How Nexus Should Go Forward!

Remember these guys? You don't, oh. Well let me refresh the memories of some and introduce them to others.

These gentlemen were the Natural Born Thrillers. In WCW, way back in 2000, they were graduates of its training center, The Power Plant. They consisted of Chuck Palumbo, Johnny The Bull, Mark Jindrak, Mike Sanders, Sean O'Haire, Reno, and Sean Stasiak.

The young group emerged together after a few individual appearances on Nitro and Thunder, as a unit known as the Natrual Born Thrillers.

In a bit of a precursor to the Nexus angle, they were becoming a group that was positioning itself to be major players in WCW, before the (surprise, surprise) politics, mismanagement and eventual sale in March 2001 ended their hopes.

With the Nexus angle on the verge of ending this fall, let's hope that the WWE doesn't drop the ball on their promising young group like WCW did with these guys.

Give Them Assignments, Already!

One issue that was problematic with the NBT's was that they were not properly given assignments.

Mike Sanders was the mouthpiece of the group... but what else was there?

Palumbo and Stasiak was one tag team, while Jindrak and O'Haire made up another tag team. WTH?

Why did WCW make two tag teams of four of the seven members of the group? Especially the most talented members? It makes no sense, then again, it made WCW sense.

Subdivide the Nexus into their own roles. You already have Barrett as the leader/mouthpiece/WWE Title contender. Have an in-ring segment where he states Otunga is the Second-in-Command (as he can cut decent promos, and can be at ringside for his matches). 

Heath Slater would be chosen to go after the US/Intercontinental belt.

Tarver & Gabriel will be the tag team specialists of the group. One thing that will do is hide Tarver's skills, and give Gabriel a chance to shine as the better wrestler, leading to the eventual breakup.

Skip Sheffield can be the "Muscle/Problem Solver" of the group upon his return from injury.

Allow them to develop their personalities in their individual roles.

Another option would be Barrett can start trumpeting for the reinstatement of the CW belt for Gabriel to go after (there are plenty of other CWs to fight).

Don't Break Them Up!

There are rumblings of who will be aligned with whom upon the impending demise of Nexus in the air. This should not be!

Let me say, that the WWE should not rush to break up the potentially strongest group they have had in many years. Let them stay together for at least a year, if there will be a breakup, let it take place after Wrestlemania or so. 

Keep them together. If the first move is made, to make them specialists as in the previous slide, you can give them their own storylines.

Barrett is chasing after the WWE title, in programs with Sheamus, Cena, Edge, Orton, etc.

Otunga is becoming a great mouthpiece that interferes in matches, keeping the heat for Barrett and becoming more hated himself.

Slater engages in the Bryan/Miz feud, setting up potential three-way dances. All of which would lead to an eventual feud with Bryan, the former Nexus member.

Tarver and Gabriel becomes a power/speed combination that matches up well with the Hart Dynasty, adding life and intrigue to the dying (dead?) tag team division.

Sheffield can come back in a backstage segment where he has a  confrontation backstage with another powerful member of the WWE... Mark Henry. This feud would allow Sheffield to show he is the most powerful man in the WWE, which could eventually allow him to break out on his own or as the Muscle of Nexus.

Have Them Switch Shows... As a Group

With SD moving to SD, have the Nexus announce their arrival to the show in dramatic fashion on the first episode... as a group.

In a bit of a continuation from the last idea, allow the Nexus to make their impact on the Blue show. Allow them to all go over there, don't banish Gabriel or Otunga there to grow on their own.

Perhaps after the NOC, as SD begins its new era on SyFy, have the main event of the first show be between Taker and Kane in a rematch and after a 15 minute battle have it end with Nexus running in and pounding out both men, capped off with Barrett manning the microphone and announcing that it's only fitting that the Nexus go to SD and continue seeking to take over the WWE.

With the Brothers of Destruction, Mysterio, Drew McIntyre (a possible feud/alignment with englishman Barrett), Swagger, etc. there are different variables and possibilities abounding.

Even if their presence allows for some of the midcarders to band together and become united, it could allow for different guys currently forgotten by creative to be put into new programs. 

Put the Right Veteran with Nexus!

A HUGE mistake for the NBT's was that they were paired with a coach... Kevin Nash? WTH?

The NBT's were hot, but they were put with a political animal like Nash, who effectively killed their momentum by his pushing of he and Diamond Dallas Page over the hot youngsters.

The NBT's never got their heat or place back after that feud, which was sparked by their turning on the coach. Nash had those boys pushed back down the card. To the point that when they arrived in WWE, they were damaged goods and should have been pushed as the strong future of WCW, not as a substandard acquisition.

The rumors have been flying regarding who will be selected as the superstar to align or join Nexus. Please, don't let it be someone like Triple H (been there with Evolution, or there with Sheamus, off-camera) or The Miz (let him learn how to really wrestle, first).

If someone will be joining or aligning with the Nexus, allow it to be someone that is not like Nexus at all, like a manager cut from the Bobby Heenan/Jimmy Hart cloth (irritating to no end), or a Svengali-like veteran such as... William Regal, who is only in backstage segments or interviews. Regal is definitely toiling now and could use the fresh storyline. Show his vicious side and allow his fire to burn for all to see. Barrett can mention how Regal's career in England shaped his own.

Or even bring in a notable name from the WWE past or renowned wrestler to be the figurehead guru for Nexus.

Final Analysis

The Natural Born Thrillers storyline had the potential to carry major weight for WCW going into the new millennium, but not surprisingly, WCW botched it.

With Nexus being the newest storyline of the WWE's year, I implore them to not make the same mistakes. And I don't even watch wrestling like I used to, but I like good storylines.

If the WWE does not hotshot or microwave this program (as they have several others), they can milk this one for a while longer.

BTW, don't do them like the NWO or Ministry of Darkness with too many members, keep the number at six or even five to compartmentalize things and lead to simple, yet effective feuds.

It's not like WWE or VK McMahon will listen to me, but I think the Nexus angle can be worked into a major force, unlike the gang ready to be broken up as the rumor mill is saying.

This is my first article in the wrestling area. Let me know what you think.