WWE: The Rise and Fall of Wade Barrett

After earning a WWE contract as the winner of the inaugural NXT in 2010, Wade Barrett made a more sudden impact than a steel chair shot across the forehead. The Englishman led the Nexus in a brutal attack of John Cena, CM Punk and anyone unlucky enough to be near the ring.

The onslaught displayed an authentic viciousness that separated it from previous hostile takeovers attempted by ECW and the NWO.  Nexus’ invasion angle, with Barrett at the forefront, injected a new energy to the WWE. Wade Barrett was positioned as the sinister general of a young, bloodthirsty stable who decimated the Raw locker room, and his lengthy feud with Cena was the hottest storyline of the WWE last summer.  

Barrett directed the Nexus as they destructively interfered in the main event at the Fatal 4-Way event, and led his Nexus brethren into the main event at SummerSlam 2010. In the autumn month of 2010, he headlined four consecutive pay-per-views as a singles competitor.

Even after switching brands and moving to SmackDown, Barrett ascended to greatness by winning the Intercontinental Title and holding onto it for approximately three months. Broad-shouldered, tall and capable of intensely chilling promos, Barrett should be the future alpha heel of the WWE.

On Tuesday’s SuperSmackDown, in what could have been an epic reprise of a feud still alive in the consciousness of the WWE Universe, Wade Barrett took on his old rival, John Cena. Both Cena and Barrett acknowledged their unfinished business with a passion reminiscent of their battles just one year ago.

The table was set: SuperSmackDown was poised for a thrilling start. Then Cena disposed of Barrett in a matter of minutes. If you went to the kitchen for a snack at the opening bell, you missed referee’s three-count.

Is this what Wade Barrett has become? How, in the matter of one year, did he fall from main event villain to being squashed in the opening segment of SmackDown? The truth is, everyone should have seen this coming.

The beginning of the end was the conclusion of Barrett’s heated rivalry with Cena. As the face of the WWE, Cena continued to appear in main events after their storyline finished, while Barrett was relegated to mid-card status.

When CM Punk replaced Barrett as leader of the Nexus, an opportunity existed for an interesting feud between the two. They could have battled for months for the soul of the Nexus. Instead, Wade Barrett was moved to Smackdown for the next stage of his career’s descent.

Upon his arrival, Barrett formed the Corre with the monstrous Ezekiel Jackson and fellow former Nexus members Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater. The spirit of the Corre mirrored that of Nexus—a pack of young, unscrupulous talent bent on domination.

While the spirit was similar, the execution was lacking. The WWE Universe recognizes a recycled angle when they see it, and the Corre never generated much heat. This, however, did not prevent Barrett from achieving individual success as he captured the Intercontinental Title from Kofi Kingston. Underwhelming response to the Corre likely forced the WWE creative team to split them up to manufacture some interest, and soon Barrett was feuding with Jackson.

The Barrett/Jackson feud could have given the WWE Universe a series of fierce matches that reminded fans of the long rivalry between the Undertaker and Mankind. Fans could have been treated to a bevy of sadistic matches as the two enormous brawlers waged war over the Intercontinental Championship.

Instead, Barrett was thrust into the role of intelligent coward, losing to Jackson by disqualification one week and count out another, to retain the gold. Barrett’s heel status would have benefited more from a legitimate loss in a brutal match than losing in ways wrestling fans find cheap. Jackson finally defeated Barrett for the Intercontinental Title at Capitol Punishment.

In late July, Wade Barrett and “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus fought to a double count out on SmackDown. Again, the WWE missed an opportunity for a captivating feud. Here were two young competitors with established reputations, similar aggressive styles and centuries of tension between their mother countries.

I know professional wrestling with nationalist themes hasn’t been in fashion since Lex Luger body slammed Yokozuna on an aircraft carrier, but a Barrett/Sheamus feud for the honor of their homelands could have been compelling. Unfortunately, this storyline was not pursued.

Before this year’s SummerSlam, it appeared war may be brewing between Wade Barrett and Daniel Bryan. This would make sense as Barrett bounced Daniel Bryan from Nexus last year and Bryan joined John Cena’s coalition of the willing at SummerSlam 2010. Bryan’s Smackdown Money in the Bank contract could have been used as a de facto title, but this angle was abruptly aborted.

Wade Barrett is being mismanaged. While he should not immediately be thrust back into main events, surely he is talented enough that the WWE can do more with him than bury him in insignificant opening matches. He is a solid mid to upper-mid card performer, and he can help drive a long feud. If he continues down this slide, he will go the way of Drew McIntyre, Ted DiBiase, and other superstars neglected by the WWE.