Ex-WWE Champion Gets Tony Khan’s Approval After Unplanned AEW Debut
Tony Khan had good things to say to a former WWE Champion who stepped into the AEW ring for the first time.
Baron Corbin’s WWE run ended after 12 years in November 2024. At the time, it was reported that, since his contract was coming up soon, WWE chose not to offer him a new deal, so he was essentially released.
During his WWE run, Corbin was a former US Champion, a Money in the Bank winner, and an NXT Tag Team Champion with Bron Breakker. There were times when he was involved in main event level feuds with big names like Roman Reigns, John Cena, Drew McIntyre, Kurt Angle, and others.
Since departing WWE, Corbin has wrestled in the independent circuit and in MLW using the name Bishop Dyer. He has also been a co-host on multiple SiriusXM wrestling radio shows.
This past Wednesday in Orlando, AEW held a Dynamite and Collision double taping, which also featured dark matches. It was originally going to be just Dynamite, but AEW’s President Tony Khan cancelled a Collision event on Saturday due to bad weather.
At the AEW Orlando show, Bishop Dyer ended up in the ring because he drove Paul Wight (former Big Show in WWE) to the AEW double-taping. At the show, Dyer teamed with Martin Stone (Danny Burch), Hadar Horvitz, and Ori Gold in a losing effort against Austin Gunn, Billy Gunn, Brady Booker, and Elijah Drago.
While co-hosting Off The Ropes with Jonathan Coachman, Bishop Dyer spoke about how his unplanned AEW appearance happened.
“The highlight of my day was not only being in the ring, with that crowd… but the whole thing started because I went to pick up Big Show to take him up to Orlando for the show.
They ended up switching the shows and adding Collision post-Dynamite… We didn’t leave Orlando till like 12:20, 12:30 at night. Drove back to Tampa, got to Odessa, dropped the big man off… Great time, great stories. I love that man to death.
He’s like, ‘Hey man, do you wanna be in this dark match with us?’ And I was like, ‘Dude, if it gets OK’d, I’m sold. Let’s do it.’ He’s like, ‘You got your gear, right?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m a professional, dude. Always.’”
Tony Khan Enjoyed Seeing Bishop Dyer In AEW Ring
As he continued, Bishop talked about what it was like being in the AEW ring and how Tony Khan reacted to his performance.
“When I walked out, it was pretty awesome. First time I’ve been in front of a crowd that size in a while. I’m used to a career of boos. So when you get that kind of pop… man.
When I slid in, and went face-to-face with Billy… out of my peripherals, the audience was standing up and I just hear that, ‘Ohhh!’ Billy and I both just smiled ear to ear at each other because we’re like, oh yeah. That’s it. That’s why we’re here.
I know Tony told me afterwards, he was like, ‘The match was so fun. I enjoyed it.’ I just said, ‘Thank you for allowing me to do that with Billy and Austin.’”
There’s no word on whether AEW’s Tony Khan is going to sign Bishop Dyer long-term or if he wants to work there, but based on his comments above, it seems like everything went well.