Finn Bálor Opens Up About Shying Away From Doing Media & Public Speaking, Unsure If He’s Looking To Excel At It

Candid comments from Finn Bálor about his thoughts on media and public speaking.

A new episode of What’s Your Story? with Steph McMahon was rolled out, and it features a sit-down chat with Finn Bálor.

Bálor spoke candidly about why he shies away from doing media and public speaking appearances. He’s unsure if it’s something he’s looking to excel at as a wrestler. He stated that he just wants to be in the ring and is not looking to be in the spotlight, although it contradicts the job of being a wrestler.

He mentioned the contrast between him and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes in this specific instance, whereas Cody is looking to be in the spotlight. Bálor prefaced his comments about Rhodes by adding with all due respect to him.

“I don’t know if there’s a reason. I think there’s different types of people in the world. Some people like to be the center of attention and like to have their voice heard, or like to tell stories, and I mean this with the greatest respect towards one of my colleagues Cody (Rhodes) but I feel like, although we love wrestling, we’re very different personalities, in the sense that when he enters the room, he wants to be the center of attention and likes to entertain and likes to tell stories, where I would rather not even enter the room,” Bálor laughed. “If I did, I just wanna blend into the background a little bit and just be an observer more than a participant. But it kind of contradicts everything with regards to wrestling because wrestling is how I express myself, and I feel like I express myself better physically with my performance than I do speaking. So, that’s why I’ve kind of, especially in the last couple of years, kind of shied away from doing media, podcasts, public speaking, everything. I love to wrestle. I know other things come with it and I know perhaps if I invested more time in the speaking part, I know it would be better for my career. But it’s just something that I’m not willing to give. It’s my way of managing all this attention.” Bálor continued, “I don’t think it’s a problem. I feel like it’s one part of the job that I don’t excel at. But it’s part of the job that I don’t even necessarily want to excel at. I just want to be in the ring performing, in the back with the boys, hanging out, and doing my job.” McMahon asked Bálor about the promotional side of the job and he said, “See, that’s the thing. I understand the promotional aspect of it and when I’m asked, ‘Hey, we need you to do this.’ Obviously, I’m gonna do it, and if it’s a choice of, ‘Hey, would you like to go to this event? Or walk this red carpet?’ I’ll be like, ‘Ehh, okay.’”

In early January 2026, Bálor appeared on Cody Rhodes’ podcast, and to read one of the articles from that interview, click here.

If the quote in this article is used, please credit What’s Your Story? with Steph McMahon with an H/T to Fightful for the transcription.