WWE fans treated me poorly, but it was intentional.

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Baron Corbin, a former United States Champion, recently opened up about his time in the WWE and the slow journey towards gaining the respect of fans. Despite being consistently called upon for big moments throughout his 12-year career, it took a while for the audience to truly appreciate what he brought to the table. Playing the role of a heel for most of his run, Corbin often found himself overlooked and criticized for his talents, with fans constantly telling him he "couldn't wrestle."

In one of his final interviews before his unexpected release from the company, Corbin shared his thoughts with The Agency, admitting that it can be tough to constantly be seen as the bad guy, especially when all you want is to be appreciated for your hard work. Despite the challenges, he always understood his job as a villain and took pride in it, even if it meant receiving negative reactions from fans.

Corbin confessed that it was difficult to constantly play the role of a hated character on such a large scale, but it was all part of the plan. As he explained, being a true heel means fully committing to the role and embracing the hate from the audience. He acknowledged that some wrestlers still try to get the "funny pops" and reactions from the crowd, but that's not what being a heel is about. In order to be a successful villain, people need to hate you 24/7, even if it means being told you can't wrestle.

Despite the challenges, Corbin found it rewarding when fans finally started to shift their perception of him. He recalled a moment in Paris, France when the crowd unexpectedly cheered for him, and it felt like they were finally showing appreciation for all the years he spent "grinding through the mud" as a heel. It was a different feeling than being cheered as a good guy, as he never changed his character. The fans just finally understood and accepted his role as a villain.

Corbin's popularity started to climb during his time in NXT, particularly with his tag team with Bron Breakker, known as the Wolf Dogs. He also showed a different side of himself on SmackDown as part of a tandem with Apollo Crews. Corbin credits his success in NXT to having more time to showcase his in-ring skills, as opposed to the shorter segments he was given on SmackDown.

Despite the challenges and criticism, Corbin never changed his approach and always believed in his abilities as a wrestler. He was grateful for the support and acceptance from fans, but ultimately, he was just doing his job as a heel. If you have a celebrity story to share, please reach out to the entertainment team at The Agency. We would love to hear from you.

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