59 Facts About Dave Finlay

Dave Finlay is known for his work with World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Fit Finlay from 1995 to 2000, and Finlay in World Wrestling Entertainment from 2005 to 2010.

Dave Finlay began wrestling on a full-time basis in Carrickfergus and throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for the next four years before moving to England in 1978.

Dave Finlay defeated Alan Kilby on 9 June 1982 to win his first title, the Joint Promotions British Heavy Middleweight Championship.

Dave Finlay then won a tournament to crown a new British Light Heavyweight champion and fill the vacant position, defeating Ringo Rigby in the finals.

Dave Finlay soon lost the championship, but later pinned Marty Jones to win the World Mid-Heavyweight Championship.

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Dave Finlay traded it back and forth with Jones for over two years before losing it a final time to Jones via disqualification.

Dave Finlay defeated Jones to win Joint Promotions' British Light Heavyweight Championship.

Dave Finlay teamed with Mark Rocco and Skull Murphy in a 1989 WWF dark match in London, defeating the team of Al Perez, Dusty Wolfe, and Tim Horner.

Dave Finlay made his American wrestling debut in World Championship Wrestling in 1996, going by the ring name of The Belfast Bruiser.

Dave Finlay defeated Barry Houston in his televised return match.

Dave Finlay was given a push upon his return winning majority of his matches in the mid-card, which culminated in him pinning Booker T to win the World Television Championship on 4 May 1998 episode of Nitro, thus setting off a three-way feud with Booker and Chris Benoit, who was vying for the title.

Dave Finlay regularly defended the title on weekly WCW television against the likes of Chavo Guerrero Jr.

Dave Finlay legitimately suffered a badly lacerated nerve in his leg during a hardcore match at a house show in Jackson, Mississippi on 25 July 1999, which nearly cost him use of the leg.

Dave Finlay managed to regain use of the limb and would return to WCW at Starrcade by assisting Knobbs in interfering in Norman Smiley's Hardcore Championship title defense against Meng.

At the 2000 Souled Out event, Dave Finlay unsuccessfully challenged Knobbs for the Hardcore Championship in a four-way match, involving Smiley and Meng.

Dave Finlay left wrestling in the summer of 2000 and accepted the position of a backstage road agent for WCW.

Dave Finlay remained in the company as a road agent until WCW was bought by the World Wrestling Federation in 2001.

When WCW was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation, Dave Finlay began working for the company as a trainer for new wrestlers.

Dave Finlay trained future WWE champions John Cena and Randy Orton and was eventually put in charge of training the WWE Divas for their matches.

Dave Finlay began working on a comeback in 2004, wrestling in a match against Jamie Noble at a house show in Glasgow, and promos began airing for his impending in-ring return on 30 December 2005.

Dave Finlay's gimmick was that of a proud native Irishman who loved to fight.

Dave Finlay helped the other finalist, Booker T, defeat Lashley in the King of the Ring finals.

Dave Finlay then joined forces with William Regal as loyal subjects of the newly renamed King Booker and his Court.

Dave Finlay defended the championship on several occasions, often with help from Little Bastard, and even defended it against fellow court member William Regal at The Great American Bash.

Dave Finlay defeated Booker in a non-title singles match and lost in a four-way match at No Mercy for the title.

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Dave Finlay earned a place in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 23; however, Mr Kennedy won the match.

Dave Finlay defeated Kane in a Belfast Brawl rematch a few weeks later.

Dave Finlay then feuded with Rey Mysterio by attacking him during a confrontational interview with John "Bradshaw" Layfield.

At No Mercy, Dave Finlay faked an injury after taking a bump to the outside.

Once placed on a stretcher, Dave Finlay suddenly rose and attacked Mysterio, forcing Rey to be carried out on the stretcher.

Dave Finlay reunited with Hornswoggle by coming to rescue him in a match against The Great Khali, turning both Dave Finlay and Hornswoggle faces.

Dave Finlay scored an upset win after Hornswoggle interfered by hitting Khali in the groin with a shillelagh.

Dave Finlay drew number 27, but was immediately disqualified when he entered before his time to save Hornswoggle.

Dave Finlay fought in the SmackDown Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out, ultimately being pinned after a chokeslam on the steel floor by The Undertaker.

Dave Finlay then began making occasional appearances on Raw to protect Hornswoggle from Mr McMahon, who had been showing him "tough love".

Dave Finlay defeated Mark Henry on an episode of ECW to earn an opportunity for the ECW championship, but was defeated by champion Matt Hardy.

Dave Finlay entered his third Royal Rumble match at the eponymous pay-per-view on 25 January 2009, where he entered at number 14 and lasted 30 minutes before being eliminated by Kane.

At No Way Out, Dave Finlay faced Jack Swagger for the ECW Championship in a losing effort.

In late May 2009, Dave Finlay suffered a legitimate eye injury, sidelining him temporarily.

Dave Finlay went on to form part of John Morrison's team at Survivor Series, but was eliminated by Sheamus, and his team eventually lost.

Dave Finlay's final televised match in WWE was on 4 June 2010 episode of SmackDown where he competed in a 15-man battle royal.

Dave Finlay failed to win as the match was won by former rival Rey Mysterio.

Dave Finlay was released by WWE in March 2011 after authorising the interruption of the US national anthem by The Miz during a house show, which offended many, including National Guard members who were in attendance.

Dave Finlay stated that his intention was to intensify the audience's dislike of The Miz in preparation for the latter's WrestleMania XXVII main event appearance, but accepted full responsibility for his dismissal.

Dave Finlay began to wrestle again on the independent circuit, making his first appearance on 26 July 2011, defeating Sami Callihan at Evolve 9.

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On 20 August 2011, Dave Finlay made his debut for Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, taking part in the 2011 Battle of Los Angeles tournament.

Dave Finlay was eliminated from the tournament in the first round by PWG World Champion Kevin Steen.

On 6 November 2011, Dave Finlay wrestled in the main event of a Stampede Wrestling show in Barrie, Ontario in a losing effort against Harry Smith.

On 21 January 2012, Fit Finlay returned to DOA Pro Wrestling in Portland, OR to face Ethan H D for the DOA Heavyweight Championship.

On 12 May 2012, at Border Wars, Dave Finlay made his debut for Ring of Honor, unsuccessfully challenging Roderick Strong for the ROH World Television Championship.

Two days later, Dave Finlay defeated Zeus in the main event of another WNC event.

Dave Finlay was one of four wrestlers who presented Tyler Bate with the WWE UK Championship after Bate won the related tournament in January 2017.

On 16 April 2020, Dave Finlay was among the several WWE employees who were furloughed as part of the COVID-19 budget cuts but returned to work in November of the same year.

Dave Finlay has received praise from fellow professional wrestlers and peers.

Dave Finlay reportedly assisted in the transition of WWE's presentation of the WWE Divas from bra and panties matches to more respectful traditional wrestling.

Dave Finlay got to know what made us tick, exposed that, and there was nothing we couldn't do.

Dave Finlay's uncle, Albert, was a goalkeeper for Glentoran FC in the 1960s and 1970s.

Dave Finlay was previously married to his former manager, Princess Paula.

Dave Finlay is currently married to Melanie Duffin and has three children, the eldest of whom, David, was born in Germany.