Baron Corbin’s WWE Absence: Creative Disinterest Behind Extended Hiatus

One big thing

Baron Corbin has been notably absent from WWE television since July 19, despite being present at several SmackDown tapings.

Why it matters

Corbin’s absence highlights WWE’s struggle to effectively utilize talent and maintain consistent storylines, potentially impacting viewer engagement and wrestler career trajectories.

By the numbers

• Corbin has been off WWE television for over 3 months
• He was drafted to SmackDown in the 2023 WWE Draft
• Corbin has been working dark matches with The O.C. and Los Garza

Behind the scenes

• WWE Creative reportedly lacks interest in featuring Corbin and Apollo Crews regularly on television
• Corbin initially wasn’t excited about teaming with Crews but grew to appreciate the partnership
• The duo has been working several dark matches in recent months

What they’re saying

“Originally, Baron Corbin wasn’t sold on the idea of being in a tag team with Apollo Crews, but he grew to like it. However, WWE creative hasn’t been keen on booking them,” reports Fightful Select.

The bottom line

Corbin’s extended hiatus from WWE television stems from a lack of creative direction rather than injury, highlighting potential issues in WWE’s talent utilization strategy.

What do you think WWE should do to better utilize talents like Baron Corbin? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.