David Finlay Explains Why He Chose To Go To AEW Instead Of WWE NXT

David Finlay recently shared his thought process around why he decided to sign with AEW over going to WWE NXT. The NJPW alum was courted by both companies, ultimately signing on with AEW and making his debut as an AEW roster member in March alongside Gabe Kidd to join Clark Connors.

Finlay was a guest on Talk is Jericho and noted that it was a matter of pay and scheduling, and that being with his friends was a “great bonus.”

“Just overall package of obviously pay and schedule,” Finlay said (per Fightful). “All my friends are in AEW. My brother and dad are in NXT. It would have been cool but it’s like, ‘No, I want to go keep doing what I’m doing, have the freedom to do what I want to do.’ If I can be with my friends, that’s a great bonus.”

He added, “I think I would have struggled with re-humbling myself to the level that they would have wanted me to humble myself to. It’s like, ‘I’ve already been here. I’ve already proven myself.’”

Finlay, Kidd, and Connors are aligned as The Dogs in AEW.