Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin

Corbin in March 2015
Birth name Thomas Pestock
Born (1984-09-13) September 13, 1984[1]
Lenexa, Kansas, U.S.[2]
Alma mater Northwest Missouri State University
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Baron Corbin
Billed height 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)[3]
Billed weight 275 lb (125 kg)[3]
Billed from Kansas City[3]
Trained by WWE Performance Center
Perry Saturn
Debut October 18, 2012
Tom Pestock
No. 68
Position: Offensive guard
Personal information
Date of birth: (1984-09-13) September 13, 1984
Place of birth: Lenexa, Kansas
Height: 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight: 317 lb (144 kg)
Career information
College: Northwest Missouri State
Undrafted: 2009
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Thomas "Tom" Pestock[1][4] (born September 13, 1984)[1] is an American professional wrestler and retired boxer and American football player currently signed to WWE, where he performs on SmackDown under the ring name Baron Corbin. He is a former offensive lineman for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals as well as a three-time Golden Gloves champion and former grappling champion. Corbin is also the winner of the third annual André The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32.

Football career

College

Pestock attended NCAA Division II college Northwest Missouri State University, where he played offensive guard. He became a starter his junior year in 2007.[5] Pestock was named honorable mention all MIAA in 2007 and first team all-MIAA in 2008.[6][7][8] Pestock was part of teams that went to four consecutive Division II National Championships.[9]

Indianapolis Colts

Pestock signed with the Indianapolis Colts on April 27, 2009 after going undrafted in the 2009 NFL Draft.[10] He was released by the Colts on August 13 and re-signed by the team on August 19, 2009.[11] He was again released by the Colts on September 5, 2009.[12]

Arizona Cardinals

Pestock signed a futures contract with the Arizona Cardinals on January 18, 2010. Pestock was noted for throwing uppercuts in a team scuffle in training camp.[13][14]

He was released by the Cardinals on September 3 and signed to the team's practice squad on September 6, 2010.[15][16] He was again released by the Cardinals on September 2, 2011.[12]

Boxing career

By 2007, Pestock was a two-time Amateur Kansas-Missouri Golden Gloves regional champion.[17] Pestock participated at the 2008 Golden Gloves National Tournament of Champions, defeating Chaen Chess and losing to Andrae Cathron.[18]

Professional wrestling career

WWE

NXT (2012–2016)

Pestock signed with WWE's developmental system NXT in August 2012.[19] Using the ring name Baron Corbin, he made his in-ring debut on October 18, 2012, at a live event, losing to Dante Dash. He made his televised debut on the May 8, 2013, episode of NXT, in a losing effort against Damien Sandow.[20] On May 29, Corbin unsuccessfully participated in a #1 contendership battle royal for the NXT Championship, being eliminated early in the match by Mason Ryan.[21] He then made several appearances as an enhancement talent, with a battle royal to determine the #1 contender to the NXT Championship on May 8, 2014 being his last televised match prior to his re-debut.[22]

Corbin in March 2015 during the WrestleMania 31 weekend

After a long absence, a repackaged Corbin returned on September 11, 2014 at NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way, where he defeated CJ Parker.[23] Corbin again defeated Parker in a rematch on the September 18 episode of NXT.[24] Corbin would then win numerous matches against enhancement talents, each in a short amount of time,[25][26][27] until crossing paths with Bull Dempsey, who was also winning his matches quickly. This led to a rivalry between the two to see who could one-up the other in having the least amount of time to win their matches.[28][29] At NXT TakeOver: R Evolution, Corbin had a staredown with Dempsey after winning his match against Tye Dillinger.[30] Their highly anticipated one on one match finally took place on January 14 which Corbin won, breaking Dempsey's undefeated streak in the process.[31] Corbin participated in a number one contender's tournament for the NXT Championship, defeating Bull Dempsey in the first round but then being eliminated by Adrian Neville in the semi-final, ending Corbin's undefeated streak.[32] At NXT TakeOver: Rival, Corbin defeated Dempsey in a No Disqualification match to end their feud.[33] He later competed in a André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal qualification tournament at WrestleMania 31 Axxess but lost in the first round to Finn Bálor. Hideo Itami won the tournament[34]

On the May 6 episode of NXT, Rhyno defeated Dempsey and then called out Corbin for a match at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable.[35] On the next week's NXT, Corbin defeated Solomon Crowe, turning heel in the process after showing a more cocky persona, after the crowd turned on him and his short matches. After the match, Corbin faced off with Rhyno and brawled with him, starting their feud.[36] At NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, Corbin defeated Rhyno via pinfall to end the feud.[37] On the August 12, 2015 episode of NXT, Corbin defeated Axel Tischer then subdued Steve Cutler, executing the End of Days on the two. Samoa Joe came out, challenged Corbin, and began a brawl, locking Corbin in the Coquina Clutch.[38] The next week, Corbin attacked Joe after his match, executed the End of Days and set up a match for NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.[39] At NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, Joe won after Corbin passed out to the Coquina Clutch.[40]

Corbin then teamed up with his former rival Rhyno as a tag team to take place in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament.[41] On the September 2 episode of NXT, they defeated The Ascension in the first round.[42] They then defeated the team of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa in the second round.[43] On October 7, 2015 at NXT TakeOver: Respect, Corbin and Rhyno defeated Chad Gable and Jason Jordan to advance to the finals of the tournament, where they lost to Finn Bálor and Samoa Joe.[44] After NXT TakeOver: Respect, a battle royal was held to determine the #1 Contender for the NXT Championship. Corbin participated in the battle royal, making the final two before being eliminated by Apollo Crews. Corbin attacked Crews during his title match and cost him the title, igniting a feud between the two. At NXT TakeOver: London, Corbin defeated Crews.

In January 2016, Corbin was involved in a triple threat match between Sami Zayn and Samoa Joe on the January 27 episode of NXT to determine the #1 contender for Finn Balor's NXT Championship but Corbin lost after Zayn and Joe both applied their submission holds on Corbin at the same time, with Corbin submitting. William Regal did not give Corbin another title oppourtunity, leading to Corbin stating Regal would "regret" his decision. On the March 2nd episode of NXT, after Regal introduced the debuting Austin Aries, Corbin attacked Aries from behind, beginning a feud between the two. At NXT TakeOver: Dallas, Corbin lost to Aries. On the April 13 episode of NXT Corbin defeated Tucker Knight in his final appearance in NXT.

Main roster (2016–present)

Corbin with the André the Giant Memorial Trophy

Corbin made his main roster debut at WrestleMania 32, appearing as an unannounced entrant in the André the Giant Memorial battle royal and eliminating Kane to win the André the Giant Memorial Trophy.[45] He then debuted on Raw the following night, battling to a double countout against Dolph Ziggler. Corbin continued his assault after the match, executing an End of Days on the arena floor on Ziggler.[46]

Corbin made his Smackdown debut the following week defeating Zack Ryder. Corbin faced Dolph Ziggler at the Payback pre-show in a losing effort after a roll-up, marking his first main roster loss. The next night on Raw, Ziggler eliminated Corbin from a battle royal to determine the #1 contender to the United States Championship. After his elimination, Corbin proceeded to viciously attack Ziggler, causing his elimination by Rusev. Corbin defeated Ziggler decisively on the May 10 episode of Raw, which evened the score between the two at 1-1. At Extreme Rules, Corbin defeated Ziggler in a no disqualification match. The next night on Raw, Ziggler would confront Corbin and challenge him to a technical wrestling match on the May 30 episode of Raw which Corbin accepted. The match occurred the following week with Corbin winning by disqualification after Ziggler hit him with a low blow him at the start of the match. Ziggler and Corbin faced off at Money in the Bank, in which Corbin beat Ziggler to end their feud. On July 19 at the 2016 WWE draft, Corbin was drafted to SmackDown.[47] Corbin lost to Apollo Crews in a triple threat match also featuring Kalisto with the winner receiving an Intercontinental Championship match against The Miz at SummerSlam. Corbin would then go on to assault Kalisto backstage in the proceeding weeks after blaming him for his loss, Kalisto was eventually injured at the hands of Corbin and was out of action for several months. On the August 30 episode of Smackdown, Corbin defeated WWE Champion Dean Ambrose by disqualification after AJ Styles interfered. At Backlash, Corbin defeated Apollo Crews on the pre-show.

Corbin then started a feud with Jack Swagger, who defeated Corbin when the referee believed Corbin to be submitting when he was reaching for the rope while in the Patriot Lock. Corbin would defeat Swagger at No Mercy and on the October 18th episode of Smackdown. On the November 1 episode of Smackdown, Corbin was announced as one of the Team Smackdown members for Survivor Series. The following week, he was injured by the returning Kalisto (kayfabe), thus being removed from Team Smackdown, as a result Shane McMahon took his place. Corbin then retaliated, costing Kalisto the chance to become Cruiserweight Champion at Survivor Series when he attacked both Brian Kendrick and Kalisto resulting in a disqualification victory for Kendrick. The next week on SmackDown, Corbin defeated Kane via disqualification when Kalisto interfered and attacked Corbin. It was later announced on Talking Smack, by general manager Daniel Bryan, that the pair would face each other at TLC in a chairs match.

Personal life

Pestock's father died in 2008 due to complications from Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease.[48] Pestock wears his father's wedding ring on a necklace as a tribute. Corbin credits Billy Gunn, Bill DeMott, Dusty Rhodes, and Corey Graves with helping him develop his wrestling character and personality.[49] Pestock revealed in October 2016 that he is engaged.

In wrestling

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tom Pestock profile". NFL. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  2. ↑ "Baron Corbin". CageMatch. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Baron Corbin". WWE. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  4. ↑ "Former Arizona Cardinals guard Thomas Pestock (aka Baron Corbin) wins match at WWE's Wrestlemania 32". ABC 15 Arizona. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  5. ↑ Chris Mazzocco. "Northwest Missouri State University Bearcats". Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "Five Ichabods Named to All-MIAA Football First Team". WIBW-TV. Gray Television. November 13, 2007. Archived from the original on 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  7. ↑ Corbitt, Ken (November 12, 2008). "Washburn's Mr. Reliable again earns first-team All-MIAA nod". The Topeka Capital-Journal. Kansas: Morris Communications. Archived from the original on 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  8. ↑ "Bearcats clean up MIAA awards". Missouri Net News. November 12, 2008. Archived from the original on 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  9. ↑ "Golden Gloves boxer enters enemy territory". Booth Newspapers. Advance Publications. May 8, 2008. Archived from the original on 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  10. ↑ "Undrafted rookie free-agent signings". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. May 8, 2009. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  11. ↑ Wells, Brad (August 19, 2009). "Come back to us Tom Pestock; Get the hell outta here Corey Hilliard!". SB Nation. Vox Media. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  12. 1 2 "Tom Pestock". kffl.com. Archived from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  13. ↑ Brinson, Will (August 2, 2010). "Cardinals' training camp fights are melee du jour". CBS Sports. CBS Corporation. Archived from the original on 2015-08-25. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  14. ↑ Farrar, Doug (August 2, 2010). "Fight! Fight! Cardinals get chippy in practice". Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo!. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  15. ↑ "Cutdown day: Teams release players to reach 53-man roster". NFL.com. NFL Enterprises LLC. August 31, 2010. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  16. ↑ Bickley, Dan (September 7, 2010). "Arizona Cardinals lineman Tom Pestock fighting for NFL shot". The Arizona Republic. John Zidich. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  17. ↑ "Northwest's Pestock Comfortable On Field And In Boxing Ring". St. Joseph News Press. NPG Newspapers Inc. December 14, 2007. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  18. ↑ "2008 Tournament of Champions results". Goldengloves.com. Golden Gloves of America, Inc. May 10, 2008. Archived from the original on June 20, 2008. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  19. ↑ "NEW WWE SIGNINGS, THE NEXT STEP FOR FORMER WWE DIVA - PWInsider.com". pwinsider.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  20. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 5/8 Week 45: Wyatt Family captures Tag Titles, Ohno turning face?, Sandow in action, Paige vs. Summer Rae feud continues, Overall Reax". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  21. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT RESULTS 5/29 & 6/5: Wyatts defend Tag Titles, NXT Women's Title introduced, #1 contender battle royal, Parade of released NXT wrestlers in matches". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  22. ↑ "PWTorch.com - JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 5/8 - Week 97: Battle Royal for NXT Title shot, Women's Title tournament continues, Triple H appearance, Exotic Express; Overall Reax". pwtorch.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT "TAKEOVER FATAL4WAY" REPORT 9/11: Neville defends NXT Title in big main event, new NXT Tag Champs, KENTA debuts, Charlotte defends Women's Title, more". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-12.
  24. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 9/18 - Week 116: KENTA/Itami makes WWE in-ring debut, fall-out from "Takeover," Overall Reax". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  25. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT RESULTS 10/2 - Week 120: Neville defends NXT Title, Charlotte defends Women's Title, Itami; Overall Reax". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  26. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 10/16 - Week 122: Sami Zayn vs. Tyson Kidd main event, Women's champ Charlotte; Overall Reax". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  27. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 10/30 - Week 124: Zayn vs. O'Neil main event, battle royal, more; Overall Reax". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  28. ↑ "JAMES' WWE NXT REPORT 11/20 - Week 127: Kevin Steen's debut teased, Zayn vows to quit if he doesn't win NXT Title, Overall Reax". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  29. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT REPORT 12/4 - Week 129: Final hype for "Takeover" special, Neville-Zayn final promo exchange, Itami & Balor tag main event, Charlotte; Overall Reax". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  30. ↑ "JAMES'S WWE NXT TAKEOVER "R-EVOLUTION" REPORT 12/11: Zayn completes two-year quest, Owens debuts, more; Overall Reax". PWTorch. Retrieved 2014-12-14.
  31. ↑ "WWE NXT Results: Big Title Rematch, Bull Dempsey Vs. Baron Corbin, Balor Vs. Kidd, More". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  32. 1 2 "411's WWE NXT Report 2.4.15". 411Mania. Retrieved 2015-02-04.
  33. ↑ "'WWE NXT Takeover: Rival' Results - New Champions Crowned, New #1 Contender, More". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  34. ↑ Jason Namako. "WWE NXT Results - 4/8/15 (WrestleMania AXXESS special) - Wrestleview.com". wrestleview.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  35. ↑ "WWE NXT Results (5/6): Hideo Itami Vs. Tyler Breeze, Michael Cole Interviews Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  36. ↑ "WWE NXT Results (5/13): Sami Zayn And Kevin Owens Meet Face-To-Face, New TakeOver Matches Set, More". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  37. ↑ "'WWE NXT Takeover: Unstoppable' Results: Major Name Debuts, Three Championship Matches". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  38. ↑ "WWE NXT Recap (8/12): Bayley Vs. Becky Lynch Top Contender's Match, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Owens". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  39. ↑ "WWE NXT Recap (8/19): Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Enzo & Cass, Bayley, Sasha Banks, More". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  40. ↑ "WWE NXT 'Takeover: Brooklyn' Results - Ladder Match, New Champions, Apollo Crews, More". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  41. ↑ Marc Middleton (September 2, 2015). "Full Brackets For The WWE NXT Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic Tournament". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  42. ↑ Sean Ross Sapp (September 2, 2015). "WWE NXT Recap (9/2): Two Dusty Rhodes Classic Match, Indy Stars Debut, Matches Set For Next Week". WrestlingInc.com. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  43. ↑ Middleton, Marc. "** SPOILERS ** WWE NXT Tapings Airing In September". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
  44. ↑ "WWE NXT 'Takeover: Respect' Results - Iron Man Match, Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, Asuka, More - WrestlingInc.com". Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  45. ↑ Caldwell, James. "4/3 WrestleMania 32 PPV Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Live Report on Main PPV". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  46. 1 2 3 4 Caldwell, James. "4/4 WWE Raw Results – CALDWELL'S Complete Report on post-WM32". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  47. ↑ "2016 WWE Draft results: WWE officially ushers in New Era". WWE. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
  48. ↑ Dunaway, Rick (September 23, 2008). "Northwest's Pestock Honors Father In Subtle Way". St. Joseph News Press. NPG Newspapers Inc. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  49. ↑ Middleton, Marc (October 21, 2014). "Baron Corbin Talks About Developing His Character, Working NXT Live Events, His Finisher, More". Wrestling Inc. Webcapacity Inc. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-25.
  50. ↑ "WWE NXT: Superhuman (Baron Corbin) - Single".
  51. ↑ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 2016 - The Internet Wrestling Database". profightdb.com. Retrieved 1 September 2016.

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