Bishop Dyer is new to the pro wrestling world, but the man who portrays him, Tom Pestock, isn’t. Fans knew Dyer for his work as Baron Corbin in WWE. Corbin was a regular in NXT and WWE for nearly 13 years, but he adopted a new identity as he forges a new path in pro wrestling.
Dyer spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard ahead of MLW Slaughterhouse, where he’ll face Satoshi Kojima. The current MLW World Tag Team Champion says he’s still getting used to being called ‘Bishop Dyer,’ pointing out that fans (and some peers) still refer to him as Baron Corbin. It is an adjustment, but he’s excited to adapt and make a name for himself outside of WWE.
“I think it’s an adjustment for everybody. I was just wrestling for MLW at CMLL in Mexico, and the crowd was chanting ‘Baron Corbin.’ It’s like, I can’t [pause the match and say] ‘Time out, that’s not me anymore. WWE will come after us.’ I tried to keep [the Baron Corbin name] originally. And WWE said no, so I had no choice but to create a new one.”
Dyer didn’t want to keep part of his name and knew he had to evolve. He sees branching outside of WWE as a reset, but joked that he still accidentally slips up from time to time, too.
“If I am doing a bunch of signings, if I am signing 50 things in a row, every once in a while, a ‘Baron Corbin’ will just slip in there. And I’m like, ’Sh*t. Redo.’ So, it’s still an adjustment,” he explained. “Last night I went and trained at Nattie’s gym. Jamie Noble was there, Apollo [Crews] was there, [Angelo] Dawkins was there, and they still just call me Corbin. So, it’s there. It was 13 years of my life essentially. So, it’s hard. When I went from the NFL to WWE, I would do the thing. Every once in a while, my real football signature would slip into it. So, it just takes time.”
Bishop Dyer asked Finn Balor for feedback on facing Satoshi Kojima
Bishop Dyer previously shared his desire to compete in Japan. He has not gotten that opportunity yet, but he’ll get a chance to square off with a Japanese legend in MLW. Dyer loves the style of Japanese wrestling, and he can’t wait to adapt his skill set to it.
“As soon as I found out I was getting in the ring with him, I immediately texted Finn Balor. And I was like, ‘Hey man, I watched your match with him. How awesome is he to work with?’ And he’s like, ‘Oh, he’s the best.’ [Kojima] has a clothesline that can take your head off. I was always a big fan of JBL, obviously. And the power that he brought with that [Clothesline From Hell]. Kojima is no different. He is slinging that, and he has beaten icons through history with a clothesline. And I think that’s incredible.
“But to get in there with someone who is part of the foundation of all of that. I mean, the years he’s put in the ring and the awards and titles that he’s won. Now, I’m getting to step in the ring with him is huge. Like, I even texted [CM] Punk, ‘Yo dude, I’m wrestling…’ And he was like, ‘Where at? If I’m off, I’m coming.’ Because it’s that cool of an experience for me. And I think other people see it too. Because they know this is what I’ve wanted to do a little bit.”
Dyer is taking the style he learned in WWE and trying to compete with Kojima, as well as Luchadors like Mascara Dorada. He said training in new ways, like with Natalya and TJ Wilson at their Dungeon wrestling school, gives him the best chance to do that.
“Hopefully, I’m advancing in the tournament, and hopefully I can put him down. Because that would just be another feather in my cap. Not only to step in the ring with Kojima, but to advance in the Opera Cup and continue to strive to win these awards.
“I mean, that’s what I set out to do when I said I’m going into the Independent world. It’s to win titles, win championships, and make a name for myself outside of WWE. And, MLW is a massive place to do that.”
MLW Slaughterhouse takes place on Saturday, October 4, at Thunder Studios Arena in Long Beach, California. The event will also air live on MLW’s YouTube channel.
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