Know anyone with a Plasma Cutter? Just cut the barrel on either side of the center... Let him remove the center from what remains of the barrel... He knows the tricks, not worth risking damaging the center trying to remove it....
i had zero problems getting the centers out. a 4.5' grinder to take off the welds and then a 12 ton press centered in the middle with a wood block pushed them out like butter. no...i did not bend them.