Wondering who the next world class athlete from Kansas City will be?
Here’s a hint: You won’t learn about him from The Pitch or the Kansas City Star. That said, you’ve come to the right place.
Homegrown, hometown heroes are hard to come by around these parts.
The usual suspects are easily identified; director Robert Altman, golfer Tom Watson, actors Jean Harlow, Paul Rudd, Ed Asner, Don Cheadle and Chris Cooper, writer Calvin Trillin, comedians Rob Riggle and Jason Sudeikis, designer Kate Spade and musician Pat Metheny.
True Kansas Citians, one and all.
Unlike pseudo KC stars like George Brett, Walter Cronkite, Jesse James, Thomas Hart Benton, Melissa Etheridge, Walt Disney, Joyce Hall, Handsome Harley Race and Joan Crawford, who either moved here or were born in satellite cities. Local media lay claim to these names from time to time, but they’re not the real deal.
Enter Thomas Pestock, the rising WWE superstar known as Baron Corbin.
That’s right,and most likely you heard it here first – unless you follow WWE developmental league NXT on the WWE Channel at $9.95 a month.
“Right now, it is time for the Big Bad Wolf,” warned WWE announcer Rich Brennan during last week’s NXT show.
“Making his way to the ring from Kansas City weighing 275 pounds, Baron Corbin!” the ring announcer hottie intoned.
Thomas Pestock from his Facebook page
Just how large does Baron Corbin loom? Try this description on for size:
“Tell you what, Baron Corbin, they call him the unstoppable force here at NXT,” Brennan told viewers. “Have you seen Jurassic World yet? Baron Corbin is like Indominus Rex. He’s this hybrid machine that’s just wrecking everything in front of him.
“You could say Baron Corbin is maybe one of the most prominent cases of one sided dominance we’ve ever seen on NXT. If you ever had any idea who the dominant force is in NXT, it’s Baron Corbin.”
Anybody recall Tom Watson being described in such superlatives anywhere near this early into his career? Of course not.
Nope, Pestock – or Corbin – made something of a name for himself locally as a high school footballer, before signing with the Indianapolis Colts after going undrafted in 2009 and a short hitch with the Arizona Cardinals in 2010.
Corbin signed with WWE in 2012, a year after being cut by the Cardinals.
He made his television debut on May 8, 2013 on NXT in a loss to WWE superstar Damien Sandow.
It’s been a bit up and down for Corbin the past two years, but with his 6 foot 8 inch stature and a finishing move called the “End of Days,” it appears he’s poised to vie for NXT’s top honors – which, barring injuries, should place him in a position to follow in the footsteps of current WWE World Champ Seth Rollins.
Stay tuned!
Pro wrestling is not a sport. Who cares if the next lead actor in that traveling circus is a KC native. Actually, I would prefer pro wrestling not have an overt KC connection.
Only sport I would care to bet money on.
True, true and true.
(Harry’s comment, not the dude’s.)
wwe? are you serious. Do you watch this excuse of a sport hearne?
I only remember trump shaving mcmanns head.
what a waste of time.
But give them credit…they do make big bucks with their schtick.
Get real, wild man….
WWE stands for World Wrestling Entertainment.
You think movies are real?
History ( with notable assists to George Simpson and Orville Brown) has already dictated that KC will always have a covert connection to professional wrestling. We all have a crazy uncle or two that have embarrassed us but that doesn’t mean they are not a part of our family. Embrace our heritage, Harry !!
And thanks, Dude, for the Woody Allen quote. We can always count on you to offer words of support for “wrasslin'”
I always call it Rasslin’. And the Woody quote was spot on.
I wonder how the WWE in all of its racist and misogynist glory can continue to exist? Following the Confederate battle flag’s demise, the WWE is the last bastion of discrimination on regular public view.
But all they do is hold up a mirror to what our society is.
Blame the society.
Harley Race hailed from rural Nodaway County to the north, and the Kansas City territory (while it lasted) was his base of operation for much of his career. So he’s about as hometown as it gets. Certainly more so than Shiek Abdullah Ali Hassan the Great (aka The Master of Illusion), who terrorized the Kansas City territory during the same time period after making his way here from somewhere in the Middle East.
Off topic but anyone seen Ch. 41 traffic reporter Kacie MCDonnell on The Dirty today?
No, but I did see a picture of her at her surprise b’day party. Why? Do tell.
http://thedirty.com/gossip/kansas-city-1/kacie-mcdonnell-is-a-royal-dream-killer/#disqus_thread
What?
Some WWE actor?
I’m so confused; I thought the next big deal coming out of KC was Craig’s tennis playing 3rd cousin who also is not from KC?
I need a program, I can’t keep up.
Craig’s 3rd cousin’s monkey’ uncle on his brother’s sister’s side of the family.