that... I want to do real things... This is real." – Finn Bálor (63:47–65:42)
• The Value of Authentic Conversation:
  Finn expresses gratitude at having this open, meaningful conversation with Cody.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Home and Wrestling Life:
"Home really now is like, the airplane and the Marriott because, like, we're on the road so much." – Finn Bálor (08:53)

On the Creation of Bullet Club:
"Suzuki... I caught him with an arm bar. Oh, David, you're a real shooter... And when the time came... it was Bullet Club." – Finn Bálor (21:10–22:07)
"It was Bullet Club changes the entire business." – Cody Rhodes (22:07)

On the Demon:
"In WWE, it had to be what made him turn into the demon... So then it became... Finn wasn't good enough. Only the demon could win." – Finn Bálor (39:49)
"I would love to have more creative control... I feel like I lost a lot of that, especially when I came to the main roster." – Finn Bálor (44:00)

On Mentorship:
"He's one of my favorite people and best friends in the whole world." – Finn Bálor on Kevin Owens (49:16)

On Perspective in Wrestling:
"I try and zoom out and think of, like, 25 years, not, like, a month, you know?" – Finn Bálor (61:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• OTT Wrestling Confession & Indie Stories: 02:48–05:46
• Life on the Road, Home vs. Wrestling: 08:53–10:22
• Meeting His Wife & Family Life: 06:36–08:50
• Early Wrestling Inspirations: 11:09–13:35
• Bullet Club Origins & Influence: 20:43–26:47
• Bullet Club Business and Payoff: 25:48–26:47
• Demon Persona Creation & Frustrations: 37:21–44:45
• Kevin Owens’ Emotional Message: 46:18–49:16
• Building a Survivor Series Dream Team: 50:04–50:25
• Praise for Chad Gable and X-Pac Influence: 53:43–54:24
• Matt Bloom’s Mentorship & Producer Role: 57:24–58:42
• Advice on Longevity & Perspective: 60:12–61:02
• Finn on Media and Realness: 63:47–65:42

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers an in-depth, contemplative, and friendly conversation revealing the layers and struggles behind the performer’s persona. Finn Bálor emerges as thoughtful, honest, and humble, with deep gratitude for his mentors and contemporaries. Both he and Cody display a refreshing candor, offering listeners rare insight into the resilience, creativity, and real-life challenges of WWE Superstars. For wrestling fans and those interested in the psyche behind the spectacle, this is essential listening.