Bishop Dyer isn’t interested in sugarcoating anything.
Dyer, formerly known as Baron Corbin, recently spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about the ongoing drama between Logan Paul and the NFL players who wanted to fight him in a sanctioned boxing match. Paul said he could beat up any NFL player and put $1 million on the line for a potential fight, but later backed out of the fight, claiming WWE wouldn’t let him do it.
Dyer has been on both sides in his career. Before his days as Baron Corbin in WWE, he played three years in the NFL as an offensive guard. He admitted he deleted several drafts on Twitter because he knew his opinion on the WWE Superstar vs. NFL player debate would piss people off.
Dyer loves that Logan Paul is willing to defend pro wrestling, and takes issue when anyone tries to say that pro wrestlers aren’t athletic. However, he feels torn because he disagrees with Paul’s argument that he could beat most NFL players in a fight.
“When someone says wrestlers are not athletic, that’s the most asinine thing I’ve ever heard. Between MLW, CMLL, WWE, and AEW, you have some of the greatest athletes in the world, period. There are things wrestlers can do that NFL players could never even dream of. Throwing 450s off ladders, taking bumps, taking chair shots. The toughness it takes to be a professional wrestler and what your body goes through is unbelievable.”
Bishop Dyer says wrestling isn’t easy, but some wrestlers aren’t as tough as they think
The former Baron Corbin pointed out that many football players have tried and failed at being pro wrestlers. He also highlighted that NFL players get time to recover and have plenty of recovery options provided to them, while the life of a pro wrestler is not as easy.
Many wrestlers outside of the WWE bubble have to find their own trainers and recovery options. However, he does feel like many wrestlers are soft because they think they are tough, but there’s a huge distinction between giving someone your body in the ring and thinking you’re tough because of it.
“In the NFL, especially as an offensive lineman, you’re dealing with the saltiest, meanest dudes on the planet. We’re big, angry guys. That’s what we are,” he explained. “Most NFL players have no problem getting into a fight. I was known for it during training camp. I did it in Arizona and I did it in Indy.
“Another big separation is that in the NFL, the best player plays. The toughest and most athletic player earns the spot. In wrestling, it’s the power of the pen,” he added. “The promoter decides who goes to the top. It’s not always about ability. In the NFL, offensive linemen are battling for their livelihood. It’s food on the table. You have to make the team, so you go out there trying to run over everybody.”
Bishop Dyer reveals his biggest takeaway from the WWE vs. NFL debate
Bishop Dyer says his biggest takeaway from the conversations sparked by Logan Paul is about saying wrestlers are not athletic. He called the notion “crazy,” pointing out how pro wrestling has welcomed “track athletes, football players, [and] Olympic gold medalists.” However, he still feels like a large percentage of NFL players would easily beat most wrestlers in a real fight.
“I think about 95 percent of NFL players would run over most wrestlers in a real fight. That’s just size, strength, and a different mentality. A lot of those guys have been fighting for their jobs their entire lives,” Bishop Dyer explained. “Another thing that will probably piss people off, especially in wrestling, is that just because you train fighting in a gym doesn’t make you a fighter. There’s a difference. I’ve trained in gyms, I’ve boxed, but I’ve also competed.”
When he’s not wrestling, Dyer also competes in jiu-jitsu competitions, winning several gold medals and ranking fourth in his division in 2025. Similar to the WWE vs. NFL argument, he said that real fighting has some people “genuinely trying to hurt each other,” which is a lot different than someone calling themselves a fighter while kicking a heavy bag in the gym.
“It would be like me filming myself bodyslamming my brother on a mattress in the backyard and saying I’m a professional wrestler. There’s just a difference,” he added. “Some of this will piss off wrestlers. Some of it will piss off NFL guys. But it is what it is. I’m one of those people who doesn’t really sugarcoat things, and that’s just how it comes out.”
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