Finn Balor Blames NXT UK for Starving the Indie Scene by Raiding Talent

Finn Balor didn’t hold back when reflecting on the long-term fallout from WWE’s expansion into the UK wrestling scene — and according to him, the damage was real.

During his sit-down with Cody Rhodes on What Do You Want To Talk About?, the Judgment Day star opened up about how the launch of NXT UK gutted the European independent scene and left many promotions struggling to recover. Balor called it a major turning point:

“When NXT UK started, which was a huge thing at the time for British and European wrestling, I feel like it kind of took all the talent and it starved all the indies.”

According to Balor, the creation of WWE’s UK brand — while exciting for fans — left the smaller local companies drained of experienced performers and leaders. The issue wasn’t just about matches, it was about mentorship.

“There’s no one to learn from or look up to — the guys like Tyler [Bate] and Pete [Dunne] and everyone else who came to WWE.”

While some companies are slowly bouncing back, he admitted the impact has been long-lasting. Still, there’s hope. Balor said the next generation is showing signs of life, but the rebuild is ongoing and far from complete.

“It took a long time for them to rebuild, the refresh to happen. And for a lot of them, it hasn’t even happened yet.”

“Now the younger kids don’t have anyone to learn from… but slowly it’s starting to rebuild.”

This rare moment of honesty from one of WWE’s most globally respected stars speaks volumes. It’s not just about what happened in the ring — it’s about the entire pipeline of talent that fuels the business. And when that pipeline is disrupted, the consequences are felt for years.

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