Wade Barrett has praised the shift in WWE’s management philosophy under Triple H, saying the current approach to sustaining superstar momentum represents a change from the Vince McMahon era, which failed to capitalize on his considerable rise during the Nexus period.
Speaking on NotSam Wrestling, Barrett reflected on the stark difference between how WWE handles momentum today and how it did when he was one of the company’s most talked-about performers in the early 2010s as the leader of Nexus.
“I think management today are a lot better than they were back in my day at that,” Barrett said. “And I think when a certain Superstar, whoever it may be, has some momentum, I think the emphasis from management and creative these days is to continue to build upon that momentum. Whereas, that was not the attitude back in the era that we are referring to when I was in Nexus. So I think there is a significant change there.”
Barrett said the change in environment also affects how he engages with younger talent on the roster today, noting that his own bitter experience does not translate into cynicism when talking to the current generation.
“I’m not going up to the young guys going, hey guys, trust me, you think your dreams are getting made? No, they’re gonna get ruined. This business will break your heart, kid, trust me on that,” Barrett said. “I’m not doing that.”
Barrett’s comments are particularly pointed given his own history. Despite leading one of the most talked-about angles in WWE at the time, his momentum was never fully converted into a sustained main-event run, a situation he has acknowledged in multiple interviews over the years as a source of personal frustration. He now works as a commentator for WWE after returning to the company in 2020.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit NotSam Wrestling with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
