10 Shocking Times WWE Pulled The Plug On Mega Pushes

6. The Nexus

Lacey Evans
WWE.com

As complete goobers on the talent (in how it both developed and destroyed future stars) show version of NXT, The Nexus were faceless nobodies failing to become anything more from large shadows cast by their main roster mentors.

New signing Daniel Bryan was the only one not plucked from their failing Florida Championship Wrestling system, but was doled out punishment booking as a way to bring him down to their level rather than even attempting to raise the rest to his.

Show winner Wade Barrett was decent by default, but all eight looked like trained killers when they emerged together on Raw to assault everybody and everything in their path.

Expertly produced and uniquely performed, The Nexus' beatdown of John Cena provided incredible pro wrestling visuals for the gang as they left the entire show - one they'd allowed themselves to be systematically destroyed by just to be a part of - in tatters.

Daniel Bryan's over-exuberance got him briefly split off from the angle, but the rest could and should have had career-enhancing summers from the memorable mauling. Instead, they were made to absorb losses too great before John Cena thinned out their numbers with increasingly demeaning attacks.

The hand of the author was too present - you could almost see Vince McMahon losing interest in the group with every depressing passing week.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett