WWE TLC 2011: Wade Barrett Needs to Beat Randy Orton to Keep Moving Up

For Wade Barrett, this is his third time at bat when facing a top WWE star.  He failed the first time when he was the leader of Nexus.

That was the first strikeout.

Then The CORRE failed to grab crowds and fell apart.

That was the second strikeout.

For a while, it seemed like that was the last chance Barrett was going to get.  He just didn't seem to be on TV anymore and his once-strong presence was diminished.  

Now he has made a resurgence and is facing a top star.  What happens this Sunday will influence where he ends up.  If he wins, he might just become a serious heel with a major career.  If he loses, he could face another drop in popularity and a possible pink slip.

The problem is that Barrett's character has been built on being a cocky, intelligent, strong heel and one who isn't a coward.  That is fine, but every time Barrett has stepped up to the big stage he ends up getting crushed, and even if the villain is supposed to lose in the end, he can't lose every time out.

Sometimes the bad guy needs to win a battle or two before losing the war.

And that needs to happen at TLC.

Orton has quietly been letting other stars take the lead over the last few months while still appearing in different main events and keeping his character healthy.  He is fine.  He doesn't need to beat Barrett to maintain his status with the fans.

If he loses, he can claim he had a bad night.  That Barrett was able to catch him because he didn't take Barrett seriously.  Then Orton can come back at the Royal Rumble or on a Smackdown show and destroy him.

It will keep Orton relevant, but it will also show that Barrett isn't all talk.  

He keeps presenting himself as either a leader or a brilliant wrestler who can either out-think his opponent or crush them.  If he can't do it against Orton in a match where tables are legal, he will start to look like he is either a liar or incompetent.

Fans aren't going to give a reaction to a heel that talks like Barrett has if they know its all bluster and there is nothing behind it.  And no matter how good Barrett is on the microphone, if he can't get a win over a top star, either by means foul or fair, then they will stop buying into it.

And soon they'll stop buying the pay-per-views.

To build great champions and heroes, the WWE needs great villains.  It is only when the hero trumps the villain that the hero really shines.  It is also through beating their nemesis that heroes are shown to be strong.

If heels like Barrett are never built up, then the WWE will eventually grow boring because it becomes predictable.

Barrett vs. Orton is a great highlight.  Most fans expect Orton to be victorious.  Which is why if the WWE wants to help Barrett, their company, and the company's future, he needs to win.