0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on January 25, 2013 at 3:27 pm
WWE Hall of Famer Jerry “The King” Lawler was interviewed by The New York Post. Here are some highlights.
Current era vs. the Attitude Era: ”I honestly feel, in my own personal opinion, that during the Attitude Era our roster was stronger. I just think that there were stronger, from top to bottom of our roster, characters and Superstars than we have now. We certainly have guys now that are capable of moving the ball and getting the job done with CM Punk, John Cena, Big Show, Randy Orton and other guys that are being featured right now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not casting dispersions on these guys at all, but when you look back at the Attitude Era, there was some of the biggest names in the history of this industry. I don’t think anybody will argue with the fact that there may not be anyone who could fill the shoes of The Rock or Stone Cold. Those are two guys right there that were in their heyday that we have not seen the likes of since and we may never see the likes of those guys again.”
The Shield: ”I think that what they’ve done with those guys and the way they have been presented has been very good in making a fast impact. I think now their characters need to be a little more developed, in other words, let’s see a little more about these guys as individuals. You can of course still keep them as a unit but you can also hear more from them… I think you’ll agree that the Nexus shot up fast and got to that certain level and then it just kind of petered out. I would hate to see that happen to these three guys and that’s why I say it needs to go to that next level and I feel like in order to do that they’ll need to have a little bit of a different kind of exposure other than just those hit-and-run type things.”
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on January 15, 2013 at 3:15 pm
WWE’s website has an interview recap up with David Otunga from the new issue of WWE Magazine. Otunga was asked about the success of his former Nexus partners:
“I think everybody has been doing great. We pretty much are the new top guys of WWE. We’re all here now. Ryback just contested a championship match, and he’s got another one coming up. Daniel Bryan has been a champion before and Wade Barrett is well on his way. Heath Slater has his own crew now. I just filmed my first movie with Halle Berry. I think it all turned out better than we planned.”
According to a report from WrestleZone.com, WWE officials have spoken this week about the possibility of reforming the Nexus stable.
WWE was shocked to hear the Nexus chants last Monday during the match between Wade Barrett and Justin Gabriel. On Friday, one of the top stories on WWE.com was a story talking about if Wade Barrett would ever bring back Nexus.
A source said, “the only reason for putting up a top story on the website about a glorified squash match, is to hear more from the fans.” WWE wants to gauge the general opinion and memory of Nexus from the WWE Universe.
There are two main reasons WWE officials have given thought to bringing back the stable. The first being they feel it would provide another opportunity to have Barrett in a lead role and they will be very aggressive in showcasing him to look as strong as possible. The second reason is the Nexus name and brand sold a lot of merchandise the first time around.
As of now, the current plan is to hear if the chants continue as well as develop possible creative ideas IF they were to move forward with it.
There is no confirmation of the group coming back but as of this week the idea has been put on the table.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on August 4, 2012 at 7:38 pm
WWE Champion CM Punk sported a different hair style during his Street Fight Match victory over Daniel Bryan at Friday’s Raw live event in Jacksonville, Florida.
In a change from his regular slicked back look, he sported a hairstyle similar to his time with The Nexus early last year.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on July 4, 2012 at 9:57 am
WWE NXT star Bray Wyatt (the former Husky Harris) confirmed on Twitter that he was injured at last week’s FCW live event. The former Nexus member says he suffered a torn pectoral muscle. He wrote:
“What does a torn pecroral muscle mean to me? I wiil not waste my time with injuries of the flesh…When my brain continues captivate the attention of the masses. #theAshesOurNewHome. As for NXT, I wont be missing a second”
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on July 4, 2012 at 9:51 am
There are people in Mexico’s CMLL and AAA promotions that believe Sin Cara will be released by WWE soon, which will likely send him back to Mexico looking for work.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on June 7, 2012 at 7:37 am
WWE creative is currently being pushed to come up with a “knock your socks off” type of angle for the summer. The idea is to jolt the interest of fans, similar to the Nexus angle in 2010 and the CM Punk angle in 2011. This stems from the low ratings and somewhat stagnant product.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on May 7, 2012 at 10:48 pm
Dark Match:
* Bray Wyatt (Husky Harris) defeated Alex Riley. Former Nexus member Husky Harris appeared under the name Bray Wyatt. Harris debuted the Cape Fear-inspired character in WWE developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling in March. He debuted the crowd before the WWE audience at Raw live events over the weekend.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on May 7, 2012 at 10:28 am
Lets face it, after the “new” Nexus angle, Mason Ryan has been irrelevant in the WWE. But, it seems as though Mason Ryan has found something to occupy his time though. What? Being the bodyguard of Dolph Ziggler. At a RAW live event on Sunday in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Dolph Ziggler introduced his new bodyguard. Ziggler cut a promo declaring himself the future of the WWE, and as the future he needs someone that will watch his back as makes his way to the top. Dolph then went on to lose a match with John Cena, who was still selling his arm injury. During that match Mason Ryan made his presence felt and interfered in the match.
1Posted by Brett Clendaniel on April 28, 2012 at 10:52 am
I am a huge wrestling fan and an hourly reader of WrestleChat.net. I wanted to add my two cents to a specific part of wrestling. The Nexus. I found from day one that I would be interested in how many of the original Nexus would survive. Daniel Bryan, Michael Tarver, Skip Sheffield and Darren Young all disappeared within weeks of each other due to real or fake injuries or in Daniel Bryan’s case he was fired over a neck tie…YES! a neck tie if you can believe it. The following is an update on all the ORIGINAL Nexus members.
The Nexus was one of the most interesting story lines to hit wrestling in a very long time. The Nexus debut competes with the NWO and Four Horsemen and Evolution debut’s. The issue here though The Nexus did not live up to its debut. I will not go over the politics of what may have happened behind the scenes but rather I would like to cover the where are they now factor of this topic and how I feel they may wind up in WWE’s future. I beg readers to argue any points that you disagree with or add to anything you do agree with. Become the Master of Debate!
Michael Tarver – Injured and fired. He was an intriguing character for a few minutes. He became stale fast. In my opinion, his wrestling wasn’t WWE material and again his gimmick was not exciting. As Tarver was returning back from injury he seemed like he had an interesting story line in store for him when he was seen behind specific talents but Tarver got Endeavored before anything could happen. Tarver may have needed a chance to prove he had more depth. Tarver’s now claim to fame is that he complains that Cena injured him. If you listen to Gregory Iron on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling Podcast you may feel zero remorse. Tarver now wrestles for independent organizations. I haven’t seen him in person so I have no thoughts his future.
Darren Young – Darren was thrown out of Nexus after being a background character and at most just looking like a dark Cena. Darren Young didn’t make waves again until NXT season 2. Darren Young gets full credit for going back to square one and reinventing his look and persona. Darren Young looks and sounds sharper than ever on WWE tv. Currently DY is tagged up with one of my favorites Titus O’neil and made the Smackdown roster as Big Johnny’s new tag team of the future. Of all the throw together tag teams Titus and DY look the best. They look like their hungry for success and committed to growth. I can see Darren Young as a future thorn to an opponent.
Skip Sheffield – Skip had zero chance to get to show off what he’s all about after some bad leg injures over the last year. Skip re-debuted as Ryback. Ryback may be running through scrawny jobbers but he will be the new and better Bill Goldberg. Ryback is intense and massive. Ryback will have to go head to head with WWE’s top stars. Ryback v Mark Henry, Big Show, Khali and Cena for starters will be amazing spectacles if Ryback can expand his wrestling talent. I can see Ryback a mid card champion by Summer Slam. Anything further will be in his hands if he can evolve and grow with the Ryback character.
Heath Slater – I am very high on the Rock n’ Roller. Heath reminds me of Edge, a better Edge. I never liked Edge in the ring as a champion (maybe thats just me) but I see Heath as a much better Edge in the future. I can see Heath being the character Christian has failed to be in the WWE (and I love Christian). Heath will be stronger and more cerebral than E&C ever were. I can see a world title around his waste in about three years from now. Heath was my least like NXT/ Nexus member. Slater had zero mic skills, his look was cheesy and he didn’t look too good in the ring. I was impressed and saw Slaters future when he was battling Justin Gabriel. Heath Slater, already a former WWE tag team champion, will be a force in the WWE.
Justin Gabriel – This South African product quietly became a fan favorite on NXT. Grew a beard and had the most lethal 360 off the top ropes injuring countless talent. After Nexus took a few beatings here and there but from day one everyone can see this talented kid will be a future star. I’ll take it a step further. Justin Gabriel will be the very next John Cena. Gabriel can not help but be a fan favorite. JG’s in ring work is close to being polished. A botch here and there may happen but Justin keeps himself composed and fights on. With a little work and practice on the mic Gabriel will be the total package. I will repeat myself. Justin Gabriel will be the Face of the WWE.
David Otunga – Mr. Jennifer Hudson started out on NXT/ Nexus as an interesting under handed leach. Otunga from day one had his character down. Otunga took the second man in charge in the Nexus (in my personal opinion it seemed Skip Sheffield was going to be the second banana before his injuries). Slowly Otunga undermined then leader Wade Barrett and basically blew up the original Nexus. In doing so Otunga in the New Nexus became a tag team champion. Sadly he was a very boring tag team champion. Otunga has been featured as Big Johnny’s right hand man in recent months and Mr. Brown nose know it all. And I love it! He is a mix of Chris Nowitski and Chris Masters (Brains and Brawn). David’s arrogance has been getting sharper but his in ring skills are atrocious. His in ring skill will improve, it has to, and when it does he will be a dangerious heel. With his main stream reputation he may give the Miz a run for his money.
Wade Barrett – The Barrett barrage suffered a few set backs but Wade showed his talents the very first moment we all watched him on NXT episode one. Barrett’s in ring presence and mic skills are on par with a Chris Jericho and his in ring work is as strong as multiple time champion Sheamus.
The WWE gave Wade a bit of a lull after the Nexus with the Corre and the aftermath of the Corre. Once Wade set his sights on Randy Orton, Wade showed what is in store for his future.
{Personally I would love to see Wade put a personal hit on every former Nexus member to show his dominance that is rising in the WWE ending in him chasing former Nexus member John Cena who has been beaten up and embarrassed by the Rock and the Brock. In doing so giving Cena a beat down at the lowest point of his career.}(That’s a bonus thought / my ADD)
Daniel Bryan – From first Nexus member fired and awful on the mic to first Nexus/NXT Alumni to be crowned a World Champion and having one of the biggest catchphrases since Stone Cold Steve Austin’s “What?” chant. Daniel Bryan was already one of the best wrestlers around the world before he ever stepped foot in a WWE ring then becoming an underground wrestling fan favorite and then evolving into a complete heel fan favorite after winning a world championship. Daniel Bryan has had the most growth that I have ever seen in professional wrestling in such a short amount of time. Daniel Bryan was called the next Bret Hart before his fame and now has a chance to be a bigger influence on pure professional wrestling than any individual has ever had on the business. D-Bryan has a Stone Cold Steve Austin crowd reaction with Bret the Hitman Hart wrestling skills (Steve Austin was actually an amazing wrestler for a known brawler). Daniel Bryan’s career will be a lengthy one in the WWE because of his hard work and attitude towards the sport. I’m excited for the possibilities of Daniel Bryan attacking Cena or Chris Jericho or continuing feuds with RKO and CM Punk. Daniel Bryan can go 60 minutes and I’d pay for that. You all would!!
As you can see for most of the Original Nexus Alumni I predict bright futures. It’s a real shame that NXT’s second season didn’t produce such strong performances besides the impatient Low Ki. If Low Ki would have stuck around I think he, Punk, Bryan, Jericho and others would have had some amazing bouts but business is business and Low Ki is doing great on the Indy scene. The WWE has done a great job in bringing up fresh new talent when the fans demanded such. I feel when we fans look back at the first Nexus they will be one of the most impressive crops of talent in a very long time.
Have a better class of at least six or more wrestler that were young and up coming? Please respond with your thoughts. (Four Horsemen and Legacy is easy because they are small groups with veterans but give me an example of a group of you talented wrestlers, I dare you!)
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on April 3, 2012 at 10:45 pm
The former Skip Sheffield, now known as “Ryback” debuted at the Smackdown tapings tonight in Orlando, Florida. Ryback defeated a local wrestler on a match that will air this Friday on Smackdown. This is the first time the former Nexus member has been in a WWE ring since he was sidelined with an injury dating back to September 2010.
0Posted by Brett Clendaniel on December 3, 2011 at 9:47 pm
Skip Sheffield competed in his first match in over a year at Saturday’s Raw live event in Sunrise, Florida, defeating Alex
Riley.
The former Nexus member had been sidelined since breaking his leg and ankle on August 18, 2010 at a Raw live event in Honolulu, Hawaii. He underwent a third surgical procedure in June and vowed that it would be his last.
