10 Reasons WWE Must Hold On To Wade Barrett

By Scott Fried / February 18, 2016

News broke Tuesday that reigning King of the Ring and five-time Intercontinental Champion Wade "Bad News" Barrett has chosen to leave WWE when his contract is up in June. According to reports, the League of Nations member - who's currently out of action with a neck injury - is unhappy with the way he's been used in the company and has decided to pursue other options. Barrett first joined WWE in 2010 as part of the cast of the first season of NXT (back then, the show was a competition for developmental talent trying to make it to the main roster). Barrett won and led the rest of the cast to Raw as The Nexus, a heel stable that spent months disturbing WWE programming. As the group's leader, Barrett feuded with John Cena and Randy Orton, but he came up short in both programs and never reached the main event again. Fans have been supportive of Barrett (some are giving the British star credit for leaving a company where his talents have been squandered), while others are simply upset because they'll miss seeing "Bad News" on Raw. Either way, though, they recognize that WWE is losing a valuable member of its roster. Does WWE realize that, though? Barrett is a potential star - in WWE or elsewhere - and the company would be wise to do whatever it takes to change his mind. Promises of huge money and main event programs may seem like a lot given his push in recent years, but keeping him around could be crucial for WWE. Here are ten reasons why.