Wade Barrett had a lot of failed pushes, but 2014 should have been the year he finally became a top star.
The Englishman had his troubles in the past. Being buried by John Cena (literally, by a pile of chairs) in 2010, to a horrific elbow injury in 2012, things just didn’t seem to click for him.
That was until his became Bad News Barrett. After impressing as a character who gave out bad news on “The JBL & Cole Show” on YouTube, Vince McMahon brought the gimmick to life on Monday Night Raw.
Bad News Barrett debuted on December 2nd 2013, cutting a promo running down the local city. This quickly grew in popularity, although Barrett didn’t make his in-ring debut as “Bad-News Barrett” until at WrestleMania 30.
On the Raw following the event, a largely British crowd cheered Bad-News Barrett on as a hero as he beat Rey Mysterio. This began a huge push that netted him the Intercontinental Championship, but ended before he could become the first ever British WWE Champion.
However, in the middle of his push following his title win over Big E, Wade Barrett suffered the most significant injury of his career. It killed his momentum, ruining his chances of becoming a world champion.
Jack Swagger Injured Wade Barrett Before Money In The Bank
Bad News Barrett’s run went well at first. He won the Intercontinental Championship from Big E just months after re-debuting, following victory in a number one contenders tournament.
However, his run to came to an end after a match with Dean Ambrose on June 27th 2014. Barrett was gearing up to appear in the Money in the Bank ladder match, with a chance to earn a world title opportunity.
The Intercontinental Champion lost the bout by pin fall, which put a dampener on his chances of winning the match that weekend. However, an interfering Jack Swagger added even more hurt.
An errant throw by Swagger put an end to that chance. He tossed Wade Barrett into the barricade with great force. The English landed squarely on his right shoulder, which crunched into his body as Barrett was visibly in pain.
WWE announced soon after the Wade Barrett’s injury would mean he was out of the Money in the Bank match. To make matters worse, he was forced to undergo surgery, and had to vacate the Intercontinental Championship due to the injury.
Barrett’s Injury Kept Him Out Until The End Of The Year
Sadly, the injury meant Wade Barrett couldn’t wrestle at Money in the Bank. The ladder match was won by Seth Rollins, who went on to cash his contract in during the main event of WrestleMania 31.
While Barrett was one of the favourites, it’s hard to look past Rollins as the winner. However, he still had the Intercontinental Championship, and was gearing up for a great run as champion.
That all ended with his injury. Barrett vacated the belt, remaining on the shelf until the very last Raw of the year. He beat Cesaro on December 29th, but was a much different character.
He no longer told people about the bad news he had. In fact, Barrett didn’t talk at all. Despite winning the Intercontinental belt back from Dolph Ziggler a week later, he was not the same character, and the fans knew it.
Barrett kept the Intercontinental title until WrestleMania, when Daniel Bryan won it in a multi-man ladder match. However, the build up saw him treated like a joke, with wrestlers stealing his belt in the build up.
He won King of the Ring and joined the League of Nations the next year, but nothing clicked. His injury took away his big push, and the company would never trust him again
Wade Barrett’s last match in WWE took place after WrestleMania 32. He was released soon after, retiring from wrestling for good. If not for his injury at the hands of Jack Swagger, who knows what would have been possible for the English superstar.
