Finn Balor Must Stay in NXT Until 2016

Finn Balor reached the pinnacle of WWE NXT at Beast in the East, claiming the NXT title from Kevin Owens in a match bound to be replayed for a long time.

His ascension in WWE’s developmental territory has been swift, prompting calls from the Internet Wrestling Community for Balor to make the immediate jump to the main roster.

Not so fast.

There’s no question that Balor is more than ready to compete with the best of the best on the main roster. Staying in NXT isn’t going to help him better prepare for the eventual call-up. What it will do, however, is ensure continuity in NXT—both for Balor and the property.

A move to the main roster so quickly after becoming the alpha male in NXT would prove damaging to not only the wrestler but the NXT brand. That’s why he must remain at Full Sail University until next year.

WWE’s Main-Roster Midcard Is Too Crowded to Include Balor

Bleacher Report’s Ryan Dilbert suggested that Balor’s seasoning makes him more than capable of jumping directly into a main roster title picture.

"Not surprisingly, Balor has been knocking it out of the park in his biggest NXT matches. He has the crowd buzzing with his theatrical entrance, athletic skill and ability to deliver memorable matches," he wrote.

It’s a valid point. But where would a Balor call-up leave the rest of the roster? There are plenty of worthy wrestlers who deserve a push in the title scenes. King Barrett, Cesaro, Rusev and Neville all have the credentials to challenge for the intercontinental and United States titles.

Immediately thrusting Balor into the crowded midcard also pushes down guys like Stardust and Bo Dallas, who have done everything asked of them by WWE Creative without so much as a sniff of success.

Which leads to the next point: Does WWE Creative even know how to handle a talent like Balor? The midcard of the main roster has been little more than an afterthought for WWE, with stop-and-go storylines and perplexing angles that lead to nowhere—King Barrett versus R-Truth, anyone?

The best one could hope for Balor in the current state of the WWE midcard is a similar introduction to Neville's. The Man That Gravity Forgot came shooting onto the scene and was immediately injected into the Intercontinental Championship picture.

Since then, he’s been The Man That WWE Creative Forgot.

His inclusion in the Money in the Bank ladder match was meant to provide exciting spots—not to give him a realistic chance at the briefcase. He’s battled Dallas and been placed in six-man tag matches. You’re likelier to see him on the company’s second-tier programs (WWE Superstars and Main Event) than in a meaningful match on Raw or Smackdown.

Placing Balor among the rest of a crowded field would only mean he gets lost in the shuffle.

Before sending him to midcard purgatory, WWE needs to clean up the midcard and provide some stability in that part of the roster.

NXT Needs Balor Too Much Right Now

The NXT cupboard, once bountiful, is beginning to run dry because of well-earned promotions and a spate of injuries.

In recent months, WWE has called up The Ascension, Neville, The Lucha Dragons and Kevin Owens. Just this week, three-fourths of NXT’s women’s division—Sasha Banks, Charlotte and Becky Lynch—made debuts on Raw.

While that doesn’t hurt the NXT brand per se, it does make for a leaner roster of established talent. Coupled with injuries to Sami Zayn, Hideo Itami and Bayley, the roster is nearly barren.

The replacements for those former NXT Superstars have yet to live up to their billing. Bull Dempsey, Solomon Crowe, Baron Corbin, Rhyno and Samoa Joe have all underwhelmed or been under-utilized. The new crop of NXT recruits, led by Uhaa Nation, is still too green to carry the brand.

Balor provides stability to the developmental roster until NXT replenishes the talent that’s been purged. He can help bridge the gap between the old guard being promoted and the future NXT Superstars.

Having Balor lead NXT provides angles for guys like Tyler Breeze, Corbin, Joe and others. For months, the women of NXT have provided the draw. Balor and the men can lead the new charge until talent such as Dana Brooke, Carmella, Alex Bliss and others hone their skills.

Having Balor leave NXT so early after winning the NXT title would be hazardous. Losing the title quickly to someone like Breeze or Joe after defeating a dominant champion like Owens would weaken Balor. He should be given a proper title reign, beating the existing roster until someone shows they can hang with The Demon.

Balor is too talented, professional and important to not only the NXT brand but WWE’s future to make rush decisions with. He can be something special, but only if treated properly.

A call-up to the main roster will happen. It just shouldn’t happen now. That’s what’s best for business.