The Winds of Change: The Storyline Wade Barrett Should Begin with in WWE

Wade Barrett won the first season of WWE NXT last Tuesday to be named as "the WWE's next breakout star."

The question for many in the pro wrestling community is: Where, when and how does Barrett begin his WWE career?

Before diving into that, as well as where I think he should go, let's step back and look at Barrett.

It has been clear from the very beginning that Barrett was something special in the eyes of WWE management. He was paired with Chris Jericho, the only world champion of any of the WWE Pros in season one. Barrett was the first NXT Rookie to pin a WWE Pro when he replaced Jericho in an eight-man tag team match and pinned Christian.

When looking back on the season as a whole, Barrett was packaged to win from the very start. After the first Pros Poll, Barrett was second to Daniel Bryan.

Once Bryan was eliminated prior to the second poll, Barrett went to the top spot and stayed there for the duration of the show.

It was a bit surprising, however, to those who knew Barrett's story pre-NXT . Wade Barrett has wrestled under three other names, including his actual name, Stu Bennett. Barrett has held gold in both OVW and FCW, two developmental leagues of the WWE.

In both instances, he has been a tag team champion and has never had a true chance to wrestle as a singles competitor.

It's a good thing that he has attached himself to Jericho. Jericho has been looking for a protege since Lance Cade got released. Barrett, who lacks an actual gimmick (Is being British a gimmick? Well, is it, William Regal?), needs Jericho to keep him fresh and relevant.

Barrett wears a suit jacket with a rose on it down to the ring, but does anyone know what that is about? Why is that his attire?

Barrett's microphone skills are rather sharp for a newcomer. At 29, he won't be around forever, so there needs to be some fast and instant heat on him. Barrett slipped last Tuesday after winning NXT by saying he would go after "the WWE Heavyweight title."

This would suggest a move to RAW , in order to get close to Jericho, but I think that both of them should find a way to Smackdown for Barrett's first storyline.

Follow me on this, people:

Like any other young guy coming through the ranks, Barrett is looking to make an impact, just as we saw with The Miz and John Cena a year ago. Cena said that he was the target because Miz was going after the biggest dog in the yard. Well, in order to make an incredible initial statement, what would be better than to go after the most iconic man in the WWE...The Undertaker.

Last Monday's RAW saw Jericho lose to R-Truth. Jericho's face after the match said it all. In not so many words, his body language suggested, "What the hell am I doing here?" Jericho is not, and never truly has been, comfortable on RAW . Slowly, he is slipping away from the main event in the overly crowded main event picture on RAW . The extra camera time on Jericho would suggest that a change is coming in Jericho's environment.

Barrett and Jericho could have attacked The Undertaker after winning NXT during Memorial Day Weekend. Barrett, being the bare-knuckled fighter that he is, could have knocked out The Phenom, injuring his orbital bone, the legitimate injury for The Undertaker.

After incapacitating the Deadman, Jericho could have strapped on The Walls of Jericho, arching The Undertaker's back and lessening the feeling in his extremities. When all was said and done, the duo left The Undertaker in a vegetative state.

Jericho is still bitter about losing his World Heavyweight Championship to Jack Swagger in his injured status. Taking away The Undertaker gets rid of one of the top challengers to the title. Meanwhile, Kane, in his own anger, will decimate the rest of the competition, leaving Jericho and Barrett to do the same to the other Brother of Destruction.

While it may not be your first choice for the role, it would give instant heat to both men and solidify Jericho's place as a heel for life. This will likely not be the case for The Undertaker's attacker, nor for Barrett's initial storyline for his guaranteed title match on pay-per-view.

However, for the most unexpected reveal since Rikishi admitting to run over Stone Cold Steve Austin, Barrett should be involved.

At least that story wouldn't be anticlimactic.