10 Wrestlers Who Literally Destroyed The Ring

2. The Nexus

Big Show Braun Strowman Ring Collapse
WWE.com

The Nexus provided one of WWE’s hottest angles in 2010. Though John Cena eventually destroyed them, their first few months were thrilling, and it started with a white-hot debut on a June episode of Raw.

Cena and CM Punk were wrestling in the main event, when Wade Barrett hit the ring. Joined by his fellow contestants from NXT’s first season, the Englishman led a widescale assault on everyone at ringside, including Cena, Punk, the commentators, and ring announcer Justin Roberts.

The destruction didn’t stop there, however. The Nexus turned their focus to the environment itself, tearing safety mats away from the floor, and flipping the announce table. From there, they started dismantling the squared circle, with Michael Tarver unscrewing the turnbuckles, and his colleagues pulling the mat away.

It was completely unforeseen, and immediately established Barrett’s new crew as a force to be reckoned with. The Nexus’ end remains one of the biggest disappointments in recent WWE history, but their debut was flawless. The sight of them laying Raw to waste left much of the audience speechless, and as a motionless Cena was loaded onto a stretcher, it looked like a bomb had gone off at ringside.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.