Baron Corbin Must Overcome WWE's Long History of Failed Big Men

When Baron Corbin eliminated Kane to win the 2016 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32, he became the latest in a long line of big, strong, athletic heavyweights to receive a substantial push by WWE management. To get where he wants to go and achieve the success both he and the company desire, he will have to go down a different path than those men, most of whom failed.

Over the last 15 years, numerous giants of the squared circle have entered WWE amid significant pushes and seemingly unwavering support from management, only to fade into obscurity—none truly ready for the ring work or character development fans demand of every Superstar.

In 2004, WWE was invaded by a swarm of a enormous competitors with jacked bodies, all looking to make an impact as the next big thing in sports entertainment.

Matt Morgan, Nathan Jones, Heidenreich, Mark Jindrak and Luther Reigns all either debuted or returned from hiatus and were thrown into significant roles on television. Some were sidekicks for Kurt Angle, others muscle for Brock Lesnar. In Heidenreich's case, he was positioned as a legitimate threat to The Undertaker.

Gene Snitsky was another muscular brute tossed onto television in a high-profile role, left to sink or swim against an established veteran Superstar such as Kane. Unfortunately, in his case—like so many others—he sank.

That does not mean the aforementioned competitors had zero success. Some enjoyed a nice niche role, but none ever reached the next level of becoming established main event stars. A lot of that had to do with their subpar ring work, but their complete lack of personality and character development did not help matters.

Fresh off an NXT run that was sometimes tumultuous and sometimes spectacular but featured continued growth from the former Arizona Cardinal, it is of the utmost importance that Corbin not fall into the same booking traps as his predecessors.

Corbin already has something those other Superstars did not: a tremendous presence. Whether he was a year into the industry or the veteran of NXT that he is today, he has always stepped through the curtain and carried himself like a star.

From the guitar riffs of his entrance theme to the blinding spotlights that engulf him in his entrance and the nonchalant confidence with which he stalks toward the squared circle, The Lone Wolf attracts the attention of the audience.

Add to that the fact that Corbin learned while working with talent such as Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Neville and Sami Zayn, and you have a guy who is a better and more polished worker than Reigns, Morgan, Heidenreich and Snitsky ever were.

That he has transitioned to the main roster, working Dolph Ziggler in a program, is the best thing that could have happened to him. Corbin has always worked best with the smaller, talented wrestlers who can bump around for him. That Ziggler has the Internet cred that Corbin has openly mocked during his time in NXT allows him to make a much more comfortable jump than others, including Apollo Crews and The Vaudevillains, have experienced of late.

It will be imperative that the Corbin character evolve. Simply being "The Lone Wolf" will get him over in the short term. If fans do not see growth and development from it, they will grow bored of Corbin, and nothing he does between the ropes will make up for it. At that point, he will become one of the faceless and characterless Superstars who populate the jam-packed midcard.

At a time when injuries have left the company devoid of stars, wasting a talent such as Corbin is the last thing WWE can afford.