Tom Pestock has an opportunity to show he belongs at The People vs GCW

After 13 years with WWE, Tom Pestock’s time with the company ended in November 2024. The man known as Baron Corbin saw his contract expire and he became a free agent. Now, at 40-years old it will be interesting to see how he continues to contribute to professional wrestling. Pestock has the abilities to have an impact outside the promotion, and he’s taking steps to get there.

On January 13 it was announced that Pestock is making his Game Changer Wrestling debut. How? He’s stepping into a Bloodsport match on January 19 to take on none other than former UFC Heavyweight Champion, and renowned professional wrestler, Josh Barnett. This is a surprising announcement that caught much of the wrestling community off guard.

“Tom Pestock makes his GCW debut taking on Josh Barnett in a Bloodsport match this sunder at The People vs GCW,” GCW posted on Twitter. “Pestock is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu specialist and Golden Gloves Champion entering Bloodsport for the first time.”

This is an opportunity for Pestock to find a different way to show he has the cops for the business. Even after 13 years in the business, many are still skeptical of what Pestock can do, widely because that entire time was spent in WWE’s system. During that run, Pestock had brushes with being in the main event, but he was frequently met with a reaction that could be described as apathetic at best.

Outside of his initial run in NXT, Pestock struggled to remain over. When he was pushed as one of the top foils to Seth Rollins, he never felt like a man who would pick up the big win. Failing to cash in the Money in the Bank didn’t help his perception at all. Outside of his “Broke Baron Corbin” gimmick, nothing really worked for Pestock in more than a decade in WWE’s system.

This is why his introduction via Bloodsport is so important. If Pestock can present himself in a different fashion, get the independent wrestling fans to believe he’s a bigger deal than what’s been seen this last decade, doors may open. Fightful Select reported that Pestock was at AEW Worlds End at the end of December, so it will be interesting to see if those connections pan out over time. There’s also NJPW, an organization that needs to refresh its lineup after losing several of its top names the last few years.

Even though he’s no longer in WWE, there’s a space for Tom Pestock in professional wrestling and it starts with his GCW debut on January 19.