The Original WWE Nexus 8: Where Are They Now?
2. Wade Barrett
Nexus leader Wade Barrett came to symbolise every last tendril of WWE's modern creative malaise.
Literally buried by John Cena under a deluge of chairs following their TLC 2010 blow-off, Barrett led another faction, one of WWE's most insignificant ever: The Corre.
Following his breakout year, WWE broke him. The company threw a great deal of sh*t in Barrett's direction, none of which stuck. It's difficult to remember what happened when, exactly, so directionless was his run. He became Intercontinental Champion on...several occasions...at various points. Without looking up Barrett's Wiki, his run yields more fiendishly difficult quiz questions than triumphs. When did Barrett win IC gold for the third time? 2012? 2013? 2014? F*ck knows. Just how many entrance themes played him to arenas? F*ck knows. Barrett was a leader, a king, a pugilist, a member of a global set of super villains, a living reset button.
Barrett, ultimately, was subject to a series of half-baked experiments throughout a half-remembered haze of a career. Plagued by injuries, Barrett towards the end of his stint shredded his physique and applied it to several stiff and engaging affairs, but by then, he had been stigmatised as an also-ran.
The man marked as an odds-on future WWE Champion remains best-remembered for his hugely entertaining cackling sh*theel 'Bad News' gimmick, which had real legs - but, and here's that malaise again, it got him too over. Those legs were cut off. It's a go that it doesn't matter who we cheer or boo, etc. etc.
Inactive in the ring since his WWE days - and can you blame him? - Barrett has since lent his booming baritone to authority figure roles in Defiant Wrestling and ITV's World of Sport reboot.