The new pecking order

The [Orginal] Nexus; lead by Wade Barratt, the single most important faction in modern wrestling since the NWO in the Ninties (even more so than Degeneration X).

Wade exhibited signs of a paternal instinct within the group albeit in the pursuit of power on Raw, to an extent a separate Marxist society within WWE. All working for each other with Wade being the inspirational leader. He commanded his troops with a "greater good" mentality, scorning the universe who once ridiculed them on live TV and rated them on their inability to cope with stress on the spot. Even cutting promo's in a Face fashion, with Wres..superstars such as Skip Sheffield citing he is only distributed beatings only to help "the cause".

The Nexus with their sheer numbers as an excuse in the storyline, has monopolised the airtime on WWE since June last year, and rightly so. Even without Daniel Brian.

Wade has since been cast out of the "Nexus", and with only one NXT original in the group after multiple firings and as such, surely the factions relevancy must be in decline?

Enter CM Punk.

I make no secret of my manlove for Phillip Brooks of Chicago IS. But the reasons as to why he is more than able to take over the most notorious group in WWE history are many.

For a start, he is the most technically sound Nexus member there has been, he can lead by example in the ring and perform at a main event level consistently.

On the mic, unlike people like the Miz, is able to successfully turn fans against him, in unothodox manners. He is able to make you hate him for preaching messages that should really be more of a face persuasion. He makes the crowd hate him for being straightedge, against drunk and drunks. You hate him for preaching about things that are GOOD for you. This is a talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqPLSmMH52Q

But mainly, he was in charge of the most orginal faction in WWE's history; The SES (Straightedge Society) where he ruled with an Iron Fist, using scare tactics and recruiting fanatical members to rule over Smackdown. The group was so interesting with Punk at the helm, donning a dillusional Anti Christ persona for the group, that they only had one fued for an entire year. In other words, they gained WWE airtime just by ways of promos and randomly put together matches; they didn't need a feud.

His leadership style, as shown in the SES, is BRUTAL. Pure dictatorship; he administers beatings for poor performance and consistently (already seen on his third night in charge). He charismatically brainwashes his subordinates, creating what can be seen more as a cult rather than a faction. Regardless if the message is about straightedge, or about taking over Raw.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfRc8lHENwc&feature=related

I always felt the SES was cut short, its been a gimmick 10 years in the making according to Colt Cabana, a friend of Punks. I think that the ideas Punk had for the SES will be implemented into the New Nexus, and if they are anywhere near as entertaining as the SES's stories, then this direction will be the breath of fresh air the Nexus needed.

I will continue to comment on this blog as to the development of his character and the development of the new Nexus.

Question is, shouldn't the New Nexus just be the straightedge society? Seeing as Wade's new group has more original Nexus members than the New one?

PS, According to Twitter; Wade supports Preston North end, poor lad.

Interesting times in the WWE. HBK in the hall of fame, Barret off to Smackdown, the "new Nexus" and Cena return?

Good afternoon squared circleers and Happy New Year to you all! Firstly my apologies for lack of postings since New Years eve it has been a busy time but hopefully everything should be back on track now!

We've certainly had an interesting few weeks in the WWE since the New Year, a few highlights for me:

1) Dolph Ziggler looses the Intercontinental Championship to Kofi Kingston

Shughes' Views: This was obviously going to happen, Ziggler is a class above the intercontinental and Kingston has received such a push in recent months that it was inevitable!

2) Dolph Ziggler becomes the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship in a fatal fourway vs The Big Show, Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre.

Shughes' Views: This was very clever, having Teddy Long absent for the week leaving Vickie Guerrero in charge of Smackdown meant she could swiftly add Dolph Ziggler into the matchup. I'm glad to see Dolph Ziggler at this level he is worthy of a shot at the big boy on the Smackdown brand. I'm in no way convinced that he will win his championship match (that i'm assuming will be at the Royal Rumble) against Edge definitely not on his first shot anyway. I look forward to this match irregardless!

3) Wade Barret officially out of the "new Nexus" after loosing in a triple threat cage match to determine the number one contender for the WWE Championship vs Randy Orton and King Sheamus. CM Punk interferes. Barret booted to Smackdown without so much as a mention.

Shughes' Views: I've got to say I was disappointed that Barret couldn't remain in control of the Nexus by winning in the triple threat match, but alongside that i've got to say that I wasn't surprised, I think it's been a long time coming for Mr Barret to get the boot from his group but perhaps a bit more build up and a bit more recognition for the guy who has made Nexus what it is was called for... I mean who the hell gives a shit about that Wendy's girl Heath Slater? Looking at the cage match with CM Punks interference you could read the emotions from Barret perfectly you could see the trust in his eyes as he reached out for CM Punk's hand but alas his trust was placed badly! In a way I think this move to Smackdown will be good for Barret, the WWE can build him up as an actual solo performer and I think title gold will soon be around his waist... he certainly has the talent and can certainly create the heat for the perfect heel!

4) John Cena injured... but not really.

Shughes' Views: I find this whole situation rather hilarious... it ended up him having a week off, Monday he appeared "live via satellite" and then performed in the Dark Match after the show... so playing along with appearances for the TV crowd still having to practice though!

5) Shawn Michaels... The Heart Break Kid inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Shughes' Views: Interesting, shocking but logically the most obvious choice. We should really have seen this one coming... Shawn Michaels perhaps WWE's most beloved of Superstars makes it into the first Hall of Fame after his retirement... come on guys that was a cert... maybe we were all too convinced his was going to come back yet again and have yet another pop at the 'taker. All the best Shawn, great accolade for you!

Sam's pick for the Royal Rumble.

With the Rumble coming up on the 30th of January it's time for the speculation to begin!
My pick for the Rumble
*Drum Roll Please*
/Well I have two but whatever/

Surprise entry - Triple H
or
Wade Barret

Personally I'd rather the inevitable surprise entry, which looks like it will be Triple H considering he isn't already back, didn't win the Rumble because that's so predictable but w/e.

Later guys!
Shughes

Quick Post

Thought I'd just make a quick post just to say that I won't be watching WWE Smackdown tonight as i'm off out on this fine New Year's Eve. Hang about for a beautifully hung over review of the show tomorrow... maybe suffering from a hang over will remove some of the pain from watching Smackdown...

... Yes I tire of Edge, Kane, Rey Mysterio and Alberto Del Rio... looking forward to seeing Ziggler and Swagger however!

Happy New Year to you all!!!

Shughes

Awesome Kong on her way across the void, John Cena injury, Wade Barret's Future.

AWESOME KONG SIGNED BY WWE

So the WWE Universe is soon to be graced by Donkey Kong.... sorry I mean Awesome Kong... the woman that looks like a cross between Mark Henry and Eddie Murphy's Big Momma. Sorry perhaps this is a bit personal but i'm not quite sure what kind of impact this will have on the WWE's diva division. It will certainly be strange to see a full on power-house in the diva's division but I guess she will sit somewhere slightly above Natalya and Beth Phoenix in the hierarchy of masculine divas. My stand point on the divas is that ultimately they're pointless they're not really there to wrestle... we lost that years ago in the time of China and Lita and the mixed gender matches (I recently watched Armageddon from 2000 with the great matchup between Dean Malenko and Lita)... the roll the divas really play in the WWE is to be aesthetically pleasing to the older WWE audience, to fill time with pointless matches and to compliment the Superstars. To me a bubble-bath fight between Lay-Cool, Maryse, The Bella Twins, and Kelly Kelly would be much more interesting than an actual fight between Awesome Kong, Beth Phoenix and Natalya vs Lay-Cool and Maryse because as ever it would just be walkover on the former's behalf. Lay-Cool entertain me, Beth Phoenix and Natalya frustrate me end of... I don't really want another member of the manly brigade.

JOHN CENA'S INJURY

WWE officially reported last night that John Cena has suffered a hip injury and will have to take some time out. This news was only officially reported at the end of the day by WWE nearly an entire 24 hours after the actual event, just before I hit the sack. Jim Ross and the WWE have both commented on John Cena's injury as being assessed day by day pointing to what could be a speedy recovery from superman. You can read JR's comments over at http://www.jrsbarbq.com/ and the WWE news report at www.wwe.com there is also video footage of John Cena's in-ring speech to the crowd at the house show on Tuesday night before he was helped out of the arena which can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTcq-K1Rglo.




I still believe that this is going to leave John Cena out of the ring until the Royal Rumble has passed and that story lines are going to be swapped and changed about. CM Punk on this Monday's Raw could simply claim that the Nexus' beatdown on Cena left him injured as he had in fact promised to do on the show, this could leave the creatives to feud Punk and the Nexus against Barret... a handy little loose end they have lying around there!

WADE BARRET'S FUTURE

I'm a big fan of Barret, being a lad born in Preston... like Barret, and now living in Manchester... WWE bill Barret as being from Manchester, I'm allowed to like the guy (its like supporting your home football team even if they are terrible). I think Barret's mic skills are brilliant he can command a crowd and always garners the response he needs. I always seem to find that it's not infact the Nexus that draws the heat from the crowds it's Barret who receives the most heat every single week on WWE Raw. I still think Barret is a little bit fresh and his in-ring skills need honing a bit but he has great potential to be a fantastic WWE Champion one day.

As for his future, I believe that with John Cena injured the easiest thing for WWE to do would be to replace the feud between the Nexus and Cena for a feud between Barret and the Nexus, this would build upon the Nexus under new management storyline, create an outlet for which John Cena can easily slot back into and create the least mess storyline wise. This storyline is already set straight up for the WWE, ignoring the whole Barret staying leader if he rehired Cena stipulation a few weeks back, we could have had another coup under Barret's leadership by Otunga orchestrated by CM Punk, after Barret was seen as being weak and once again was defeated by Superman at the TLC PPV.

I have been creating a few of my own theories based completely on speculation and my own hope. We all saw during NXT season 1 that Wade Barret and his Pro Chris Jericho got on with each other, they complemented each other well. Then when the Nexus debuted on Raw we had the destruction of the arena which led the then Raw GM Bret Hart to refuse to hire any member of the Nexus, soon after Bret Hart leaves the post of GM and the following week the Anonymous Raw GM is appointed. My current belief (this is open to change at anytime) is that the Anonymous General Manager is either Wade Barret or Chris Jericho working in cahoots, the Jericho feud with the GM could be played off as cover and would explain why much of the time the GM appears to be rather Nexus friendly, this could now change where the GM takes it out on the Nexus, Wade Barret keeps getting a push and upon the final unveiling of the Anonymous GM we have the return of a triumphant Chris Jericho (the master of the cryptic comeback).

Remember this is just speculation on storylines that I would like to see happen. They are no way based on any truth that I am aware of! Send in your own comments on what you think on all three of these pieces.

Shughes

Thoughts on the Wrestling week... (Part 1)

A collection of my thoughts and opinions of the recent wrestling happenings:

Kaval released:

Bullshit from start to finish. Low Ki sold his soul to the WWE devil and gave 110% into incorporating his style into a Sports Entertainment setting, only to be rewarded with a P45. His release should subsequently dismay and dishearten future hopeful indie talent hoping for a WWE spot.

Awesome Kong...WWE bound?

This female is to female wrestling, what Andre the Giant is to male wrestling. Strong statement I know, but her in ring ability can back it up. Her size coupled with her move set and in ring ability will set a presendent in a WWE for THE most dominate Diva ever...if illustrated correctly. And if WWE decide to not go down the Kaval route...

John Cena injured

Superman can be injured? At least this generations Hulk Hogan/HHH can step aside and let others do the main event donkey work for the time being. Albeit with a remarkable comeback storyline in tow. Untill then..18-35 males; enjoy!

DX reunion

HBK coming back?!?!?!?!.....NO CHANCE. Don't fool yourself, hes DONE. As much as he likes the limelight/fanfair, he clearly doesn't want to come back to the full time bumping; the end. Sorry.

Benjamin/Haas in ROH

Excellent addition to an already stella roster. TNA need to take note...

The Miz:

He is the new Rock. Best to recognise it this earily on and enjoy it, as if Dwayne Johnson is anything to go by: he won't be around for long...

Jeff Hardy Gimmick

Jeff Hardy, for all the stick he gives to: his real life sworn enemy of CM Punk; he calls himself the Antichrist of wrestling?...wasnt Charles Montgomery Punk the Straight-edge Jesus styled Savour a year ago?! IE the antichrist?! A gimmick that ran for nearly a year without ANY main rivalry, plainly because...Punk didnt need it.

WWE Superstar John Cena reported to be injured.

Fans who attended last night's WWE Raw house show are reporting that the cage match between John Cena and Wade Barret ended abruptly when John Cena had to be helped out of the arena by trainers.

According to reports it appeared as though Cena had injured his leg and apologised to the crowd and insinuated that he may be out of action for a while.

This situation could have some serious ramifications for WWE storylines upto and perhaps including Wrestlemania. Having just begun a serious feud between John Cena and the new CM Punk led Nexus where does this leave that storyline?

Perhaps the WWE will use Cena much like they recently used the injured CM Punk on commentary or just keep placing him as special guest referee in matches much like his last stint before his 'firing'.

My main concern is that this will not just leave Wade Barret as a loose end to the WWE that the creatives will be able to slot him back into the storylines even if it is without John Cena. I have thoughts regarding Wade Barret and Chris Jericho which I will explain a little bit later on.

Shughes

Welcome to 'The British Squared Circle'

Hello and welcome to the British Squared Circle from myself, Sam Hughes, and my companion, Danny Colbert. Here at the BSC we hope to provide in depth reviews of pro-wrestling events and our predictions for outcomes, story lines and more.

Much of this blog will be made up of personal opinion, speculation and downright naivety. Differing opinions, contrasting opinions and your opinions all count to us. News, reviews and much much more will be delivered to you.

To begin with much of our focus will be on the WWE with little ability to catch TNA, ROH and other pro-wrestling promotions on this side of the pond but we hope to provide you with the best information we can.

To begin with here are a few of my most critical interests in terms of storylines in the WWE:
1) Wade Barret, The Nexus and CM Punk? - What does this mean for Wade Barret, which direction will the WWE take him in?
2) The return of Chris Jericho... will it ever happen? - I'm sure it will and I have a few thoughts about how it might happen.
3) The return of Triple H. - In my eyes a dead cert before the Royal Rumble on the 30th January
4) How long will the Miz hang on to the WWE Championship? - My guess at the very least he'll defend the title until the Royal Rumble and the most until Wrestlemania.
5) What will the WWE do to reinvigorate the Smackdown Brand?
6) Who is the Anonymous Raw General Manager?
7) Will Vince McMahon ever wake up from his Nexus induced coma?

Hope to deliver you with a report regarding last night's Monday Night Raw from Albany, NY tomorrow!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy!