Sometimes, it's hard to tell exactly why WWE chooses to push the stars they do. For years, fans have seen talented workers get passed over in favor of chosen champions, usually because management's would-be stars are taller or more muscular. That famous "look" is still important in wrestling - Vince McMahon has repeatedly professed his desire to put the WWE Championship on wrestlers who "turn heads at airports". For all his ability, Barrett fits into that camp, too - he's 6'7" and 246 pounds, with looks that have garnered him roles in two WWE Studios Films - 2013's Dead Man Down and 2016's Eliminators. Superstars with "the look" are few and far between, and those who can actually work are truly rare. With all the ingredients that it takes to make a WWE-approved superstar, Wade Barrett will be a major loss to the company.
Scott Fried is a Slammy Award-winning* writer living and working in New York City. He has been following/writing about professional wrestling for many years and is a graduate of Lance Storm's Storm Wrestling Academy. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/scottfried.
*Best Crowd of the Year, 2013
