Sunday 29 March 2015

The Rebooking Series - Part VI (Nexus)


Hello and welcome to the special WrestleMania edition of the rebooking series. Our Sixth Edition takes us to mid-2010 and one of the biggest wastes of a hot angle in wrestling history: The Nexus.

When Nexus debuted it was something a lot of people had never seen anything like before. A lot of the guys in the group were far from ready to main event but their debut was executed so well that they all felt like legitimate threats immediately (despite NXT Season One being so terrible). Of course after that the angle sort of went downhill and nobody in Nexus has ever really recovered to the heights of their debut. We picked Summerslam as a starting point because we thought that was the first big mistake WWE made.

The start of Nexus remains the same (including Bryan’s firing) until Summerslam apart from the fact that Chris Jericho wins the RAW Money in the Bank briefcase rather than The Miz. Also, for a feature that comes into play later The Hart Dynasty are still tag team champions as of the start of this rebooking.

Without any further ado here we go:

Summerslam 2010

The Nexus vs. Team WWE (John Cena, Edge, Chris Jericho, Bret Hart, R-Truth, John Morrison and Daniel Bryan)

Michael Tarver is eliminated by Bret early on following a sharpshooter. Barrett immediately comes in, hits Wasteland on Bret and pins him for the elimination. This brings in Cena who guns straight for Barrett but Barrett backtracks and tags in Skip Sheffield. Sheffield and Cena go at it as David Otunga attacks Bret while he’s been carried to the back. This causes the WWE guys and Nexus to go into an all-out brawl on the outside (minus Sheffield and Cena) which ends when Bryan comes off the top rope on to everyone.

In the ring Sheffield gets the upper hand on Cena and tags in Barrett. Barrett and Nexus beat down Cena for a prolonged period until he gets the hot tag to Bryan. Bryan cleans house. Edge comes in and works over Otunga but Otunga manages to tag Sheffield in who eliminates Edge. Morrison is next in and he hits a few high flying moves but Sheffield gets the upper hand. Sheffield tags in Barrett who dominates Morrison until he gets the hot tag to Truth. Truth gets a few hope spots after his momentum is stopped but eventually Barrett eliminates him with Wasteland.

Jericho comes in and Barrett backs away from his former mentor tagging in Darren Young. After a little while Jericho eliminates Young after connecting with a Codebreaker out of nowhere. Heath Slater comes in and works over Jericho. Barrett tags himself in and eliminates Jericho with the Lion Tamer. Morrison comes in and goes back and forth with Barrett. Barrett gets the upper hand and Nexus utilise quick tags to keep Morrison beaten down. Morrison mounts a comeback and eventually eliminates Otunga after hitting Starship Pain. Slater comes in immediately and eliminates Morrison with a roll-up, and a handful of tights.

Bryan’s back in now and laying into Slater with some stiff kicks. He eventually eliminates Slater with the LeBell Lock. Bryan and Cena work over Nexus for a while until Sheffield hits a clothesline on Cena completely changing the match. Sheffield and the rest of Nexus work Cena over until he tags Bryan in. Bryan is like a house of fire at first, taking on all remaining members of Nexus at once. Eventually the numbers game catches up with Bryan though and he is subjected to a meathook clothesline from Sheffield, Wasteland from Barrett and finally a 450 Splash from Gabriel for the elimination.

It’s three-on-one now and all three members of Nexus surround Cena. Cena tries to fight back but they beat him down. Once order is restored it is Cena and Sheffield who are in the ring. Sheffield has the upper hand but is acting cocky and it costs him as Cena manages to surprise him with an Attitude Adjustment for the elimination. Gabriel comes in and beats Cena down. He sets up for the 450 splash but Cena rolls out of the way and when Gabriel gets back up he is immediately subjected to an Attitude Adjustment which eliminates him.

It is now down to Cena and Barrett. The latter immediately hits the ring after Gabriel’s elimination and attacks Cena. Cena almost wins with the STF but Barrett manages to reach the ropes. Cena tries to pull Barrett back to the centre of the ring but Barrett will not let go of the ropes. Eventually getting to the point where Barrett has both hands on the top rope and Cena is close to the centre of the ring desperately pulling on his legs which allows Barrett to mule kick him. When Cena gets back up he turns straight into Wasteland. Barrett pins Cena and wins the match.

RAW’s leading to Night of Champions

There is a six pack elimination challenge announced (Sheamus, Cena, Orton, Barrett, Jericho and Edge). All six challengers are, naturally, aggressive with one another with Barrett and Cena particularly violent towards each other.

Night of Champions

Sheamus © vs. Chris Jericho vs. Edge vs. John Cena vs. Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett

The rules to this one are slightly different to how they were in the actual Night of Champions match. In our version Chris Jericho and Edge started the match with the next competitor entering at five minute intervals. Eliminations could occur at any time. After five minutes had elapsed Cena entered the fray. Just before the next entrant Edge eliminated Jericho with a spear. Sheamus was in next and he eliminated Edge with a Brogue Kick. As he was celebrating though the next entrant, Randy Orton, came in and dominated Sheamus. Wade Barrett entered next and focused on John Cena. Orton and Sheamus go back and forth until Orton hits an RKO but Sheamus kicks out at 2. This leads to Orton punting Sheamus and eliminating him.

Orton and Cena team up on Barrett but eventually turn on each other. This allows Barrett to hit Wasteland on Cena and eliminate him. Orton and Barrett go back and forth but with no disqualifications in a match like this Cena attacks Barrett allowing Orton to hit an RKO and win the WWE Championship.

Recap of RAW’s leading to Hell in a Cell

Nexus continue to attack Cena throughout the month. Eventually the anonymous RAW GM makes John Cena vs. Wade Barrett inside Hell in a Cell. If Cena wins Nexus must disband, if he loses he must join Nexus.

Hell in a Cell

Hell in a Cell Match: John Cena vs. Wade Barrett

Cena has the match won when the lights in the arena go out. When they come back on Nexus have surrounded the cell. Some try to get in by the door, others try to break through the roof. Gabriel and Slater break through the roof, hang and then jump down into the ring and attack Cena and then the referee before taking the key and allowing the others in through the door. They destroy the ring and everything surrounding in scenes not dissimilar to their debut. Daniel Bryan comes out to defend Cena but is taken out.

Every Nexus member hits their signature moves and then they lift a lifeless Cena on to Barrett’s shoulders for Wasteland. Nexus force the referee to count the pinfall and Barrett wins. Barrett puts the Nexus armband on Cena and then drapes a Nexus t-shirt over his body. Nexus pose over Cena as Hell in a Cell ends.

1st RAW after Hell in a Cell

Cena opens the show and apologises to the WWE Universe. He says he left everyone down last night and he will never forgive himself. Barrett interrupts and says “There’ll be no more of that as a Nexus member John. You’re behind me. You’ll do what I tell you to do, when I tell you to do it. You’re either Nexus or you’re against us, and John… you’re Nexus” Barrett then orders Cena backstage which he does looking crestfallen and staring at the Nexus armband around his bicep.

Randy Orton wins in the main event and is challenged to a WWE Title match at Bragging Rights by Barrett. Orton accepts.

2nd RAW after Hell in a Cell

The main event is Nexus (Gabriel and Cena) vs. Orton and Bryan (Orton picks Bryan to be his partner)

Nexus take over ringside (Barrett and Otunga provide commentary, Slater is the ring announcer etc.)

Nexus beat down Bryan until he tags Orton in. Orton comes in like a house of fire but is eventually shut down by the surprisingly good tag work of Cena and Gabriel. Eventually Cena hits the Attitude Adjustment on Orton. He goes for the pin but Barrett gets up off commentary and demands Cena tag in Gabriel. Cena gets in Barrett’s face but Barrett reminds him of his responsibilities so Cena obliges. Gabriel goes to the top rope and goes for a 450 Splash but Orton catches him in mid-air with an RKO out of nowhere and gets the pin before Nexus can get involved.

3rd RAW (and final before Bragging Rights)

RAW’s Anonymous General Manager announces a main event of Randy Orton versus any Nexus member. Barrett nominates Cena to be that member.

Non-Title Match: John Cena vs. Randy Orton

Orton wins a hard fought, even match with a small package. Nexus immediately attack him after the match but Cena holds back, disgusted by Nexus’ actions. Barrett grabs a microphone and shouts at Cena. He grabs at Cena’s armband and says “John, you’re Nexus!”

Barrett forces Cena to hit an Attitude Adjustment on Orton and then makes him pose with the other members in true Nexus fashion.

Bragging Rights

WWE Championship Match: Randy Orton © vs. Wade Barrett (w/ John Cena)

Orton and Barrett fight back and forth. Eventually Orton goes for his trademark clotheslines but Barrett ducks and Orton takes out the referee. Barrett demands Cena get in the ring and helpt him beat up Orton. Barrett tells him to hit the AA on Orton. Cena looks conflicted, but then turns and hits the AA on Barrett! Cena walks backstage as Orton crawls to the cover and the recovering referee slowly counts to three.

1st RAW after Bragging Rights

There is hype throughout RAW that Wade Barrett will address “the John Cena problem” at the end of the show.

Barrett says that Cena is a part of Nexus and, whether he likes it or not, he is part of the group so he has to prove his loyalty.

The Anonymous RAW GM pipes in and says that Barrett has a good idea and at Survivor Series it will be Randy Orton defending against Wade Barrett once again but with a twist. John Cena will be the special guest referee! Cena looks devastated and Barrett pulls him into Wasteland. Barrett says “You may be Nexus John but you’re not one of us. Yet.”

2nd RAW

Kofi Kingston vs. Wade Barrett

Barrett wins with Wasteland. Post-match Orton comes out to attack Barrett but is taken out by Nexus. Cena doesn’t join in and looks conflicted. Barrett demands he joins in but Cena leaves the ring and makes his way backstage.

3rd RAW

Barrett opens the show and laughs off Cena’s actions last week insisting that he knows “John will do the right thing” come Survivor Series. He also lays down a challenge for next week to Orton for a tag team match “if you can even find someone to team with you”.

In the main event Nexus are beating down Cena for his inaction last week when Orton’s music hits. He goes to come down to the ring but pauses and the turns and looks at the titantron where Edge’s music plays! Edge comes out and Rated RKO pose as the show goes off the air.

4th RAW (and final before Survivor Series)

Main Event: Nexus vs. Rated RKO

Barrett ducks out of the match saying he never stated which members of Nexus would face Orton’s team. He nominates Otunga and Cena to be the Nexus representatives in the match.

Barrett tries to interfere but Edge spears him on the outside and Orton hits the RKO on a distracted Cena for the win.

Survivor Series

WWE Championship: Randy Orton © vs. Wade Barrett – Special Guest Referee: John Cena

Getting towards the end of the match Orton ducks a Barrett clothesline which accidentally takes out Cena. Nexus interfere and take out Orton before Barrett orders them backstage. Barrett wakes Cena back up before picking up Orton and hitting him with Wasteland. Cena counts (Shawn Michaels style after he accidentally took out Undertaker and gifted Bret Hart the victory) slowly, specifically before hitting the three. He tries to get out of the ring straight away but Barrett stops him, makes Cena raise his hand and put the title around his waist. He then forces Cena to do the Nexus pose with the entire group.

1st RAW after Survivor Series

Barrett comes out and says he has achieved everything he’s wanted to achieve. He also says that even despite having the worst year of his career John Cena showed his true loyalty and solidarity with Nexus last night. Loyalty deserves reward and that’s what Barrett will do, he will reward Cena. He’s managed to secure John a Championship match tonight. In the main event John Cena will fight for the WWE… Tag Team Championship. It will be John Cena teaming with Justin Gabriel to take on The Hart Dynasty!

Main Event, WWE Tag Team Championship Match: The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd) © vs. Nexus (John Cena and Justin Gabriel)

Cena and Gabriel win clean after an Attitude Adjustment into a 450 Splash.

Barrett shakes Cena’s hand and then raises it before leaving the ring to “allow Cena to have his moment”.

2nd RAW

RAW Anonymous General Manager (his lenient attitude towards Nexus has been queried and questioned by a lot of people in WWE from wrestlers to commentators) announces the main event for TLC. A triple threat TLC match for the WWE Championship as Wade Barrett defends against Randy Orton and the winner of a #1 Contenders Match tonight between the two guys who have impressed most in the past few months – John Morrison and Sheamus (both guys have been protected in the past few months to prime them for a potential main event run).

Main Event: John Morrison (w/ The Miz) vs. Sheamus

Morrison wins via Starship Pain.

Post-match Nexus take out Morrison and Miz (Miz has recently turned face and reformed The Dirt Sheet with Morrison) until Orton’s music hits and he makes the save. Orton, Morrison and Miz stand tall as the show ends and Nexus retreat. Cena did not get involved in the beatdown.

3rd RAW

Main Event: John Morrison and Randy Orton vs. Nexus (John Cena and Wade Barrett)

Orton and Morrison win after an RKO on Barrett.

Post-match Orton RKO’s Morrison to remind him that they aren’t friends and he only cares about the WWE Championship.

4th RAW (and final before TLC)

The RAW Anonymous General Manager announces that tonight the three men in the WWE Championship match on Sunday will be in singles matches – and they will pick the opponents for one another. Orton will choose Barrett’s opponent, Barrett will choose Morrison’s opponent and Morrison will choose Orton’s opponent.

Orton chooses Bryan to take on Barrett:
Wade Barrett d. Daniel Bryan clean after Wasteland

Morrison picks Miz to take on Orton:
Randy Orton d. The Miz via RKO

And Barrett picks Cena to take on Morrison.
Main Event: John Cena vs. John Morrison

Match goes quite long with both men having periods of dominance until Cena gets the upper hand for the final time. He hits Morrison with an AA but before he can make the cover Nexus attack Morrison and take him out, causing the DQ and costing Cena the match.

Orton comes out but he too is taken out by Nexus. Barrett and Nexus do the pose. Cena looks forlorn in the corner as the show fades to black.

TLC

WWE Tag Team Championship: John Cena and Justin Gabriel © d. The Hart Dynasty to retain the Tag Titles

WWE Championship TLC Match: Wade Barrett © vs. John Morrison vs. Randy Orton

Morrison uses this chance to impress the crowd with some breathtaking athleticism. Morrison sets up a table on the outside and places Orton on top of it. He gets back in the ring and looks ready to jump out but is grabbed by Barrett. Barrett picks him up and Wastelands him from the ring onto Orton and through the table. Barrett then climbs the ladder and retrieves the title.

1st RAW after TLC

The Miz and John Morrison challenge Cena and Gabriel to a Tag Team Championship match. Gabriel and Cena look happy to accept but Wade Barrett says no.

As the show comes to its conclusion Barrett taunts the fans, bragging about his dominant win at TLC. The lights go out and a countdown appears on the screen which has fourteen days on it.

2nd RAW

Usual Christmas RAW shenanigans.

3rd RAW

The Anonymous RAW General Manager says Miz and Morrison must prove themselves if they want a Tag Team Championship match. Tonight Miz will face Cena and next week Morrison will take on Gabriel.

John Cena d. The Miz clean after an Attitude Adjustment

Wade Barrett is out in the final segment of the show, references the ‘14 Day’ promo we saw two weeks ago and demands an explanation. The lights go out and the countdown clock is at fifteen seconds, it counts down and then Chris Jericho’s music hits. Y2J comes out with his Money in the Bank briefcase in hand and announces he is cashing in for a title shot at the Royal Rumble. He says he will save WWE from Nexus. Barrett is furious.

4th RAW

John Morrison d. Justin Gabriel when Gabriel misses a 450 Splash and Morrison hits Starship Pain.

The Anonymous RAW General Manager says that since the singles challenge between the two teams brought no clear winner he has one final challenge for Miz and Morrison. They will take on Heath Slater and David Otunga next week, if they win they will get a Championship match.

Chris Jericho comes out and highlights his and Barrett’s history. Talking about the mentor/protégé relationship they had and how Jericho blames himself for the monster Barrett has become. At the Royal Rumble Jericho will bring the monster down and save the WWE.

5th RAW

John Morrison and The Miz d. Heath Slater and David Otunga after the entire Nexus is thrown out for trying to interfere.

Post-match Cena comes back out and applauds Morrison and Miz. This infuriates Gabriel who comes out as well and pushes Cena. He then points to Cena’s armband to remind him who and what he is.

Wade Barrett calls out Jericho. They go back and forth on the mic and Barrett tries to goad Jericho into cashing in now. Jericho teases it but resists and announces that Vince McMahon himself will be hosting next week’s contract signing. 

6th RAW (and final before the Royal Rumble)

Morrison and Miz call out Cena and Gabriel to have their match right here, right now. Cena and Gabriel accept and come down to the ring but Nexus attack before the match even starts. Gabriel forces Cena to hit the Attitude Adjustment on Morrison through a table. The Anonymous GM makes it a Tornado Tables match for the Rumble.

Barrett and Jericho have their contract signing and are joined by Vince McMahon. Vince announces that if Wade gets disqualified, counted out or Nexus interfere in anyway then Barrett will forfeit the belt. Barrett tries to attack Vince but Jericho grabs him, hits a Codebreaker before locking in the Walls of Jericho and Barrett taps as the show ends.

2011 Royal Rumble

WWE Tag Team Championship Tornado Tables Match: Nexus (John Cena and Justin Gabriel) © vs. John Morrison and The Miz

Miscommunication between Cena and Gabriel leads to Cena being out through a table. Gabriel is furious. Post-match Morrison and Miz are beaten down by Nexus before the entirety of Nexus (minus Barrett who is focused on his match later) beat down Cena.

WWE Championship Match: Wade Barrett © vs. Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho becomes the first person to fail to successfully cash in his Money in the Bank contract after Barrett beats him clean with the Wasteland

Royal Rumble Match:

John Cena is the surprise #30 entrant. The final four come down to John Cena, Randy Orton, Justin Gabriel and David Otunga. Orton is eliminated by Otunga and Gabriel. Cena surprises Otunga and eliminates him. Gabriel demands Cena eliminate himself. He looks like he may accept before picking up Gabriel and hitting an AA on him to the outside. Cena celebrates and Barrett looks on backstage, furious.

1st RAW after Royal Rumble:

It is announced at the beginning of the show that Wade Barrett will confront John Cena at the end of the show, in order to address Cena’s win last night at the Royal Rumble.

Barrett comes out in the last segment and demands that Cena give up his right to go to Wrestlemania, but Cena flat out refuses, saying he’s earned this shot, and he won’t give it up. The Anonymous RAW GM then pipes in, and says that Cena will still have to fight to continue to Wrestlemania to face the WWE Champion, and says that at Elimination Chamber, it will be John Cena vs. Justin Gabriel, and the winner will go to Wrestlemania.

Qualifying matches are also held for the Elimination Chamber match. Daniel Bryan, R-Truth and CM Punk qualify for the Chamber.

2nd RAW:

John Cena and Justin Gabriel receive their rematch for the WWE Tag Team Titles in the main event against Morrison and Miz. Cena fights fairly throughout and has several moments of miscommunication with Gabriel. Eventually, Cena is isolated by Morrison and Miz and needs to make the hot tag, but when he lunges for the tag, Gabriel drops off the apron, and leaves the ring leaving Cena high and dry to be finished off by Morrison and Miz.

Further qualifying matches are held for the Elimination Chamber match. Sheamus and Randy Orton qualify for the Chamber, meaning it will be Wade Barrett defending against Daniel Bryan, R-Truth, CM Punk, Sheamus and Randy Orton.

3rd RAW (and last before Elimination Chamber):

Barrett tags with CM Punk and Sheamus against Orton, Bryan and Truth in a 6 man tag. Barrett’s team wins, with Punk getting the win over Truth via GTS. There is clear tension between all 6 men, and Barrett doesn’t stick around after the match.

Justin Gabriel comes out in the last segment to address John Cena. Gabriel says that even though his tag team with Cena was successful, only a blind man couldn’t see that he was the star of the team. Gabriel says that whilst Cena has never truly bought in to Nexus, he knows that he is Nexus, and will always be Nexus, and come Elimination Chamber, he will prove his superiority. At this point, Cena comes out, and attacks Gabriel. Cena hits his classic moves, and has Gabriel in position for the AA, until Barrett comes out. Barrett demands that Cena stops, and says ‘John, Nexus members do not fight each other’. Cena puts Gabriel down and looks conflicted and moves towards the front of the ring, only to then be blindsided by Gabriel with a low blow. Gabriel then continues his assault on Cena, as Barrett smirks and walks backstage. Gabriel then finishes off the assault with his 450, almost emotionless as hits the move.

Elimination Chamber:

RAW Elimination Chamber for the WWE Title: Wade Barrett d. Daniel Bryan, R-Truth, CM Punk, Sheamus and Randy Orton.

This match opens the show. Barrett is the last entrant. When he makes his entrance, Nexus come out like Hell In A Cell and once again break their way into the cell, despite the other men trying to fight them off. They make their way into the ring and destroy everyone, hitting all of their big moves. This then allows Barrett to pin everyone and retain the WWE Title. Barrett then cuts a promo saying that nothing can stop Nexus, and that there is a bigger picture here that ‘none of you understand’.

After Barrett and Nexus leave, doctors make their way out to attend to the 5 men in the chamber. Cole, King and Striker are very awkward on commentary, with several long silences. Cole then goes to move onto the next match on the card, but King stops him and says ‘Cole this is important, this is wrong, and dammit someone needs to put a stop to this’. The cameras then stay with the footage until all 5 men are taken backstage.

John Cena d. Justin Gabriel

Midway through the match, Gabriel has Cena down in the middle of the ring. Gabriel strips Cena of his Nexus armband and shouts ‘you are not one of us!’, before slapping Cena with the armband.

Cena later gets the upper hand, but Nexus yet again interfere and surround the ring in their classic style. Cena clearly looks concerned, but is ready for the fight, shouting ‘come on!’. As Nexus go to enter the ring, the 5 men from the Elimination Chamber match make their return to the arena, fighting off Nexus. This then allows Cena to get the win over Gabriel with an AA. After the match, Cena picks up his Nexus armband, before looking at his own arm. Cena shakes his head, and places the armband on Barrett at ringside.

1st RAW after Elimination Chamber:

Cena opens the show, and looks to be about to celebrate his win when Stephanie McMahon’s music hits and she makes her way down to the ring. Stephanie says that Cena has a very short memory, because he agreed to become a member of Nexus if he lost at Hell In A Cell, and says ‘John, you lost’. She then says ‘as Barrett always says John, you ARE Nexus’. Stephanie says that by throwing down his armband at Elimination Chamber last night, Cena has gone back on his agreement, and that as a result, she is going to have to….

Cena then interrupts and says he never was Nexus, and he never will be Nexus. Cena tells Stephanie to go on and fire him, because without him, there will be no Wrestlemania Main Event. This leaves Stephanie speechless and Cena is seen to leave the arena in a car.

In the closing segment, Nexus come out in full force, and Barrett says he has a very important announcement to make. Barrett then invites King into the ring, who initially refuses, but Tarver and Slater leave the ring and confront King, forcing him to enter the ring with the rest of Nexus. Barrett says that he heard what King said last night about Nexus being ‘wrong’, and calls him a hypocrite.  Barrett says that Nexus is the future of the WWE. Barrett says that King himself was hardly a shining white knight throughout his career, and only did the ‘right thing’ when he became older, and weak. Barrett says that if this was 20 years ago in Memphis, King would have been a member of Nexus, probably his Number 2.  This angers King who punches Barrett, but is then attacked by the rest of Nexus, who proceed to destroy him. Barrett gets several hard hits in on King, and finishes the attack with Wasteland. Cole questions why John Cena hasn’t returned to the arena to defend King, and questions whether or not he has decided to rejoin Nexus.

2nd RAW:

Cole opens the show by apologising for criticising John Cena at the end of last week’s show. Cole then introduces handheld footage from outside the arena at last week’s RAW which shows John Cena trying to get into the arena, with security refusing to let him back in and then attacking Cena when he tries to force his way in. Cole says that they are unsure why the security attacked Cena, but that he is in no way to blame for what happened last week.

Cole and Striker then recap what happened last week and announce that Cena won’t be here this week as a result of the attack he suffered from the security. Cole then goes on a tirade about Nexus, saying that all 6 members should be fired for what they did to King last week, a defenceless man. Cole says they’ve just gone too far this time and words don’t even do any justice to how disgusting and despicable they are.

At this point, Paul Heyman comes out and joins the commentary team. Cole is stunned and asks Heyman what he’s doing here, but before Heyman can respond, Nexus interrupt the television feed with ‘A History of Nexus’ video package, which goes through everything Nexus have done since their debut several months ago. After the video cuts out, Striker says ‘I didn’t have that on the format Cole, did you?’ to which Cole just says no, and moves on.

Later in the show, Barrett and the rest of Nexus bump into Vince and Stephanie backstage. Barrett and Vince look at each other, but say nothing before both groups go their separate ways. In the closing segment, Barrett comes out and cuts a promo, and reveals that the security that attacked John Cena at the end of last week’s RAW were paid off by Nexus. Barrett again says that there is a bigger picture at play here, and that Cena has no idea what he’s getting himself into. Barrett then says that everyone has no idea how high up Nexus’ power goes.

3rd RAW:

Cena makes his return to RAW in the closing segment. Cena comes out alone and questions where the security came from two weeks ago. Cena says that Nexus may have ordered the security, but that there’s someone higher up that’s pulling the strings that Wade Barrett isn’t holding. Cena says that he trusts absolutely no-one in WWE management, and questions whether Vince and Stephanie are the real masterminds behind Nexus. After all, they are as high as power goes in WWE. At this point, Nexus’ music hits, and they begin to make their way down to the ring, clearly preparing to attack Cena. Cena then says ‘you know Wade, you should realise by now, I’m not stupid. I’ve brought backup’. At this point, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, R-Truth and Sheamus make their way through the crowd and stand side by side with Cena in the middle of the ring. This stops Nexus in their tracks, and Barrett smirks and orders Nexus to retreat.

It is announced on WWE.com that next week on RAW, there will be a Contract Negotiation for the WWE Title match at Wrestlemania between Wade Barrett and John Cena, and that Vince and Stephanie McMahon will be leading the negotiations!

4th RAW:

Vince and Stephanie come out together to begin the negotiations. Vince and Stephanie introduce Barrett first, who saunters his way to the ring with the WWE Title over his shoulder. Vince and Stephanie then go to introduce Cena, but Cena’s music hits in the middle of their intro and he makes his way to the ring, looking all business. Cena and Barrett immediately get in each other’s face, but Vince demands that they separate and sit down. Barrett and Cena constantly make jabbing comments at each other, but they finally get down to the matter at hand - the stipulation for Wrestlemania, but not before Barrett says that he wanted Cena to become a fully fledged part of Nexus. Barrett says he saw Cena as becoming his right hand man, the Major to his General. Barrett then says that clearly that will never happen, and the two of them could never coexist in the same group. Barrett then says he understands that the WWE Title will be on the line, but he says that he has everything to lose here, and Cena has nothing. Barrett then says that if he’s going to put up the most prized possession in his life, then Cena must do the same - with his career. This takes Cena aback, but he agrees to the stipulation, with a caveat. If he wins, then not only will he win the WWE Championship, but Nexus will be forced to disband. This stuns Barrett, but after some pressure by Cena, he eventually agrees to the terms, and the pair sign the contracts for Wrestlemania.

Cena then turns to Vince and Stephanie, and says that he still doesn’t trust them, not particularly because they’ve done anything wrong, but because he just doesn’t trust anyone in management right now. Vince says that he has nothing to do with Nexus, to which Cena replies for Vince to prove it, by sanctioning a 10 man elimination tag team match at Wrestlemania, Randy Orton, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus and R-Truth against the rest of Nexus. Vince seems to like the idea, and sanctions the match, much to Barrett’s disgust. Cena then smiles at Barrett, points at the WWE Title, and leaves.

5th RAW:

Cena opens the show and makes his way to the ring, but before he can say anything, the Anonymous RAW GM pipes in, and says that since Cena hasn’t wrestled since Elimination Chamber, so he needs a warm up before Wrestlemania. The GM announces that tonight, Cena will face Nexus’ Michael Tarver, and next week he will face Heath Slater.

Cena d. Tarver

Cena pins Tarver after an AA, and Barrett is seen backstage watching on a monitor, but doesn’t come out to ringside.

6th RAW (and last before Wrestlemania 27):

Barrett comes out midway through the show, and demands a mic from ringside. Barrett says that at Wrestlemania, not only will be retain his WWE Title, but he will take great delight in ending the pathetic career of the leader of the CeNation, John Cena. Barrett says he has always been the better man, and that on Sunday, he will prove it, and Nexus will continue their dominance over WWE. You’re either Nexus, or you’re against us, and John Cena has always been against us.

John Cena d. Heath Slater (DQ)

Cena has Slater in the STF, but Barrett attacks Cena, causing the DQ. The rest of Nexus attack Cena, and the 5 men in the Elimination Tag match make their way down to the ring, and a brawl ensues, continuing as RAW goes off the air.

Wrestlemania 27

10 Man Elimination Tag Team Match: Randy Orton, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Sheamus and R-Truth vs. Justin Gabriel, David Otunga, Michael Tarver, Heath Slater and Darren Young

List of eliminations:

Darren Young is eliminated (Sheamus; Brogue Kick)
R-Truth is eliminated (Gabriel; 450 Splash)
Sheamus is eliminated (Tarver; The 1.9)
Michael Tarver is eliminated (Bryan; LeBell Lock)
Bryan is eliminated (Gabriel; 450 Splash)
David Otunga is eliminated (CM Punk; Go To Sleep)
Heath Slater is eliminated (Orton; RKO)
Justin Gabriel is eliminated (Randy Orton; RKO and then CM Punk; Anaconda Vice)

WWE Championship: Wade Barrett (c) vs. John Cena

Towards the end, Barrett has the upper hand and is readying Cena for Wasteland. Cena counters out however and grabs Barrett’s leg for the STF, but Barrett scrambles to the ropes, and reaches the top. He tries to mule kick Cena like he did at Summerslam, but Cena moves out of the way and lifts him into the AA. Barrett slips out of this though and pushes Cena, who goes flying into the referee. Cena is down, and Barrett get a chair from ringside, and measures Cena. Barrett goes for the chair shot, but Cena ducks and hits Barrett with the AA. Cena goes for the pin, but there’s no referee. At this point, Paul Heyman leaves his position at commentary, saying that he has to revive the referee because someone needs to count the pin. A second referee then makes his way down the aisle, and slides into the ring to make the count. 1………2…….. and Heyman pulls the referee out of the ring! Heyman then attacks the referee, knocking him down! Cena then realises what’s happening and goes to chase Heyman, who runs around the ring. Heyman slides into the ring as Cena follows, but is met by a chair shot to the ribs by Barrett, who then follows up with one to the back! Barrett then hits Wasteland on Cena on the chair, as Heyman picks up the referee, and throws him into the ring, shouting ‘COUNT!’. The referee then slowly counts to 3, and Barrett retains the WWE Title, meaning John Cena’s career is over. Cole and Striker are shocked and appalled at ringside, and Nexus make their way out to the ring to celebrate with Barrett, as Heyman poses with Nexus as Wrestlemania goes off the air.

So there we go the sixth edition of the rebooking series. This was one me and Jonathon had earmarked from the very beginning when we were first discussing starting the rebooking series. We had always thought the booking of this angle was awfully botched and so much less than it could have been and we sought to rectify that with this rebooking.

You may think that we have ended this on somewhat of a cliffhanger and that wasn’t an accident. We plan to revisit this rebooking and finish it off in a later rebooking edition all the way to the conclusion of Nexus as a group.

We hope you enjoyed reading this angle and we hope you’ll be back to read the next instalment. For the time being you can follow me (@watadam20) and Jonathon (@JLAspey) on twitter for any updates on the rebooking series. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave any comments below.