Nexus - running out of steam...

I’ve said in a couple of threads that I think the Nexus angle has run out of steam, an idea that a couple of people agree with, and others don’t.

When it started with the shocking beat-down of Cena, Punk, and most of the ringside crew, it worked. It was fantastic. It was something we hadn’t seen in years, it took us all utterly by surprise, and in one 15 minute spell, undid a lot of the damage that Season 1 of NXT had done. I enjoyed NXT when it started, but as soon as they had to start doing the ridiculous challenges, I stopped – I have no interest in watching people trying to drink a soda as fast as they can on a wrestling show. The start did pose a lot of questions, and literally had the entire IWC virtually in meltdown – why did they attack? Is Daniel Bryan actually fired? Why wasn’t Michael Cole involved?

So, the second week, we had the same again. Another series of beatdowns. Then, in the third week, the angle peaked when they took out Vince McMahon. This beatdown was, I thought, excellently done. The moment they circled the Chairman, he looked at them and started laughing… they laughed back… my reaction at that point was that Vince had been behind it the whole time. Until they then set about him. They did this attack too soon - I’d have much rather they did this on this week’s Raw, as a build-up to Summerslam.

Since then, they’ve taken out Bret Hart, a group of legends, random backstage attacks on the likes of Evan Bourne, Yoshi Tatsu, Khali… and I’ve lost interest. The whole Team WWE against Nexus match at Summerslam could save the angle – but only if the Nexus win.

They have to win. A WWE victory will simply kill this whole angle dead in its tracks. Ideally, I’m hoping it comes down to a one-on-one confrontation between Barrett and Cena, which Barrett wins cleanly. A clean Wade win really boosts him, whereas a Cena victory simply underlines that WWE is better than Nexus. I’m hoping there is no mystery ‘leading man’ of Nexus, Barrett has been improving week-on-week, is leading the group very, very well (much better than Orton in charge of Legacy…), and is for me, the most improved WWE performer of the year alongside Sheamus.

I’ve read numerous theories that Miz is going to join team WWE and then turn on them, giving Nexus the win. Although this would do wonders for Miz, and really establishing him as a heel, Wade needs the rub more. Miz has the briefcase and the US title, Wade has a group that rarely feature in one-on-one matches, and a world title match. Wade needs to be built up further for his match, which I can see happening at the Hell In A Cell PPV in a couple of months time, as a way of ‘guaranteeing’ that Nexus do not interfere.

Then, the Raw after Summerslam, I’d have the Hart Dynasty challenge Nexus for attacking them / beating up Bret – Nexus agree, but only if the tag titles are on the line. I’d put the tag titles on them, and let them defend them Freebird / Spirit Squad style (any two of the faction can defend the titles). This then opens up more possibilities, across both shows. It could lead to friction in the group (Barrett being furious with, say, Justin Gabriel if they lose the titles and Gabriel takes the pin), opens up Smackdown, and with WWE planning a one-off live Smackdown in October to launch the blue brand on a new network, a Nexus appearance on Smackdown without it being ruined by spoilers would work.

A final point – I’ve also read a few people slating Skip Sheffield. For me, he’s someone who has grown into his role. I like him as the enforcer of the group, his clothesline looks really good, he’s looks mean as hell with the blue eyes… he’s no Steve Austin, but at least he’s standing out in the crowd. Unlike Heath Slater and David Otunga, who seem to have taken backward steps.

I think the angle can be saved, I’m getting fed-up of the predictable backstage attacks… WWE needs to try something new. Putting the tag titles on them would be a damned good start but I’m getting an increasingly horrible, horrible feeling Triple H is going to be announced as the leader, and will be the one to finally beat Team WWE / Cena, and thus ruining all the good work and potential of the angle.

i agree with a few things in here Skip Sheffield has grown in to his role and Slater/Otunga have gone backwards.

however i could see Triple H being an associate leader eg higher Nexus to do what they did Barrett would still be leader of the group but Triple H planned it all, if you see what i mean.

I think Summerslam will most likely be make or break time for the angle. Like you say, if Nexus loses it buries them, and having somebody else help them get the win does them no favours either. After Summerslam, I just hope that they stop with the constant attacks, they've been totally predictable since they stepped foot in the ring with McMahon and doing the same thing over and over has gotten really boring. They need to actually put these guys into matches (not 7 on 7 squashes), even though they are all utter shit with the exception of Barrett, as that is the only way I can see this angle continuing without becoming totally stale.

thegunman84 wrote:

I think Summerslam will most likely be make or break time for the angle. Like you say, if Nexus loses it buries them, and having somebody else help them get the win does them no favours either. After Summerslam, I just hope that they stop with the constant attacks, they've been totally predictable since they stepped foot in the ring with McMahon and doing the same thing over and over has gotten really boring. They need to actually put these guys into matches (not 7 on 7 squashes), even though they are all utter shit with the exception of Barrett, as that is the only way I can see this angle continuing without becoming totally stale.

Totally agree. They need to do something new with this, and I think the tag belts would be the most logical way to go, especially under the Freebird rule.

It'd bring the tag belts back into something that matters, adds the prospect of a whole new range of opponents, and gives the likes of Cena a break from the world title scene.

Like has already been said summerslam is going to be the telling point for the group.

I would'nt be against a HHH heal turn and be named as the leader, and have him fued for the wwe title with maybe barret going over to smackdown and getting the whc belt having the two belts in the nexus faction.And have the rest of the group in and around the the other title's.

thegunman84 wrote:

I think Summerslam will most likely be make or break time for the angle. Like you say, if Nexus loses it buries them, and having somebody else help them get the win does them no favours either. After Summerslam, I just hope that they stop with the constant attacks, they've been totally predictable since they stepped foot in the ring with McMahon and doing the same thing over and over has gotten really boring. They need to actually put these guys into matches (not 7 on 7 squashes), even though they are all utter shit with the exception of Barrett, as that is the only way I can see this angle continuing without becoming totally stale.

Perhaps a loss for them at Summerslam is just the angle they need to put these guys into 1-on-1 or tag team matches. On the other hand, I could also see a loss for Nexus at Summerslam being a prelude to more of the same redundant beatdowns we've been seeing. It's really a double-edged sword for them.

They were brought into WWE, imo, in a horrible way. Sure the angle was intriguing, and yeah it was something we hadn't seen the likes of in a long time, but it didn't set the stage for many of them to come into their own. While some clearly don't deserve to be there (like Darren Young, who clearly gets almost no face time), there are others (like Justin Gabriel or Mike Tarver) who I feel need to be recognized. Sure they have some work to do, but with enough time, at least 4 of the member of the Nexus should work out great for the company.

So I would have to say I disagree with you sir (on Barrett being the only talent), but totally agree with Grecian on the title of this topic, they are definetely running out of steam.

Otunga seems to have taken a backward step? if he was anymore backward he'd have managed time travel, by far the worst of them all, hasn't got a good look, nothing particular great about his build either, is absolutely horrible in the ring, is stiffer than Batista in a lockin with the Divas and is murder on the stick

The-Gaffer™ wrote:

Otunga seems to have taken a backward step? if he was anymore backward he'd have managed time travel, by far the worst of them all, hasn't got a good look, nothing particular great about his build either, is absolutely horrible in the ring, is stiffer than Batista in a lockin with the Divas and is murder on the stick

So, erm... you not a fan then, Gaff?

I don't think that Nexus necesserily have to win provided they look good in losing. But if it turns into another debacle like the Cena vs Miz thing from last year then they're in big trouble.

That said, I'd rather they won as I think it would establish them as more of a threat. After SummerSlam I would agree that they need to move on beyond what they've been doing up to now. Having some of them going for the Tag Titles makes sense or just generally letting some of them go off and get involved in their own feuds/storylines makes sense. Thinking back, all the best stables tend to do this. They'll come together and fight together when they have to but get to go off and do their own thing too.