WWE Survivor Series 2011 Predictions: Wade Barrett Will Dominate in 10-Man Tag

One year ago, Wade Barrett looked like he was going to be the next big star in WWE. But a combination of youth and poor booking put his career on hold. Now, with Survivor Series rapidly approaching, he will be "the Man" in the traditional 10-man elimination match. 

Barrett has been getting pushed hard on SmackDown and has really started to shine. In addition to his skills on the microphone, which were always strong, he has improved tremendously in the ring. He is a solid worker and has shown glimpses of being consistently above-average. 

Now, leading a team of really good performers that includes Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and Cody Rhodes, Barrett is going to go over strong in this match. He and Randy Orton have been dueling for the last few weeks and he looks like the next challenger for SmackDown's top star. 

But in order for Barrett to get any heat on him, he has to pin Orton clean at Survivor Series. WWE usually goes out of its way to protect Orton, but I am going to give them a slight vote of confidence by saying that they'll do the right thing, for their business and this feud, by putting Barrett over. 

Now when I say that Barrett goes over, I don't mean that he attacks Orton from behind and scores some fluke pinfall. 

I am saying that Barrett is going to steamroll some of the wrestlers on Orton's team—likely Kofi Kingston and Sin Cara, since WWE has to protect Mason Ryan—and finish things off by delivering the Wasteland to Orton in the middle of the ring to win the match. 

WWE obviously has high hopes for Barrett, and at some point you have to just give him the ball and see where he takes you. 

It is going to be a slow process with Barrett, who will likely get a singles match with Orton at Tables, Ladders and Chairs in December, but he has the talent to become one of the top heels in the company. At Survivor Series, he will be given the chance to show whether or not he can handle the pressure. 

Considering that he held his own against John Cena last year, I would say the odds are in his favor.