WWE NXT coach Steve Corino made a surprise return to the ring on Sunday night to win independent wrestling gold. In his first singles match in nearly five years, Steve Corino defeated Kaitlyn Marie to capture the Premier Wrestling Federation (PWF) Championship. The “King of Old School” made an appearance at PWF’s 25th anniversary show in North Carolina, a promotion he helped found and where he remains a part owner. Steve Corino also oversees the Carolina Wrestling Academy alongside his duties for WWE. This victory marks the seventh time that he has held the PWF Championship during his decorated career in the industry.
The match at the anniversary show was not the one originally set for the card. Kaitlyn Marie was scheduled to defend her title against Krule, who is also known to WWE fans as Mads Kruler Krugger. However, Steve Corino surfaced as the substitute opponent for the champion at the last minute. During the broadcast, it was noted that Steve Corino intends to wrestle exclusively for PWF going forward. This decision allows him to balance his active wrestling schedule with his full-time coaching role with WWE. Steve Corino has been working behind the scenes for the company at the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, since 2017, where he also serves as a producer for the NXT brand.
Before this singles encounter, Steve Corino’s last one-on-one match was in August 2021. That contest saw him face off against his son, Colby Corino, in an intense match for the same promotion. Although he has been largely inactive in a singles capacity, Steve Corino did participate in the PWF Premier Tag League tournament in December 2025. During that tournament, he wrestled under a mask and was billed to the crowd as Mr. Wrestling 3. He and his partner, Alexander Lev, won the tournament, which set the stage for his return to singles competition this February.
Steve Corino has had a legendary career that has taken him to nearly every major wrestling promotion worldwide. He is a former ECW World Champion and a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, having a rivalry with his boyhood hero Dusty Rhodes. During his time in Japan, he became a fixture for Zero1, where he wrestled on a remarkable 86 tours and became one of the most respected foreign stars in the country. Before joining WWE as a coach, Steve Corino also worked as a commentator for both ROH and NJPW. His contributions to the independent scene were recognized in 2024 when he was inducted into the GCW and Orange Crush Indie Wrestling Hall of Fame. His coaching role at the WWE Performance Center has seen him help develop the next generation of stars for the main roster and NXT brands.
While Steve Corino is returning to the ring, his son Colby Corino is also working toward a comeback of his own. In January 2026, Colby Corino re-signed with the NWA on a multi-year contract. The second-generation star has been out of action since undergoing emergency surgery on his neck and back in July 2025. The procedure was necessary to fuse his fractured C5 through C7 vertebrae using a bone graft from his hip. Recent neurological evaluations show that Colby Corino is healing beautifully and has been cleared to begin training for his return to competition. Colby Corino surfaced at the NWA television tapings in Tampa on February 21, where he told the crowd that he is on track to wrestle again in 2026 and eventually win the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship.
‼️NEW CHAMPION‼️
Tonight at #PWF25thAnniversary, “The King of Old School” Steve Corino made a surprise return to professional wrestling after more than five years to challenge Kaitlyn Marie for the PWF Championship!
After a hard fought battle, Corino proved he is a king once… pic.twitter.com/gi9DsJCd6O
— Premier Wrestling Federation (@PWFLive) February 23, 2026
