5 WWE behind-the-scenes stories from this week: Paige, Roman Reigns, CM Punk, more

#2 Baron Corbin used to be disliked backstage

Anybody who has seen Baron Corbin’s antics as a heel in WWE may not be surprised to read that the former United States Champion earned a bad reputation for himself behind the scenes in his early days with the company.

Speaking to Corey Graves on After The Bell this week, Roman Reigns revealed that people used to refer to former football player Corbin, real name Tom Pestock, as “Football Tom” when he joined the FCW developmental system in August 2012.

Corbin initially “rubbed people a certain way”, according to Reigns, who now respects his on-screen rival due to the improvements he has made as an in-ring performer and character over the last seven years.

“He rubbed us a certain way, and when push came to shove and it was time for him to get in the ring, they were like, ‘Dude, you’re going to get fired if you don’t get in the ring.’ He picked it up, he’s a big guy, he’s got good timing... I’ll give him that."

Reigns, who will be on the same SmackDown team as Corbin at Survivor Series, also mentioned that he never expected to be main-eventing a European tour with “Football Tom”.