King Barrett Contract: Latest News, Rumors, Speculation on WWE Star's Future

The League of Nations, WWE's attempt to build a strong stable around foreign talent, has been fraught with trouble since its launch. There have been injuries and lost championships in addition to a generally apathetic response from the WWE Universe. 

Now it appears it's about to lose a founding member in King Barrett.

Continue for updates.

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Barrett Comments on Future

Wednesday, Feb. 17   

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King Barrett to Abdicate Throne?

Tuesday, Feb. 16   

Pro Wrestling Sheet's Ryan Satin, citing "sources close to the situation," reported that Barrett has informed WWE officials he will not be re-signing with the company when his contract expires. Barrett has not confirmed this decision, and his contract runs through June. So it's possible he will have a change of heart. But the report indicated that he is leaving because he's "no longer enjoying" his role in WWE.

The 35-year-old signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2007. He worked through Ohio Valley Wrestling and Florida Championship Wrestling, the territorial precursors to NXT, before being part of the first season of NXT—then a Tough Enough-like reality series.

Barrett went on to win that competition and earned a major push as the leader of Nexus, a group of NXT rookies who feuded with John Cena and a number of other veterans.

After Nexus splintered, he floated around for a few years on the midcard. He earned his first three reigns as intercontinental champion between 2011 and 2013 but never found a gimmick that resonated. That changed in late 2013, when he returned from an absence as Bad News Barrett.

Finally able to show off his mic chops for the first time since his Nexus run, Barrett added two more intercontinental titles to his reign and got over as a heel.

Unfortunately, a string of injuries stopped him from moving up to the main event. Barrett has missed time with various ailments in recent years and hasn't even been an active participant in most League of Nations matches because of a neck injury, as reported by Pro Wrestling Sheet (h/t Inquisitr). He has wrestled just one match in all of 2016 and appeared in the match in name only.

If Barrett's reported desire to leave is more health-related than storyline-related, it would be understandable. But given WWE's inability to find one of its best all-around workers a spot on the upper card, it would be hard to blame Barrett for being frustrated.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.