Baron Corbin had a strong run in NXT last year before moving to SmackDown. After spending several months off television, he was recently told that his contract will not be renewed and he’s done with WWE.
Kurt Angle had his final match against Corbin at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. Many fans felt Corbin was an odd choice for Angle’s retirement match.
Corbin’s unexpected victory over the Olympic Gold Medalist at WrestleMania 35 didn’t lead to the career boost many had anticipated. Despite winning the King of the Ring tournament, Corbin struggled to gain traction on the main roster, which ultimately led to his departure.
In a recent interview with WrestleZone, Angle praised Corbin as “underrated” and voiced his disappointment that Corbin’s victory over him didn’t elevate Corbin’s career. Angle admitted feeling that his retirement match with Corbin was wasted, as it didn’t bring Corbin the success he had hoped.
Here’s what the former WWF Champion said:
“Baron, I think he’s underrated. I think it kinda sucks — they started utilizing him the way they should have, they had him beat me, which I was okay with, it was my last match and obviously you’re going to lose your last match when you retire. 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 in the legend’s last match and they didn’t really do much with him after that. For me, it makes me feel like I did that for nothing. It’s not like, ‘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.
I do believe they changed his character a couple times, I think he was Happy Corbin and then something else; I don’t know if they found anything that really stuck and maybe that’s why they let him go because they couldn’t find a character.
Baron has a great personality, he didn’t need a character, he could be him and he was entertaining as it is. I was just a little disappointed that they didn’t do much with him and then they let him go.”
In response to Angle’s comments, Corbin took to social media to express his gratitude, sharing that his ultimate goal was to become a World Champion, which would have honored Angle’s decision to lose to him at WrestleMania.
Corbin expressed sincere appreciation and regret, wishing he could have achieved more in WWE to make Angle’s gesture truly meaningful:
“To be fair, that’s one of the reasons I wish I had become world champ! It would paid honor to what Kurt did for me. I will forever appreciate it and wish I could have done more to make it worth it for him.”
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