Pestock was anoffensive lineman for theIndianapolis Colts andArizona Cardinals of theNFL, as well as a two-timeGolden Gloves boxing regional champion. He signed with WWE in 2012 and was assigned to theirdevelopmental brandNXT under the ring name Baron Corbin, portraying a villainous character nicknamed the "Lone Wolf". He debuted on the main roster atWrestleMania 32, winning theAndré the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. In 2017, he won theMoney in the Bank Briefcase and theWWE United States Championship In 2018, he became "Constable Corbin", an on-screen authority figure ofRaw and started a feud withKurt Angle which culminated atWrestleMania 35, with Corbin emerging victorious in Angle's retirement match. A few months later, he won the2019 King of the Ring tournament, thus changing his name toKing Corbin until 2021, when he lost his crown and adopted the character of a destitute man who had lost everything. Two months later, he adopted the nameHappy Corbin and began portraying a cheerful character who had become extremely wealthy from gambling.
From September 2021 to April 2022, Corbin formed an alliance withMadcap Moss. In October 2022, he began using the Baron Corbin name again and was managed byJBL until 2023, when he returned to NXT and formed a tag team withBron Breakker; they won the NXT Tag Team Championship and the 2024Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic together. Corbin returned to the main roster in April 2024, then left WWE when his contract expired in November.
Thomas Pestock[2][3] was born inLenexa, Kansas[4] on September 13, 1984.[2][5] He has trained extensively inboxing and by 2007, he was a two-timeGolden Gloves regional amateur boxing champion.[6] He participated in the 2008 Golden Gloves National Tournament of Champions in thesuper heavyweight division, defeating Chaen Chess in the preliminaries and losing to Andrae Cathron in the quarter-finals.[7][8]
Pestock signed with theIndianapolis Colts on April 27, 2009, after going undrafted in the2009 NFL draft.[14] While with the Colts, he was roommates with future All-Pro punter and professional wrestlerPat McAfee, a fact that would be central to a feud between the two of them inWWE 13 years later.[15] He was released by the Colts on August 13 and re-signed by the team on August 19.[14][16] He was again released by the Colts on September 5.[14]
Pestock joined theArizona Cardinals' practice squad on December 24, 2009.[17] He was re-signed to afutures contract on January 18, 2010, and was noted for throwing uppercuts in a team scuffle in training camp.[14][18][19] He was released by the Cardinals on September 3 and signed to the team's practice squad on September 6.[14][20] On January 4, 2011, he was again signed to a futures contract with the Cardinals.[14] He was again released on September 2, 2011.[14]
In the following weeks, the crowd turned on him and on the May 14 episode ofNXT, Corbin turnedheel by showing a cocky and banterous persona.[36] He started a feud withRhyno, whom he defeated atNXT TakeOver: Unstoppable on May 20.[37] Corbin lost toSamoa Joe atNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn on August 22.[38] In September, Corbin formed atag team with former rival Rhyno to take place in theDusty Rhodes Tag Team Classictournament,[39] defeatingThe Ascension in the first round,[40] andJohnny GarganoandTommaso Ciampa in the second round.[41] AtNXT TakeOver: Respect on October 7, Corbin and Rhyno defeatedChad GableandJason Jordan to advance to the finals of the tournament, where they lost to Finn Bálor and Samoa Joe.[42] After the event, a battle royal was held to determine the number #1 contender for the NXT Championship, which saw Corbin being lastly eliminated byApollo Crews, who Corbin attacked during his title match to cost him the title, thus igniting a feud between the two that culminated in a match atNXT TakeOver: London on December 16, where Corbin defeated Crews.[43]
In January 2016, Corbin was involved in atriple threat match betweenSami Zayn and Samoa Joe on the January 27 episode ofNXT to determine the number #1 contender for Finn Bálor's NXT Championship, but Corbin lost after Zayn and Joe both applied theirsubmission holds on Corbin at the same time, with Corbinsubmitting.[44] NXT General ManagerWilliam Regal did not give Corbin another title opportunity, leading to Corbin stating Regal would "regret" his decision, which culminated on the March 2 episode ofNXT when Corbin attackedAustin Aries from behind after Regal introduced him, beginning a feud between the two that culminated in a match atNXT TakeOver: Dallas on April 1, where Corbin lost to Aries.[45] On the April 13 episode ofNXT, Corbin defeatedTucker Knight in his final NXT appearance.[46][47]
Corbin made his main roster debut atWrestleMania 32, winning theAndré the Giant Memorial Battle Royal by last eliminatingKane.[48][49] The following night onRaw, he attackedDolph Ziggler after their match, beginning a feud between the two.[50] Corbin was defeated by Ziggler at thePayback pre-show on May 1[51] and was eliminated by him from a battle royal onRaw.[52] Corbin defeated Ziggler on the May 9 episode ofRaw[53] and in a no disqualification match at theExtreme Rules pre-show on May 22.[54] Ziggler then challenged Corbin to a technical wrestling match,[55] which ended in adisqualification after Ziggler hit Corbin with alow blow.[56] AtMoney in the Bank on June 19, Corbin defeated Ziggler to end their feud.[57]
Corbin after attackingDolph Ziggler in December 2016
At the2016 WWE draft on July 19, Corbin was drafted to theSmackDownbrand.[58] After Apollo Crews earned a match for theIntercontinental Championship by defeating Corbin andKalisto in a triple threat match,[59] Corbin repeatedly assaulted Kalisto (who had beenpinned in the match), eventually putting him out of action with a (kayfabe) injury.[60] He defeated Crews at theBacklash pre-show on September 11.[61] AtNo Mercy on October 9, he defeatedJack Swagger[62] as well on the October 18 episode ofSmackDown.[63] On the November 8 episode ofSmackDown, the returning Kalisto attacked Corbin, causing a (kayfabe) injury and forcing Corbin to drop out of SmackDown'sSurvivor Series team.[64] After retaliating by costing Kalisto theCruiserweight Championship at Survivor Series,[65] Kalisto attacked Corbin with achair during a match on the November 22 episode ofSmackDown,[66] leading to achairs match between the two atTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 4,[67] which Corbin won.[68]
On the December 20 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin confronted Dolph Ziggler, who had just earned a title match againstWWE ChampionAJ Styles. A match between the two, with Ziggler's title opportunity on the line, ended in a double countout; as a result, Corbin was added to the title match, giving Corbin his firstworld title opportunity in WWE.[69] On December 27, Styles won the match by pinning Ziggler.[70] At theRoyal Rumble on January 29, Corbin entered theRoyal Rumble match at #13, eliminatingBraun Strowman and lasting over 32 minutes before being eliminated byThe Undertaker.[71][72] AtElimination Chamber on February 12, Corbin competed in thenamesake match for the WWE Championship. Immediately after being eliminated by Intercontinental ChampionDean Ambrose, Corbin attacked Ambrose, causing the latter's elimination.[73] Corbin attacked Ambrose on the March 7 episode ofSmackDown with metal pipe and a forklift. On March 21, Ambrose retaliated by distracting Corbin in a match againstRandy Orton.[74] Corbin unsuccessfully challenged Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship at theWrestleMania 33 pre-show on April 2[75] but defeated Ambrose in a non-titleStreet Fight onSmackDown.[76] On the April 17 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin failed to win a title opportunity for the United States Championship in a triple threat match against AJ Styles andSami Zayn.[77] After the show, Corbin attacked Zayn and also shoved an official, for which he was suspended and fined by SmackDown CommissionerShane McMahon.[78] AtBacklash on May 21, Corbin lost to Zayn.[79]
Mr. Money in the Bank and United States Champion (2017–2018)
AtMoney in the Bank on June 18, Corbin won the namesake match, earning him a world title match at the time of his choosing.[80] Corbin lost toShinsuke Nakamura by disqualification atBattleground on July 23[81] and again on the following episode ofSmackDown.[82] On the August 1 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin attacked Nakamura, who had just become number #1 contender for the WWE Championship, but was attacked by Cena.[83] On the August 15 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin interrupted a match betweenJohn Cena and WWE ChampionJinder Mahal and cashed in his Money in the Bank contract, but was pinned by Mahal after being sidetracked by Cena, becoming the third wrestler to fail to win the title in a cash-in.[84] AtSummerSlam on August 20, Corbin lost to Cena.[85]
On the August 22 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin was approached byKevin Owens to officiate his title match againstUnited States Champion AJ Styles, with the promise of a future championship match if Owens were to win the title; Corbin abandoned the match towards the end after heavy criticism from Shane McMahon, leaving the officiating duty to Shane instead.[86] The following week, both Corbin andTye Dillinger wanted to answer an open challenge issued by Styles; Dillinger was quicker but was then attacked by Corbin.[87] Corbin defeated Dillinger the following week[88] and on September 19, challenged Styles to a match atHell in a Cell.[89] When Corbin lost to Dillinger the following week onSmackDown, Dillinger was added to the match.[90] In the subsequent triple threat match at Hell in a Cell on October 8, Corbin pinned Dillinger to win the title.[91] Corbin retained the title against Styles onSmackDown and defeated Intercontinental ChampionThe Miz in an InterbrandChampion vs Champion match atSurvivor Series on November 19.[92] AtClash of Champions on December 17, Corbin lost his title to Dolph Ziggler in a triple threat match also involvingBobby Roode, ending his reign at 70 days.[93]
AtRoyal Rumble on January 28, 2018, Corbin entered at #4 but was eliminated by Finn Bálor.[94] On the February 13 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin defeated Kevin Owens to earn a spot in thesix-pack challenge for the WWE Championship.[95] AtFastlane on March 11, Styles won the six-pack challenge by pinning Owens.[96] Corbin competed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on theWrestleMania 34 pre-show on April 8; he made it to the final two before being eliminated byMatt Hardy.[97]
On April 16, Corbin moved to theRaw brand as part of theSuperstar Shake-up.[98] On the June 4 episode ofRaw, he became commissionerStephanie McMahon's representative as the Constable of Raw, a storyline position without real power in the promotion.[99] Corbin debuted a new look the following week, wearing a suit and sporting a shaved head (in reality, he had been suffering fromhair loss and decided to shave it off and donate his ponytail to charity).[100][101] Corbin then started a feud withFinn Bálor, to whom he lost atExtreme Rules on July 15[102] and atSummerSlam on August 19.[103] On the following episode ofRaw, he was pointed as acting general manager, replacingKurt Angle.[104] On the September 17 episode ofRaw, Corbin booked himself againstRoman Reigns for theUniversal Championship, but did not win the title.[105]
On November 2 atCrown Jewel, Corbin costBraun Strowman the Universal Championship in a match againstBrock Lesnar, starting a feud between the two.[106] AtTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 16, Corbin faced Strowman in aTLC match where, if Corbin won, he would become a full-time general manager of Raw; but if Corbin lost, he would be stripped of his authoritative powers.[107] Strowman enlisted the help of Apollo Crews, Bobby Roode, Chad Gable, Finn Bálor, and former Raw general manager Kurt Angle to defeat Corbin.[108] The next night onRaw, authority figuresVince McMahon, Shane McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, andTriple H stated that they would now be running bothRaw andSmackDown as a unit with no general managers.[109] Corbin confronted the McMahons to have another chance to become the Raw General Manager. Triple H said that if he could defeat Kurt Angle, he could become the Raw General Manager. However, Triple H added Apollo Crews, Bobby Roode, and Chad Gable to make it a 4-on-1 handicap match that Corbin lost, definitively ruling him out of the position.[110] Corbin continued his feud with Braun Strowman, being eliminated by him in the Royal Rumble match at theRoyal Rumble on January 27, 2019.[111] AtElimination Chamber on February 17, Corbin defeated Strowman in a no disqualification match, following interference fromBobby Lashley andDrew McIntyre.[112] The next night onRaw, Corbin was defeated by Strowman in atables match, ending their feud.[113]
Corbin in May 2019
Corbin started a feud with Kurt Angle on the March 18 episode ofRaw. Angle selected Corbin as his opponent forWrestleMania 35 in his farewell match, as Corbin had caused Angle many problems during Angle's tenure as Raw general manager.[114] At WrestleMania on April 7, Corbin defeated Angle.[115] On the May 27 episode ofRaw, Corbin defeated Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, and The Miz in afatal four-way elimination match to earn a Universal Championship match against the championSeth Rollins.[116] AtSuper ShowDown on June 7, Corbin lost to Rollins, but during the match, Corbin got into an argument with refereeJohn Cone, allowing Rollins to roll-up Corbin to retain the title.[117] This led to a rematch atStomping Grounds, where Corbin choseLacey Evans, who was in an ongoing feud with Rollins' real life girlfriendBecky Lynch, as thespecial guest referee for the match; Evans was biased towards Corbin throughout the match, adding multiple stipulations in his favour.[118] However, Lynch, who defeated Evans for theRaw Women's Championship earlier in the night, attacked Evans and took her out of the match, leading to Rollins' victory over Corbin at the event on June 23.[119] The following night onRaw, Corbin and Evans challenged Rollins and Lynch to a match atExtreme Rules.[120] The match was agreed to with two stipulations: Rollins and Lynch would defend their respective championships, while the match would be the final respective championship opportunities for Corbin and Evans.[121] At Extreme Rules on July 14, Corbin and Evans lost the match.[122]
In August, Corbin was announced as one of sixteen competitors in the2019 King of the Ring tournament.[123] After over a month away fromRaw, Corbin returned on the August 19 episode, where he and McIntyre lost toRicochet and The Miz.[124] In the following weeks, Corbin defeated The Miz in the first round,[125]Cedric Alexander in the quarterfinals,[126] Ricochet and Samoa Joe in the semifinals,[127] and Chad Gable in the finals to win the tournament, subsequently changing his ring name to King Corbin.[128] AtHell in a Cell on October 6, Corbin lost to Gable.[129]
As part of the2019 draft, Corbin was drafted to the SmackDown brand.[130] AtCrown Jewel on October 31, Corbin was a member of Team Flair, where they lost to Team Hogan.[131] In November, Corbin began a feud with Roman Reigns defeating him on the November 8 episode of SmackDown following interference from Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode.[132] AtSurvivor Series on November 24, Corbin was a member of Team SmackDown and caused his Team SmackDown partnerMustafa Ali to be eliminated, which then led to team captain Roman Reigns performing a spear on Corbin that caused him to be eliminated, while Reigns went on to win the match for his team.[133] Corbin defeated Reigns in a TLC match atTLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs on December 15 following interference from Dolph Ziggler andThe Revival (Dash Wilder andScott Dawson).[134] AtRoyal Rumble on January 26, 2020, Corbin lost to Reigns in afalls count anywhere match after interference fromThe Usos also involving Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode also later that same night he entered the Royal Rumble match at number 22 eliminating Matt Riddle before being eliminated by the eventual winner Drew McIntyre,[135] and asteel cage match atSuper ShowDown on February 27, ending their feud.[136]
On the first night ofWrestleMania 36 on April 4, Corbin lost toElias.[137] On the April 24 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin defeatedDrew Gulak with the help ofCesaro andShinsuke Nakamura to qualify for the Money in the Bank ladder match.[138] AtMoney in the Bank on May 10, Corbin failed to win the contract after he andAJ Styles tussled over the briefcase and dropped it toOtis unintentionally.[139] On the July 17 episode ofSmackDown, he attackedMatt Riddle,[140][141] leading to a match atPayback on August 30, where Corbin lost to Riddle.[142] He defeated Riddle on the September 25 episode ofSmackDown, ending their feud.[143] From December 2020 to February 2021, Corbin began a feud withRey Mysterio,Dominik Mysterio, andMurphy, which saw him form a short-lived partnership withWesley Blake and Steve Cutler, but disbanded following Cutler and Blake's WWE release.[144][145]
On the June 18 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin lost to Shinsuke Nakamura in a Battle for the Crown match, thus losing his crown to Nakamura and ending his King gimmick.[146] The following week onSmackDown, his ring name was reverted to Baron Corbin.[147]
On the July 16 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin stopped shaving his head and began sporting dirty clothes and an unkempt beard, giving him a disheveled look. He revealed that after losing his crown, he had lost his car, his investments, his savings, his home, along with his wife and daughters having left him. He then revealed his own version of aGoFundMe campaign, called CorbinFund.com, asking fans and fellow wrestlers to donate to the cause.[148][149] On the July 30 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin emerged at the contract signing between Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Finn Bálor for a championship match atSummerSlam, attacking Bálor and attempting to sign the contract. However,John Cena also emerged to the ring and took out Corbin before Cena signed the contract himself.[150] On the August 13 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin stole theMoney in the Bank briefcase fromBig E before fleeing the arena.[151] At the SummerSlam pre-show on August 21, Corbin lost to Big E, who regained the briefcase.[152]
On the August 27 episode ofSmackDown, after turning his misfortunes around inLas Vegas, he drove into the arena in aBentley, declaring himself "filthy rich" and demanding to be called "Happy Corbin".[153][154] On the September 24 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin gained a new ally inMadcap Moss.[155] They entered into a feud withDrew McIntyre, with Corbin accompanying Moss to his matches with McIntyre atDay 1 on January 1, 2022 andElimination Chamber on February 19, both of which he lost.[156][157] Corbin (and Moss) participated in theRoyal Rumble match at thenamesake event on January 29, entering at #15 and eliminatingRick Boogs andRicochet, but was eliminated by McIntyre.[158] On the first night ofWrestleMania 38 on April 2, he faced McIntyre in a losing effort.[159]
On the April 8 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin blamed his loss on Moss before attacking him, ending their alliance and beginning a feud between the two.[160] This led to a match atWrestleMania Backlash on May 8, which Moss won.[161] AtHell in a Cell on June 5, the two competed in aNo Holds Barred match, which Corbin lost.[162] On the June 17 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin lost to Moss in aLast Laugh match, ending their feud; after the match, Corbin confronted commentatorPat McAfee, who had been making fun of Corbin during his feud with Moss.[163] On the July 1 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin competed in aMoney in the Bank qualifying fatal four-way match, which was won by Moss.[164] After Money in the Bank went off the air the following day, Corbin attacked McAfee at ringside and accepted his challenge for a match atSummerSlam.[165] At the event on July 30, Corbin lost to McAfee after he hit a low-blow while the referee was down.[166] On the August 19 episode ofSmackDown, he competed in a fatal five way match to determine the #1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship, which was won bySheamus.[167]
On the October 17 episode ofRaw, Corbin returned under the Baron Corbin name with his new managerJBL, defeatingDolph Ziggler.[168] Debuting the new nickname of "The Modern Day Wrestling God" as a reference to JBL's former nickname, he would go on a winning streak until losing toDrew McIntyre on the November 21 episode ofRaw.[169] At theRoyal Rumble event in January 2023, Corbin entered theRoyal Rumble match in 14th place but was immediately attacked byBrock Lesnar and eliminated bySeth "Freakin" Rollins, ending his time in the match at seven seconds.[170] On the February 6 episode ofRaw, after losing toDexter Lumis, JBL ended his association with Corbin.[171] Corbin then embarked upon a losing streak until a live event on April 29, where he defeatedRick Boogs.[172]
During the2023 WWE Draft in May, it was announced that Corbin was one of the selected superstars who signed afree agent contract which in turn allows him to appear on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT as an active roster member whenever he desired.[173][174] He was assigned to NXT, where he had two matches for the NXT Championship, one againstCarmelo Hayes atNXT Gold Rush on June 27 (during which time he brought back his "Lone Wolf" gimmick for one night only) and the other againstIlja Dragunov atDeadline, losing both times; he debuted a gimmick that "burned" all his previous gimmicks during his feud with Dragunov.[175][176][177] Corbin also wrestled the debutingGable Steveson atNXT The Great American Bash, ending in adouble countout. During the match, Corbin was cheered by the fans despite being the heel, while Steveson, the face, was heavily booed.[178] AtNXT No Mercy on September 30, Corbin defeatedBron Breakker.[179]
As part of the2024 WWE Draft on April 26, Corbin was drafted back to theSmackDown brand.[185] On the May 10 episode ofSmackDown, Corbin was defeated byCarmelo Hayes in the first round of theKing of the Ring tournament.[186] He then won aWWE Speed tournament for aWWE Speed Championship match againstAndrade on 24 July, which he lost.[187] Corbin then formed a tag team withApollo Crews until November 1, when his WWE contract expired and was not renewed, ending his twelve-year tenure with the promotion.
On January 14, 2025, it was announced that Pestock, under his real name, would make his debut forGame Changer Wrestling (GCW) at their eventThe People vs GCW on January 19, where he will faceJosh Barnett in aBloodsport match.[188] At the event, Pestock was defeated by Barnett.[189] On January 23 in an interview withChris Van Vliet, Pestock announced that his new ring name will be “Bishop Dyer” with the moniker the "Nomad", which will pay tribute to his "Lone Wolf" character in WWE.[190][191] On March 14, Dyer made his debut forMaple Leaf Pro Wrestling (MLP) on night 1 ofMayhem, unsuccessfully challengingThom Latimer for theNWA World's Heavyweight Championship.[192]
Pestock practicesBrazilian jiu-jitsu, earning apurple belt fromRolles Gracie Jr., and competes under his real name.[198] He won a gold medal at the December 2023 Jiu Jitsu World League III Gi finals,[199] and a silver medal at the February 2024 Jiu Jitsu Florida Vi Gi finals.[200] In November 2024, just weeks after not having his contract renewed by WWE, Pestock won a gold medal in the IBJJF Tampa International Open 2024.[201] Pestock then won the Master 3 ultra-heavyweight and absolute divisions at purple belt at theIBJJF Pan Championship 2025.[202]
Pestock, as Baron Corbin, is best known for hisoutlaw bikergimmick known as the "Lone Wolf", to which he creditsBill DeMott,Corey Graves,Billy Gunn,Kane, andDusty Rhodes with helping develop it.[203] After leaving WWE, he adopted the ring name Bishop Dyer with the moniker the "Nomad", which is a tribute gimmick to the "Lone Wolf".[191]
He uses alifting reverse STO calledEnd of Days as a finisher. The idea for him to use the move came about when he was practicing a spot withSami Callihan, then known as Solomon Crowe in NXT. The move was highly protected in WWE; no wrestler successfully kicked out of the move from its introduction untilDrew McIntyre achieved it atWrestleMania 38.[204] He also uses aspinning side slam calledDeep Six and achokeslam backbreaker calledBlood Moon.
As a tribute to his father, who died in 2008 fromCreutzfeldt–Jakob disease, Pestock wears his father's wedding ring on a necklace.[208] He is known for his numerous tattoos, some of which include portraits of his father and grandfather on his leg, full sleeve tattoos on his left arm that include clocks representing family members' birthdays, and tattoos memorializing his friendsRyan Dunn and Zachary Hartwell (members of theJackass crew who died in a car crash in June 2011).[209]
Pestock is close friends with fellow wrestlersTyler Breeze andShawn Spears, singerTommy Vext (who performed the "I Bring the Darkness" entrance music used by the Baron Corbin character from 2017 until 2021),[210] and WWE commentatorPat McAfee (with the two previously being teammates on theIndianapolis Colts as rookies, during which time they roomed together and bonded over their love of wrestling).[211]
After shaving his head in June 2018, Pestock donated his hair to charity.[100] He is aKansas City Chiefs supporter.[212]
^Pestock has been acknowledged as a two-time Golden Gloves regional champion as early as May 2008, although the actual dates of his wins are unknown.[213][214]
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