New Japan Pro-Wrestling has shown interest in former WWE star Baron Corbin.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful (via Fightful Select) reports that New Japan Pro-Wrestling has been considering bringing in new talent. One possibility could be Tom Pestock, formerly known as Baron Corbin. Sapp writes that the company has shown interest in Pestock, and the two sides have been in contact. However, there is no word on how deep these talks were.
Pestock was visiting friends at AEW Worlds End at the end of December. He recently confirmed that he was a free agent after WWE opted not to renew his expiring contract.
Pestock was with WWE for several years. H signed with the company in 2012 and moved to the main roster in 2016. During his run as Baron Corbin, he won the WWE United States Championship, the King of the Ring tournament, and the Money in the Bank match, among other accolades
Kurt Angle On Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin memorably defeated Kurt Angle in the legend’s last match at WWE WrestleMania 35. Speaking with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard, Angle discussed Corbin’s release.
“Baron, I think he’s underrated. I think it kinda sucks [seeing him get let go]. They started utilizing him the way they should have. They had him beat me, which I was okay with,” Angle said. “It was my last match. And obviously, you are going to lose your last match when you retire. But, Baron after that, he ended up winning King of The Ring. And then nothing else happened with him.
“It’s a little disappointing to know that he beat a legend at WrestleMania, the legend’s last match. And they didn’t do much with him after that. For me, it makes me feel like I did that for nothing,” Angle admitted. “And — so, it’s not like a ‘Screw You Angle,’ but it kinda is. I thought they were gonna run with the kid. I thought they were going to make him one of the top-tier guys and he was on his way.”
“Maybe that’s why they let him go, they couldn’t find that character. But Baron had a great personality,” Angle added. “He didn’t need a character. He could be him, he was entertaining as it is. So, I was just a little disappointed that they didn’t do much with him and then they let him go.”
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