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In a shocking development, Baron Corbin lost his crown to Shinsuke Nakamura last week. The two rivals had been fighting over the status of "King" for more than a month. Now, Corbin is likely facing a substantial change, as he had been using the "King" moniker for almost two years.
The former WWE United States Champion is arguably one of the best heels in the wrestling business. The nuclear heat he receives from the fans fuels his character. Despite this negative response, Corbin has come a long way since his in-ring debut. He still doesn't receive enough credit for his talent and consistency as a performer.
Over the years, he has put on excellent matches with AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Roman Reigns. Unfortunately, his recent losing streak has forced him down the pecking order.
Now that Nakamura has taken his crown, Corbin no longer holds a prominent position. He doesn't have as much heat as he used to, and fans are quickly losing interest in him. If Corbin doesn't redeem himself, he might become an afterthought.
Given his talent, it would be an injustice to let Corbin tread water on SmackDown. Luckily, the former Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal Winner has some proponents backstage, including Vince McMahon.
There are several ways WWE can revive Baron Corbin's career, and this slideshow addresses five of these possibilities.
#5 Baron Corbin can re-unite with Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode
After he became the "King of the Ring" in 2019, Corbin moved to SmackDown. His first major feud was with Roman Reigns, and Corbin enlisted Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode to deal with his foe.
The Dirty Dawgs - Ziggler and Roode - helped Corbin torment the Big Dog. The ruthless monarch and the Showoff even doused Reigns with dog food. Eventually, the Usos returned to even the odds, and Reigns won the feud. After a mildly successful run, this trio quietly parted ways in February 2020.
Ziggler and Roode recently lost the SmackDown Tag Team Championships to Rey Mysterio and Dominik. Following this defeat, they quickly faded into obscurity. But they could join forces with an old ally to re-establish their dominance over the blue brand.
Corbin, Ziggler, and Roode worked together like a well-oiled machine. The faction drove Reigns and the Usos to the limit, and this trio disbanded too soon. While Roode's suspension and the pandemic played a factor in the breakup, these three men should have had a long run as a stable.
All three stars have seen better days in WWE. If they can get back together, they might be able to redeem themselves and regain the spotlight.
As evident by his previous alliances, Baron Corbin is on another level when he has a few allies in his corner. The cunning Corbin adriotly uses his loyal comrades to gain an advantage over his worst enemies.
Reuniting with the Dirty Dawgs will give Baron Corbin's character a fresh start and alter the landscape of SmackDown.
#4 Baron Corbin can become "The Lone Wolf" again
Once upon a time, Baron Corbin was a ruthless, powerful beast. After he broke out as a star on NXT in 2014, he went on a mean streak. He piled up dominant victories in quick order, and he brought this momentum with him to the main roster.
On his first night, Corbin won the third Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal by eliminating Kane. Winning the battle royal in front of the largest WrestleMania crowd solidified him as an impressive force. Over the next year, Corbin built more heat by defeating fan-favorites like Dolph Ziggler, Apollo Crews, Kalisto, and Jack Swagger.
In June 2017, Corbin won the Money in the Bank contract in a star-studded ladder match. This victory came during his time as the Lone Wolf.
In his first year, Corbin made a name for himself all alone. He didn't need any friends because he took on all comers on his own. The Lone Wolf didn't always win, but his rivals always felt his wrath and power.
Today, Baron Corbin has become a shell of the monster he was four years ago. But it isn't too late to revert to his old roots. With the power and fury he possesses, he can become the Lone Wolf again. Having lost much of his initial heat, he might need this character change more than ever.
#3 Baron Corbin can become Mr. Money in the Bank
When Baron Corbin won the Money in the Bank contract in June 2017, he was virtually guaranteed to become WWE Champion. However, WWE and Corbin both squandered this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
He chose to cash-in the contract on Jinder Mahal when his rival, John Cena, was at ringside. Cena provided a timely distraction, and Mahal rolled Corbin up to retain the WWE Championship
The failed cash-in is still his most significant failure in an otherwise impressive wrestling career. In 2017, the one-time US Champion was relatively inexperienced, so he was prone to making such ill-advised moves.
Many fans would argue that Corbin wasn't ready for the title in 2017. While he may not have been able to handle the pressure then, he certainly can now. Four years after the setback, Corbin is more focused, talented, and experienced. He will not repeat the same mistake.
The Money in the Bank pay-per-view takes place next month. Although it is too soon to make predictions, Baron Corbin could be the next Mr. Money in the Bank. Winning the coveted briefcase will allow him to rectify his previous missteps. Corbin would gain considerable momentum by holding the contract, and he would add more intrigue to the world title scene.
Baron Corbin still hasn't recovered from his unsuccessful cash-in. That being said, holding the briefcase for a second time and successfully cashing in the Money in the Bank contract will revive his career.
#2 Baron Corbin can move back to RAW
Another solution to Baron Corbin's dilemma is a fresh environment with new opportunities. The former WWE United States Champion has been competing on SmackDown since October 2019. There, has fought Elias, Roman Reigns, Shinsuke Nakamura, and both Dominik and Rey Mysterio.
At this point, the blue brand doesn't have much to offer him. As a heel, he is unlikely to enter the Universal Championship or Intercontinental title picture. Plus, SmackDown doesn't have many credible babyfaces left for Corbin to match up against. Aside from Big E and Kevin Owens, it doesn't seem like anybody can step up to the former King of the Ring.
But the red brand would offer several fresh feuds for Corbin. WWE RAW possesses a loaded roster with many fan-favorite characters. Corbin can fight men much smaller than him, like Ricochet, Humberto Carrillo and Jeff Hardy. These contrasting styles would make for intriguing programs.
Moreover, Corbin could run into a familiar face in Drew McIntyre. McIntyre and Corbin became close friends in late 2018 when they worked together to dominate Braun Strowman. But the former General Manager of RAW turned his back on McIntyre when he attacked him a few weeks before WrestleMania. These two powerhouses could collide again if Corbin moves to the red brand.
Although nothing is official, the WWE Draft is scheduled to take place later this year. If Baron Corbin does move to RAW, he could regain his status as a massive star on the red brand.
#1 Baron Corbin can turn face
Most wrestling fans are aware of Baron Corbin's dark side. Since his debut in April 2016, WWE has portrayed him as a despicable villain. Despite some minor tweaks, his character was always meant to evoke a negative fan response. Undoubtedly, Corbin has excelled as a heel.
But it's time for him to show a more likable version of himself, and this change wouldn't be unprecedented for Corbin. He was briefly a babyface on NXT, and when Corbin resurfaced on the black-and-gold brand in September 2014, the fans loved him. For the next few months, they would count down as the Lone Wolf made quick work of his opponents.
His character was different from a traditional babyface. Unlike Daniel Bryan or Rey Mysterio, Corbin wasn't a resilient underdog. Instead, he was a fighting machine like Goldberg, Kane, or Braun Strowman.
Speaking of Strowman, WWE needs a replacement for the recently released powerhouse. Baron Corbin has all the tools to become the company's new Monster Among Men. He tosses his opponents with ease, moves around like a cat, and dominates his competition.
The character change would open up many opportunities, and he could challenge for Roman Reigns' Universal Championship. After all, these two stars have a storied history with each other.
Elsewhere, Otis has shown fans a more vicious side of him by obliterating smaller men like Montez Ford. Someone like Baron Corbin could knock some sense into him.
Clearly, a face turn could be the best path forward for Corbin because it would offer fans the chance to root for the former King of the Ring winner.
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