Baron Corbin: Horrible story, great character work
Professional wrestlers should be praised for great character work. Baron Corbin is a lightning rod in the WWE. So much so “The Authority” even blamed him for a tanking show in a segment we know is far from the truth. Now, he is playing a “Broke Corbin” character that is down on his luck. It is a character that has drawn a lot of attention because he is playing it well, even though the narrative of the angle is putrid at best.
Each week Corbin is presented begging and trying to find new ways to get money out of his peers on the WWE roster. Somehow, Shinsuke Nakamura’s victory over him for the King of the Ring Crown ended his ability to earn a living as a professional wrestler. Nonsensical? Sure, but it is the WWE – one should expect much less.
Along the way, Corbin has become the butt of all jokes. He begged Drew McIntyre for $100,000 only to be kicked in the face. Asked Kevin Owens for money, only to take a stunner for his trouble. Every video that Corbin is featured in has a clear objective: to get you to laugh at the idea of his plight of being poor. At least the plight of what the creative minds behind WWE storylines think is funny about being poor. Is Corbin doing an excellent job in that role? Yes, but that role is yet again an example of the WWE making light of a marginalized group within the society that we live in every day.
Compared to Adam Page’s drinking gimmick
Compare this to the early aspect of Adam Page’s angle in AEW where he was constantly seen drinking on television. That was an aspect of his character, but not the central focus of what made him a “bad” person or the butt of the jokes. The other members of The Elite showed concern for Page’s drinking during promo segments, which played a part in him being booted from the group at the end.
That is different than what is going on with Corbin and that is why many are having a tough time enjoying any aspect of this angle. Even though Corbin is delivering quite well, it is still hard to get behind a story that is meant to make fun of him for the sole reason that he is poor. Alas, this is a typical aspect of WWE storytelling – punching down at any opportunity available.
Next. Five wrestlers who could be action movie stars. dark
Anyone can think of a fundamentally bad television show or movie in which one actor excels in their job, overdelivering with the role. That is Baron Corbin in this situation. Corbin’s been the butt of many jokes during his tenure in the WWE and this is yet another edition in the plight of his main roster run, even if he is putting on some of the best character work of his career.