Finn Balor was a surprise early draft pick in the WWE brand split draft by Monday Night Raw. The WWE wanted to really make a splash with the NXT star and held nothing back when he debuted, having him beat both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins on his way to the WWE Universal Championship. However, in the title win, Finn Balor injured his shoulder and has been out ever since.

[Image by WWE]

In an interview with a podcast called Gorilla Position, Finn Balor gave his tentative plans for his WWE return. According to Finn Balor, he plans to be back at WrestleMania in 2017, although many people wonder if he could be back earlier than that, possibly by the Royal Rumble in January.

“The shoulder is feeling good. The target and goal the whole time since the accident happened has been WrestleMania, and that hasn’t changed. There’s a possibility I may be ready a week or two before that, but as of now the target is WrestleMania.”

There is a very good reason why some people think that Finn Balor will be back for the WWE sooner than WrestleMania in April. As the Inquisitr reported last month, Finn Balor showed up at an Insane Championship Wrestling show in Scotland and got physically involved in the match.

While Finn Balor said he was not physically cleared to return to the ring, he ran into the ring during a match Drew Galloway was fighting in and then leveled Galloway with a steel pipe to help Team Dallas beat Galloway’s Team Black Label to win the match.

Team ICW take 100% control of the company with help from special enforcer @FinnBalor ! #ICWHydro https://t.co/uEDhhS1Rg5 — ICW (@InsaneChampWres) November 20, 2016

Finn Balor looked pretty good when he ran into the ring, wearing an ICW t-shirt, and he looked pretty good swinging that pipe. However, there is a lot more involved in Finn Balor returning to the WWE than just looking good.

The WWE had huge plans for Finn Balor when he made his debut and his fans have to hope that the WWE won’t balk on Finn Balor getting another chance to run at the top when he returns in 2017. Fans just shouldn’t expect to see Finn Balor walk out at the Royal Rumble.

“I really believe in the power of positive thinking and the collective power of people’s thoughts spawning something into becoming reality. So if everyone does believe I can win the Royal Rumble, then I guess it’s not impossible.”

However, while the Royal Rumble would be a fantastic place to see him make his WWE return, waiting until WrestleMania is smarter to make sure he is fully ready to compete and take big bumps.

[Image by WWE]

ESPN listed the total number of injuries that Finn Balor suffered, partially thanks to Seth Rollins throwing him against a barricade and Finn Balor hitting it wrong. There was an 180-degree labrum tear, cartilage damage, a torn bicep and pectoral tendon, and a fracture to the glenoid neck socket.

The damage was so bad that Finn Balor was expected to be out of action until after WrestleMania next year, so the news that he wants to return for the big event is encouraging. Who he fights is up in the air and the WWE is likely to wait until he is cleared before they even attempt to book a match.

RELATED WWE REPORTS BY THE INQUISITR

At the moment, the rumored matches for WrestleMania in 2017 include Seth Rollins vs. Triple H, Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman, John Cena vs. Undertaker, Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho, Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg, Charlotte vs. Ronda Rousey, Bayley vs. Sasha Banks, and the Andre the Giant battle royal. A Finn Balor WWE return would just be icing on the cake.

[Featured Image by WWE]