NXT star Baron Corbin recently spoke to WWE.com about why he attacked Austin Aries, how his football and boxing careers help prepare him for wrestling and more. You can check out the full interview here and read some highlights below.
WWE.COM: Let’s begin with the elephant in the room. You recently attacked Austin Aries on his debut night with NXT. Why would you ruin such a big moment in his career?
BARON CORBIN: Why would I do that? Why would I not do that? Some kid walks in here thinking he deserves a warm welcome. He wants everyone to stop what they’re doing and celebrate. I don’t have time for that. I am here chasing the NXT Championship. William Regal cost me my chance and then wants to throw Aries a big welcome. Not while I am around. Aries was just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he paid for it. If he wants to cry about it, tell him to cry to Regal, because I don’t care about him or his welcoming party.
WWE.COM: In other words, you don’t respect anyone, no matter who they are or what their background is?
CORBIN: It’s true. I don’t respect anyone who has a background on the independent circuit. NXT is the professional level, and it’s the best of the best. If you played on an intramural l flag football team, it doesn’t make you NFL material. I came from one professional sport to another, and it’s an entirely different level. I was in the top 1 percent of football players. Indie guys are in the bottom 95 percent of wrestlers. I don’t care what they did or how many nobodies are sitting in their mom’s basement tweeting how good they are. If they were so good, it wouldn’t take them 10 years to get here. When those guys walk in the door, I am happy to show them they don’t belong.
