Tom 'Baron Corbin' Pestock To Face Josh Barnett In First Post-WWE Match (GCW News)

Former Baron Corbin set for GCW Bloodsport match in first post-WWE outing.

by Andy H Murray
Josh Barnett vs. Tom Pestock Baron Corbin
GCW

Tom Pestock, the former Baron Corbin, will face Josh Barnett at Game Changer Wrestling's 'The People vs. GCW' event this Sunday, 19 January.

GCW broke the news on Monday. Barnett vs. Pestock is a Bloodsport match, meaning their bout must end via knockout or submission in a ring with no turnbuckles or ropes. This will be Pestock's first match since leaving WWE upon his contract expiring on 1 November.

GCW posted:

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At the time of his departure, Pestock had been with WWE for 12 years, having entered the developmental system in August 2012. His onscreen debut came as Baron Corbin in September 2014, and although his character evolved through several iterations during his time in WWE, his ring name remained the same.

Though once a prominently pushed WWE heel, to the extent that he won the men's Money in the Bank match in 2017, Pestock's push had waned during his final few years with the company. In 2024, his most prominent role was alongside Bron Breakker as NXT's Wolf Dogs tandem. But while the tandem drew acclaim for their work opposite such teams as Fraxiom in developmental, they were split when April's WWE Draft sent Corbin back to SmackDown.

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Pestock has notable combat sports experience, making him a good fit for the Bloodsport setting, which echoes the popular Japanese shoot-style promotions of the 1980s and 1990s. As well as being a two-time Golden Gloves regional amateur boxing champion, Pestock is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu blue belt.

His opponent is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion known for his grapple-heavy shoot-style approach to professional wrestling. Barnett recently appeared at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 19 and follow-up show New Year Dash!!, endorsing young prospect Oleg Boltin, though there's no word on whether or not this was part of a bigger angle.

Barnett has been at the helm of GCW's Bloodsport shows since April 2019. At the latest event (Josh Barnett's Bloodsport XII - 24 November), he faced current AEW star MVP.

The People vs. GCW takes place at New York City's iconic Hammerstein Ballroom.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.