When the Nexus debuted on Monday Night Raw in June 2010, it was nothing short of spectacular. Eight rookies from NXT Season 1 stormed the ring, destroyed everything in sight, and instantly became the hottest act in WWE. Led by Wade Barrett, their mission was clear: take over WWE.
But what happened next? A mess of bad booking decisions, unnecessary losses, and wasted opportunities. WWE failed to commit to the group’s dominance, and by the time WrestleMania 27 rolled around, Nexus was dead in the water.
It didn’t have to be that way. Let’s take a journey through how I would rebook the Nexus storyline, crafting a tale of destruction, dominance, and redemption that culminates in a WrestleMania moment we’d still be talking about today.
June 2010: The Shocking Debut
We start where WWE got it right. The Nexus debut remains untouched—pure chaos. Wade Barrett leads Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, David Otunga, Skip Sheffield, Darren Young, and Michael Tarver in an all-out assault on John Cena, CM Punk, and anyone in their path. The image of them ripping the ring apart was unforgettable and set the tone for what should have been a faction that took WWE by storm.
The following week, Barrett grabs a mic and declares Nexus’s mission: to dismantle WWE’s top stars and systems, paving the way for his rise to the WWE Championship. With Barrett at the helm, Nexus positions itself as a threat unlike anything WWE has seen.
July 2010: Pillmanizing the Veterans
To prove their dominance, Nexus targets their mentors from NXT. This is personal, as the rookies aim to symbolically sever ties with the old guard.
One by one, Nexus takes out the veterans:
Justin Gabriel destroys Matt Hardy.
David Otunga takes down R-Truth.
Heath Slater crushes Christian.
Skip Sheffield demolishes William Regal.
Michael Tarver puts Carlito on the shelf.
The only hiccup? Darren Young fails to injure CM Punk, creating tension within Nexus. Barrett publicly questions Young’s usefulness, planting the first seeds of internal discord.
July 2010: Money in the Bank
At the Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Nexus escalates their campaign of destruction. During the ladder match, they interfere, targeting Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, and Edge to ensure none of WWE’s established stars claim the briefcase.
Meanwhile, Wade Barrett faces John Morrison in a singles match. With Nexus’s help, Barrett wins and takes Morrison out with a vicious post-match attack, sidelining him indefinitely.
August 2010: SummerSlam
Nexus steps into their first major challenge at SummerSlam in a 7-on-7 elimination match against Team WWE, led by John Cena and Randy Orton. WWE wins the battle, but Nexus wins the war.
After the match, Nexus ambushes the remaining Team WWE members, targeting Edge and “pillmanizing” him to take him off TV. With Cena temporarily out of the picture, Orton steps up as the new leader of Team WWE, vowing to end Nexus’s reign of terror.
September 2010: Barrett’s Championship Aspirations
With Randy Orton now the top contender for the WWE Championship, Nexus sets their sights on him. They interfere in Orton’s matches, making his life a living hell on Raw.
At Night of Champions, Barrett defeats Orton in a brutal No Disqualification match, thanks to Nexus interference. After the match, Nexus targets Orton’s leg, “pillmanizing” him and taking him off TV. With Orton out of the picture, Barrett demands a WWE Championship match.
October 2010: Hell in a Cell
Wade Barrett faces Sheamus inside the Hell in a Cell for the WWE Championship. Nexus locks the Cell from the outside, ensuring no one interferes—except them.
After a gruelling battle, Barrett defeats Sheamus to capture the WWE Championship. Post-match, Nexus makes a statement by taking Sheamus out of action as well. Barrett’s reign of terror as WWE Champion begins.
November 2010: Survivor Series
Barrett successfully defends his title against a returning John Morrison, who seeks revenge but falls victim to Nexus interference once again.
In the traditional Survivor Series elimination match, Nexus takes on Team WWE, now led by John Cena. Barrett pins Cena to secure the victory, solidifying himself as WWE’s top villain.
December 2010: TLC
Cena finally gets a one-on-one shot at Barrett in a TLC match for the WWE Championship. Despite a heroic effort, Cena falls short after interference from Nexus.
After the match, Nexus attempts to take Cena out for good, but Randy Orton makes a shocking return, attacking Nexus and declaring war on Barrett.
January 2011: Royal Rumble
Orton challenges Barrett for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. Barrett retains the title after a hard-fought match, once again relying on Nexus to tip the scales.
Later in the night, Orton enters the Royal Rumble match and eliminates multiple Nexus members, only for Barrett to interfere and cost Orton the match. The feud intensifies.
February 2011: Elimination Chamber
Barrett defends his WWE Championship inside the Elimination Chamber against Orton, Cena, CM Punk, Sheamus, and Morrison. With Nexus banned from ringside, Barrett is forced to fend for himself.
The match comes down to Barrett and Orton. Barrett uses underhanded tactics to escape with the title once again, leaving Orton fuming.
March 2011: The Road to WrestleMania
Orton challenges Barrett to one final match at WrestleMania 27 for the WWE Championship. This time, Orton demands a No Nexus clause, banning Barrett’s faction from ringside. Barrett reluctantly accepts.
Meanwhile, cracks begin to form within Nexus, with Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater questioning Barrett’s leadership.
April 2011: WrestleMania 27
The story culminates at WrestleMania 27 in a one-on-one showdown between Wade Barrett and Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. With Nexus banned, Barrett is forced to prove he can hold his own.
In an epic match, Orton finally defeats Barrett, hitting a decisive RKO to win the WWE Championship. Orton’s victory is the perfect redemption arc after months of being sidelined by Nexus.
Why This Works
This rebooking achieves what the original storyline failed to do: it establishes Nexus as a dominant, dangerous faction and elevates Wade Barrett to legitimate main-event status. The “pillmanizing” tactic makes Nexus feel ruthless, while Randy Orton’s redemption arc provides a satisfying payoff at WrestleMania.
What do you think of this rebooking? Let me know in the comments or on social media—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m Scott Barratt, I’m just a wrestling fan who loves rebooking the classics, and I’m just getting started!
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