10 Times WWE Treated Home Town Talent Like Garbage

It's hard to look at the above thumbnail and not imagine (in)famous wrestling traditionalist Jim Cornette having an embolism over it.

It's easy to see what WWE were going for by having Wade Barrett (or King Barrett as he was known at the time) taunt Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney in the pair's shared home town. Having a heel taunt a local hero only to get sent packing is an easy way to drum up free publicity. And it worked - WWE even got a rare BBC headline out of the stunt.

However, that doesn't change the fact that the 6'7'' Wade Barrett had to sell a weak slap from the 5'9'' Rooney like it was a haymaker from Tyson Fury (another Manchester celebrity, interestingly enough). Exactly how much wrestlers should be expected to sell for celebrities is a contentious issue, but there's no doubt that Barrett looked like a prize chump rolling around on the floor after Rooney grazed his cheek. Mike Tyson knocking out Shawn Michaels this wasn't.

With Barrett's credibility as a heel falling fast even before the above incident, it's no wonder he opted not to renew his contract when it ran out a few months later, becoming yet another example of wasted potential in the WWE.