Tag: Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin Makes Surprise WWE Return on SmackDown, Targets United States Championship

A familiar face made an unexpected return to WWE television during this week’s episode of SmackDown as Baron Corbin resurfaced for the first time in two years and immediately inserted himself into the United States Championship picture.

The surprise appearance came during a non-title matchup between reigning United States Champion Trick Williams and longtime rival Carmelo Hayes. With the two former NXT standouts renewing their rivalry, Hayes had an opportunity to earn a future championship match by defeating Williams.

After a competitive back-and-forth contest, Hayes appeared to be closing in on victory. He climbed to the top rope looking to connect with his signature Nothing But Net finisher, but the match took an unexpected turn when Corbin appeared on the ring apron.

Corbin locked eyes with Hayes before shoving him off the top rope, causing the referee to call for a disqualification. The interference abruptly ended the match and denied fans a definitive winner.

The former United States Champion wasn’t finished there. After the bell, Corbin attacked both Hayes and Williams, leaving the champion laid out in the ring. To punctuate his return, Corbin picked up the United States Championship and stood tall with the title as the segment came to a close.

Corbin’s actions strongly suggest that he has his sights set on the championship he once held. His lone singles title reign on WWE’s main roster came with the United States Championship in 2017, a run that lasted 70 days.

While Corbin’s career has included several notable accomplishments—including winning the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2017 and capturing the NXT Tag Team Championship alongside Bron Breakker in 2024—he has yet to add another singles championship to his résumé.

Now back on SmackDown, Corbin has immediately made his intentions clear. With Trick Williams holding the gold and Carmelo Hayes still looking for his own title opportunity, Corbin’s return could shake up the United States Championship scene in a major way over the coming weeks.

Report: Baron Corbin (Bishop Dyer) Could Be Headed Back To WWE

A possible WWE comeback may be in the works for former United States Champion Baron Corbin, who has been competing outside the company under the name Bishop Dyer since his 2024 release.

According to recent reports, Corbin’s name has quietly resurfaced in WWE discussions. Dave Meltzer first mentioned over the weekend that there were rumors of Corbin potentially re-signing with the company. Fightful Select has since added that internal speculation about a return has reportedly been circulating backstage for several weeks.

While nothing is finalized, one WWE source reportedly described the idea as “out of left field,” noting that a deal is far from confirmed. Even so, the report states that Corbin’s name has definitely been brought up internally.

Since leaving WWE, Corbin has stayed active across several promotions. Over the last two years, he has spent time in Major League Wrestling while also making appearances for companies including CMLL, Maple Leaf Pro, and World Series Wrestling. Earlier this year, he even worked a dark match at an AEW Dynamite taping thanks to not being under an exclusive MLW contract.

Corbin also teamed with former WWE talent Donovan Dijak during his MLW run, though the report noted there has been no similar internal discussion regarding Dijak potentially returning to WWE.

Despite his departure from the company in 2024, Fightful reported that Corbin has remained on good terms with WWE officials and talent. Several sources reportedly indicated they would not be shocked to see him back in the fold eventually.

Corbin originally signed with WWE in 2012 and went on to become one of the company’s most recognizable mid-card names over the next decade. During his tenure, he captured the United States Championship, won the King of the Ring tournament, and held the Money in the Bank briefcase.

At this point, there is no word on when or where a possible return could happen, but the rumors surrounding Corbin’s WWE future are beginning to gain momentum.

Tom Pestock (Baron Corbin In WWE), Files Trademark, Possibly For New Ring Name

After spending over a decade in WWE, former star Baron Corbin has officially stepped into the independent wrestling scene under his real name, Tom Pestock. However, Pestock’s journey appears to be evolving yet again, as a recent trademark filing suggests he may soon adopt the name Bishop Dyer for his in-ring persona.

From WWE to the Indies

Pestock made his independent wrestling debut on January 19 at The People vs. GCW event in New York City. Wrestling in a unique Bloodsport-style match — a no-ropes, MMA-inspired contest — Pestock faced off against Josh Barnett at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Though he came up short in the bout, the match marked a significant moment for the former WWE star, who spent over 12 years with the company.

Starting his wrestling career in 2012 after a brief stint in the NFL, Pestock was a mainstay in WWE. Under the name Baron Corbin, he climbed the ranks, finding success on both the NXT and main rosters. Highlights of his WWE tenure include retiring Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 35, winning the King of the Ring tournament, and embracing memorable gimmicks like “Happy Corbin,” a down-on-his-luck version of his character. His final run saw him return to NXT in 2023 before his departure in 2024.

Looking Toward Japan?

While Pestock is just beginning to explore life outside WWE, his next chapter may take him overseas. During a recent appearance on the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, Pestock expressed a strong desire to wrestle in Japan. He hinted at the possibility of working with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), even suggesting that he might spend the remainder of his in-ring career there. While NJPW’s interest in Pestock has not been confirmed, the move would mark an exciting shift for the former WWE King of the Ring.

The Bishop Dyer Era?

Adding another layer to Pestock’s new chapter is the potential debut of his new name, Bishop Dyer. A trademark filing earlier this week indicates that Pestock may adopt this moniker as he continues to reinvent himself on the independent scene. The change could help him further establish his identity outside of WWE and potentially connect with a broader audience as he transitions into this next phase of his career.

A Fresh Start

After over a decade in WWE’s structured system, Pestock’s move to the independent circuit offers him the creative freedom to redefine his career on his own terms. With his first independent match now under his belt and aspirations to wrestle in Japan on the horizon, the future looks intriguing for the man once known as Baron Corbin. Whether performing as Tom Pestock or Bishop Dyer, it’s clear that this former WWE star is ready to make waves in the wrestling world once again.

Backstage News On WWE Releasing Indi Hartwell & Tegan Nox, Not Re-Signing Baron Corbin

WWE announced on Friday the releases of Baron Corbin, Indi Hartwell and Tegan Nox.

Now, Fightful has compiled a series of backstage and out-of-company reactions.

It seems independent bookers are racing to get dates for Baron Corbin, who was informed that his deal with WWE would not be renewed upon its expiration. It’s speculated that Corbin’s deal runs until the end of 2024. It seems that Corbin was uninspired by his recent partnership with Apollo Crews despite the two’s personal friendship, as Corbin did not see their team topping his career-reviving run with Bron Breakker as The Wolf Dogs in “NXT.” It’s unknown whether Corbin will be seen on WWE programming again before his contract expires, but he already has one public offer from former WWE star and NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Tyrus.

https://twitter.com/PlanetTyrus/status/1852480570212643164

Tegan Nox was formally released, and is currently under a 90 day non-compete period, with her expected release into free agency scheduled for February 2025. Nox has been largely absent from WWE programming, with her last televised match occurring on the April 1 episode of “WWE Raw.” WWE reportedly had no long-term creative plans for Nox in the months leading up to her release.

Fightful clears up some confusion regarding Hartwell’s posts.

Indi Hartwell, who is also under a 90-day non-compete period, caused a brief social media kerfuffle when her comments on X (formerly known as Twitter) led fans to believe that Hartwell found out about her WWE departure via the Fightful report. Fightful has clarified that Hartwell’s apparent social media confusion was a joke, reporting that Hartwell learned of her departure earlier in the day and that they have and will not report on releases before the affected talent are made aware. Fightful also claims that several backstage staff felt that Hartwell was “coming into her own” prior to her release, especially with her social media skits. Hartwell’s match on the November 1 pre-taped episode of “WWE SmackDown” is believed to be her last appearance for the company; she and Candice LeRae lost a tag team contest to Bayley and Naomi.

It is believed that both Nox and Hartwell, who are United Kingdom- and New Zealand-based wrestlers, respectively, will need to organize work visas before being allowed to compete in any United States-based promotions. WWE has not disclosed any reasoning behind the departures of Corbin, Nox, and Hartwell, but WWE sources told Fightful they are the extent of “this round of cuts,” though the source did not delineate a time frame for “this round” and the date of any potential future cuts remains uncertain.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

JBL Returns To WWE On RAW With Baron Corbin

JBL along with Baron Corbin made their return to WWE Television last night on RAW.

On Monday night’s episode of RAW, Corbin was introduced by the returning JBL. The WWE Hall of Famer called Corbin a “wrestling god.” JBL announced Corbin coming over to RAW from SmackDown was a trade for Rey Mysterio who became part of SmackDown this past Friday on SmackDown. Corbin then proceeded to pick up a win over Dolph Ziggler.

Baron Corbin Wins 2019 WWE King Of The Ring Tournament

Baron Corbin won the ’19 King of the Ring tournament last night on RAW

Corbin faced off against Chad Gable in the tournament finals Monday evening and picked up the victory after a hard-fought battle by hitting the End of Days.

Corbin’s King of the Ring coronation will be tonight on SmackDown Live.

Baron recently spoke about runner-up Chad Gable during an interview and said he’d try to make the wrestler his jester should he be victorious in the tournament.

Baron Corbin Cuts Off Long Hair, Debuted Shaved Head On RAW

baron corbin hair monday night raw shaved head video

After years of fans begging Baron Corbin to chop off his not-so-healthy looking locks, the new Constable unveiled a fresh cut last night on Raw.

Raw kicked off with Superstars sitting atop ladders to hype Sunday night’s Money in the Bank pay-per-view and Kurt Angle interrupted to tell the participants he wants his brand to win.

Corbin eventually made his way into the segment and The Lone Wolf’s bald head made it’s big debut.

https://twitter.com/briantheguppie/status/1006327681963700224

https://twitter.com/WrestlingSheet/status/1006398008404017158

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

Backstage WWE News: Heat On Baron Corbin and Enzo Amore – Bobby Roode Coming To SmackDown?

In the past week Baron Corbin cashed in and lost his Money In The Bank contract, and then lost a basic match to John Cena at SummerSlam, which opened the show. Fans have picked up on Corbin likely having backstage heat and chanted “You f–ked up” when he appeared during the NXT Takeover Kickoff show this past Saturday night.

Dave Meltzer noted on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that Corbin is definitely being punished, and the way he was booked in his match with Cena was indicative of his heat.

As noted, Meltzer reported over the weekend that WWE is very high on Bobby Roode, who is expected to join the main roster soon. Meltzer speculated that Roode may be brought to SmackDown and take Corbin’s spot.

As for Enzo Amore’s backstage heat, Meltzer reported that it has gotten even worse for some unknown reason. He said that “everybody” hates him, and the cooling crowd response to him is bad news because his reactions had been saving him.

JBL spoke publicly about Enzo’s heat on Bring It To The Table a few weeks ago, and said that the “odds are completely against” Enzo making it in the company.

“Now here’s what’s bad about it. Most of those guys – except for Miz, Miz is the only one – never made it,” JBL said. “Once the locker turned against these guys – they were sprayed with human repellent or whatever – they never made it. So the odds are completely against Enzo. Now I think he’s very talented, I’ve had a good working relationship with him but apparently there’s a lot of problems with him and the rest of the world.”

You can check out the full episode of Wrestling Observer Radio by clicking here.

Source: WrestlingINC

Baron Corbin Cashes In MITB Breifcase But Fails To Win Title

baron corbin smackdown live money in the bank cash in fail video

Last night on SmackDown Live Baron Corbin unsuccessfully cashed in his Money In the Bank title shot against WWE Champion Jinder Mahal.

After attacking John Cena during the Cena vs. Mahal non-title main event and causing the disqualification, Corbin returned to the ring and cashed in his briefcase while Jinder was down on the mat. The referee finally started the match but Cena jumped up on the apron and distracted Corbin, allowing Jinder to roll Corbin up and retain.

Corbin joins Cena and Damien Sandow as the only three Superstars to unsuccessfully cash their MITB briefcases in.