Will Wade Barrett Ever Get His Heat Back?

[Rolent Tex]

I mean, around this time last year Barrett was the most hated man on Raw...a man so hated that John Cena was getting more support from the fans than in any feud I think he's ever been in. (Except for you guy that was cheering for all the heels at "Survivor Series". Yeah, you with the Nexus logo shaved in your head.) Cena gets injured by the Wasteland at a house show and next thing you know he gets buried (literally) at the TLC PPV, disappears from TV and then appears just in time for CM Punk to give him the boot from Nexus.

He is unceremoniously given the boot and shipped off to Smackdown for literally nothing in return. (At least Smackdown got Edge in return for CM Punk. It's almost as if the Anonymous Raw GM wanted him gone.) He assaulted Big Show, formed the Corre with Slater, Gabriel and Big Zeke, had a little scuffle with Punk and New Nexus at the Rumble, was one of the final four in the Rumble...but yet it seemed the reactions he got slowly died off. I remember the WWE Draft episode of Raw where he came out to face Rey Mysterio for a draft pick and the fans sat on their hands. Absolutely no reaction. He faced a guy who gets pops on the level of John Cena and the fans couldn't care less.

Will Barrett ever get back to the level of heat he had with the fans during the Cena feud? What was it that cooled him off...the lack of followup to his boot from Nexus? The fact that he pretty much let Punk get away with it except for that little fight before the Rumble? The fact that he hasn't had a single real feud since he was shipped to the Blue Brand? (Well, other than Show and Big Zeke, but those were over faster than they began.)

[Threadkiller [Classic]]

I say no.

He could have been huge if they'd REALLY gotten behind him last fall. And I mean really.

He could have made them tons, especially if you'd had him beat Orton for the title and continue making life miserable for Cena all the way up to Mania. Miz could have kept his MITB and he wouldn't have had to go through Wrestlemania season as an afterthought champion. At least if it had been Wade Barrett in his spot, he would have been subjugating Cena for roughly six months, so his heat likely would have been at the point where he wouldn't have needed to be the focal point, and he probably could have gotten some decent barbs in against The Rock for daring to challenge The Nexus (of which Cena would still be a part).

Anyway, long story short, while he could (and hopefully will) still be a world champion some day, it'll be in the Jericho role (NXT irony) of being a serviceable guy to hold it while feuding with someone they really are behind, or as a placeholder champion. But he'll never make money for them the way that he could have.

[Virt McGirt]

Sure, just as long as he pays his bill before the 15 day grace period ends.

[noah9322]

Jul 22, 2011 0:10:11 GMT -5 Threadkiller [Classic] said:

I say no.

He could have been huge if they'd REALLY gotten behind him last fall. And I mean really.

He could have made them tons, especially if you'd had him beat Orton for the title and continue making life miserable for Cena all the way up to Mania. Miz could have kept his MITB and he wouldn't have had to go through Wrestlemania season as an afterthought champion. At least if it had been Wade Barrett in his spot, he would have been subjugating Cena for roughly six months, so his heat likely would have been at the point where he wouldn't have needed to be the focal point, and he probably could have gotten some decent barbs in against The Rock for daring to challenge The Nexus (of which Cena would still be a part).

Anyway, long story short, while he could (and hopefully will) still be a world champion some day, it'll be in the Jericho role (NXT irony) of being a serviceable guy to hold it while feuding with someone they really are behind, or as a placeholder champion. But he'll never make money for them the way that he could have.

They should of had Barrett win at Survivor Series, then fire Cena anyway. Cena would return at the Rumble as a Smackdown! Superstar, win the Rumble, then face WWE Champion Barrett at WM. Cena would win, but it'd be justified. Hell, if you wanted a "non-predictable" ending to WM, then have Miz cash in his MITB at WM after the Main Event.

[Rolent Tex]

Jul 22, 2011 0:11:58 GMT -5 Virt McGirt said:

Sure, just as long as he pays his bill before the 15 day grace period ends.

Damn you! I had to fight myself not to make a bill joke in there.

[The Idiot/Doofus Era]

The guy's a main eventer, it'll be his turn again soon.

[MrBRulzOK]

Jul 22, 2011 0:45:55 GMT -5 The Idiot/Doofus Era said:

The guy's a main eventer, it'll be his turn again soon.

And he won't mean nearly as much as he could have by then.

[daymon]

But his finisher is so BAD?! I've never marked for him. I also hate his in ring but maybe that is only as of late.

[Citizen Zero]

Wade Barrett is proof positive that that whole 'You can make it in the WWE if you're talented enough and work your ass off' spiel is a bunch of horses***.

[Beets by Schrute]

Who knows? Aside from the CM Punk storyline, I have lost my faith WWE Creative.

[Bub (BLM)]

Was there ever any word on why the pulled the rug out from under him? I never saw any posts here about him having attitude problems or whatnot.

[Captain2]

They were probably punishing him for walking around backstage wearing a fur coat and bling.

[Rican]

Considering he hasn't even been around for two years...yeah. Most likely. If anything he shouldn't have been in the Nexus angle in the first place since it created unrealistic expectations. He shouldn't have been world champion in his first few months on the main roster. Neither should Sheamus but thats another story. Why have someone peak that early in their career? What the hell are they supposed to do after?

[The Ichi]

I like Barrett, but there are like, 10 people at least that I'd rather see in the main event picture than him.

Though if he gets that awesome coat back he'll move on up that list.

[Chuck Conry]

Nexus needs a new leader.

[lewis1711]

The guys great on the microphone, but I've never been impressed by his in-ring work. He's all icing and no cake.

[Dr. Bunsen Honeydew]

Barrett: "Cener, go get my heat back or you're fired!

Cena: *sad face*

[Perpetual Nirvana]

I still cannot for the life of me understand it. Either by luck or design the WWE find themselves in a position where this hot newcomer is the most hated man on the roster and their #1 babyface is getting an almost 100% positive reaction for the first time in years. So their response is to just piss it all away. Why?

[Hit Girl]

Give him William Regal as a manager, his coat, and his rose back, and let him play the slimey Brit character. It's cliched, but it does generate heat. He'd be a solid mid-carder.

[FUNK_US/BRODUS]

Maybe. But if he doesnt, the WWE has only themselves to blame. He was the hottest property on TV last year.