Finn Balor Heel Turn Key to Evolution of the Character

Finn Balor experienced a meteoric rise in 2015, becoming NXT champion by the midway point of the year, then spending the remaining six months as the face of the brand. He was highly marketed and merchandised, with everything from T-shirts to Christmas ornaments for sale on WWE's official shop website.

As great a hero as he became, complete with the Demon persona that electrified audiences at TakeOver specials, his character remained undefined.

As the new year dawns, it is more important than ever to let fans in, to allow them to see what lies behind the steely blue eyes of the Irish-born Superstar. To do that, the best and most effective way, he must undergo a heel turn that will allow him to truly let his Demon persona run wild.

There are numerous ways for NXT Creative to go about making this development a reality.

Last year, Hideo Itami was on his way to becoming No. 1 contender to the NXT Championship when he was mysteriously attacked in the parking lot by an unknown assailant. Most thought Kevin Owens was responsible, but the typically unabashedly honest Superstar denied involvement.

Who would go on to become No. 1 contender, and ultimately NXT champion, in Itami's absence? 

Finn Balor.

With Itami poised to return from injury any day now, the foundation of NXT would shake if it turned out that Balor, the man fans put their trust in, was revealed as the culprit behind the Japanese Superstar's near-crippling injury. What better way to necessitate the Balor heel turn than by revealing that his inner Demon, the one he only lets out in the most important of scenarios, fueled his greed and led to the betrayal of his friend?

That is hardly the only option on the table.

Recently, sports entertainment outlets such as WWE.com and WrestlingInc.com have reported on the possibility that AJ Styles, "Machine Gun" Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows will be joining wrestling's greatest empire imminently. Known in New Japan Pro Wrestling as key members of the Bullet Club, they have ties to Balor that have been explored in social media for months.

An alliance to the men he once stood alongside as a member of the aforementioned Bullet Club as they look to takeover NXT and dominate the sports entertainment landscape would be another way to necessitate a heel turn that would presumably allow Balor to showcase more of his quiet charisma while developing and defining his character in the process.

There is also the possibility that turning heel on Sami Zayn, his frustration over never really being accepted and beloved the way the Montreal native was and still is, could be the emphasis for the turn.

Whatever the case may be, the babyface Balor character has seemingly run its course.

He has been overshadowed by Bayley, who is a much more dynamic heroine for the fans to attach themselves to. The lack of character growth, or even clearly defined motivations beyond being champion, has turned him into a one-dimensional character who just so happens to have one of the best entrances in the sport when he throws on the paint of the Demon.

Triple H and his staff in NXT have proved to be ahead of the curve from the moment the brand was launched. They understand social trends, pick up on crowd psychology and know when to make necessary changes for the betterment of the product and the stars.

Rather than allowing Balor to become stale, to lose even the slightest bit of star aura he possesses, do not be surprised to see the NXT champion take a dark turn in the coming weeks and months, worrying less about pleasing crowds and more about preserving his reign over wrestling's hottest brand.

With or without a little help from his friends.