WWE over the Limit 2011: Why Ezekiel Jackson Will Beat Wade Barrett

WWE Over The Limit is coming up on Sunday May 22, and one of the key match-ups for Friday Night Smackdown pits Intercontinental Champion Wade Barrett against Ezekiel Jackson.

I would tell you that I did not see this coming, but that would not be the case.

The truth is, considering Barrett’s track record since his time on Monday Night RAW, this match should come as a surprise to no one.

When Barrett was riding high as the leader of the Nexus on RAW, nothing could touch him. He was the obvious choice for WWE Superstar of the future, a guy who was definitely on his way up the ladder in the company.

Then, John Cena was allowed to do to Nexus what Sting before him in WCW was not allowed to do with the nWo. He brought them down pretty much all by himself.

Since Barrett’s departure from RAW, and his subsequent formation of the Corre on Smackdown, his push has simply not been the same. When he won the Intercontinental Championship, it looked as though he was quite possibly on his way back up.

Then, turmoil within the group began to boil up to the surface and now we have Barrett going head to head with the muscle man of the Corre, Ezekiel Jackson.

So, the fact that Barrett’s second stable now seems to be falling apart is of little surprise to me. But there is another reason why Jackson turning on the Corre should have been expected.

Two words. Lex Luger.

In 1988, Lex Luger turned on The Four Horsemen in the NWA. Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson had put Luger on the map, thrusting him to the forefront of Jim Crockett Promotions.

When Luger was told by Horsemen manager JJ Dillon to eliminate himself from a Bunkhouse Stampede Battle Royal so Dillon could get the win, Luger refused.

In doing so, he became a fan favorite and began feuding with The Horsemen.

Seventeen years later, the same type of event took place in WWE, when Batista turned on Evolution. Batista also became a major player, and one of the top faces in WWE.

There seems to be a recurring theme when it comes to big men and their association with stables in professional wrestling.

The Horsemen and Evolution are just two examples, and it seems that The Corre is now following the same pattern.

When a worker the size and strength of Jackson is part of a unit, especially under the leadership of such an arrogant personality as Barrett, the potential for trouble is always there.

Jackson’s character, like many big men before him, has a real problem with being told what to do. While he may go along with the program for a short time, he suddenly seems to become aware that he physically does not need help, that he can get it done on his own.

This type of character change bode well for both Luger and Batista, will it also work for Ezekiel Jackson?

To be fair, Wade Barrett is no Ric Flair, nor is he Triple H. But he is a cocky, demanding heel, much in the same vein as both men. Jackson, being the dominant physical presence that he is, would naturally rebel against authority.

The environment seems to be right Jackson to get a push.

Winning the Intercontinental Title from Barrett at Over The Limit will go a long way for Jackson in taking a step up the ladder on Smackdown. He and Barrett should feud over the belt, and could have a good series of matches.

Another issue is, whose side will The Corre be on?

Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel said all the right things to Barrett on Smackdown, and it does appear as though they will have Wade’s back at the pay per view.

But the fact that anything was said at all waves somewhat of a red flag for me. These two could actually turn on Barrett and help Jackson win the championship.

To be honest, The Corre has possibly run its course on Smackdown. If Slater and Gabriel were to turn on Barrett, it could signal the end of the group and allow all four men to stand on their own.

Jackson getting unceremoniously banished from the unit could very well be the first nail in The Corre’s coffin.

The second would come on Sunday, when Jackson defeats Barrett for the Intercontinental Championship. It is a formula that has worked before, and could very well work again.

This is not to say that Jackson will be instantly thrust onto the main event stage, like Luger and Batista before him. Nothing in the business is ever guaranteed to always work all the time.

But beating Barrett, who himself has a bright future in the company, would be good for Jackson, who has a great body, an intense character, and is getting better all the time.

Who knows? Perhaps one day we will be talking about Wade Barrett versus Ezekiel Jackson in another pay per view match. But this time it will be the main event, for the World Heavyweight Championship.

That is a storyline I for one would not mind watching again very soon.