Baron Corbin, the former WWE superstar, recently revealed that he had considered a career in the UFC before signing with WWE NXT. Corbin, who originally worked in NXT from 2012 to 2016, returned to the brand earlier this year and has been making waves ever since.
In an interview with Fightful Select, Corbin opened up about his time on the main roster and why he decided to return to NXT. He mentioned that his program with WWE Hall of Famer JBL did not work out as expected, and around the time of the WWE Draft, he was asked if he had any interest in returning to NXT. Corbin’s response was a resounding “Absolutely.”
One of the main factors that drew Corbin back to NXT was the proximity of his house to the WWE Performance Center in Orlando. Being just 1.5 hours away, it made it easier for Corbin to train and be a part of the NXT brand. He also mentioned that the way the NXT return was presented to him felt like an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.
Corbin also spoke about the chance to reinvent himself in NXT and how it provided new opportunities for other talents in the brand. He specifically mentioned NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes, Trick Williams, and Ilja Dragunov as wrestlers he enjoys working with.
When asked about his endurance and the compliments he has received from other wrestlers, Corbin expressed his pride in his ability to go the distance. He sees it as a test and enjoys pushing himself to another level. He pointed out that NXT wrestlers move at a different pace, and even in his 19-minute match with Dragunov, he didn’t get tired.
Corbin’s interest in combat sports goes beyond professional wrestling. Before entering the world of wrestling, he was a two-time Golden Gloves amateur boxing champion. He has also expressed interest in pursuing a career in MMA for the UFC. Corbin revealed that he had looked into being a part of Team Rashad Evans for UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter in 2009, but due to being in college on a scholarship, he couldn’t pursue it at the time.
Since his return to NXT, Corbin has been involved in several high-profile matches. He defeated Trick Williams and Ilja Dragunov, but came up short against Carmelo Hayes for the NXT Championship. He also had a double count-out match against Gable Steveson at The Great American Bash. Currently, Corbin is embroiled in a program with Bron Breakker and Von Wagner, and they are set to face off at NXT No Mercy on September 30.
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