20 DUMB WWE Gimmick Changes (That We Didn't Want To Admit Were GENIUS)

18. Sad Baron Corbin Is Sad

Cody Rhodes Stardust Shocked
WWE

There is a section of the wrestling fanbase that will never like Baron Corbin. Fair enough, but even the man's harshest critics must admit that he put his all into that 'King' Corbin to "Bum Ass" Corbin (Pat McAfee's words) change in 2021. Almost overnight, Corbs went from annoying royal stalwart to someone down on his luck.

Baron lost his crown and spiralled into a funk. It should've sucked hard, but Corbin dedicated himself to the role and made it work by living the gimmick. He wore the same shirt over and over again, stopped shaving his head and even grew an unkempt beard. The dude got some fun out of his switch, at least.

Sure, Happy Corbin on the other end was lame, but the sad era was gold looking back. The experiment even threatened to turn Baron into a sympathetic babyface before WWE went full-blown villain with the Happy run instead.

Dumb? Sure. Genius way to move on from the 'King' gimmick? You bet.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.