WWE Superstar Considered MMA Before NXT (Patreon)

Fightful Select caught up with Baron Corbin in Detroit, Michigan, for SummerSlam Media Day.

Corbin would tell Fightful that he has evolved with the company for the past eight or nine years. He said that finisher was the one thing he had. Baron said Cena, Reigns, Rollins, nor Kurt Angle kicked out of his “End of Days” finisher. Corbin said when WrestleMania came, he was told that it was happening. Corbin said he voiced his displeasure with the decision. Corbin would tell Fightful Select that he was not thrilled with it and that it wasn’t his call, but they did it, and it’s over.

Corbin would also talk to us about his ability to work with anyone and that when he goes into a match or even a multi-man match, his process is to ask, “How do we make this the best match possible?” Corbin said Seth Rollins is the same way; Rollins wants to put on the best show they can.

Fightful brought up that other wrestlers will compliment him on his endurance. Baron says he takes pride in the ability to go. He said he likes to look at it like a test. Baron says the guys in NXT move at a different pace and said the match he had with Ilja Dragunov went 19 minutes and that he did not get tired.

He said it made him step up to another level. Regarding his return to NXT, Baron said being paired with JBL did not work out, and it was around the time of the WWE Draft he was asked if he had an interest in going to NXT. Baron said, “Absolutely,”' because the Performance Center was only an hour and a half drive from where he lived. He said the way it was presented to him was an opportunity.

Baron said the WWE is letting him reinvent himself in NXT. It also gave others in Orlando another person to work with, and he named Ilja Dragunov, Trick Williams, and Carmelo Hayes specifically.

When asked about his past interest in potentially being in the UFC. Baron said he was looking to be part of the Rashad Evans team on Ultimate Fighter back in late 2009. Baron said at the time he was still in college and had a scholarship, so it was not a possibility at that time.