Corre and The Nexus

The Nexus was formed after the NXT season 1 was over; Wade Barret won the season and was given a contract for WWE. The seven losers of the season were left jobless. Barret immediately began performing on Raw. On the Viewer's Choice edition of Raw, the group debuted during the main event between WWE Champion John Cena and CM Punk sporting matching armbands with the letter N. Barrett led the group in an attack on Cena, Punk, Luke Gallows, Jerry Lawler, Matt Striker, Justin Roberts, and other WWE personnel around the ring. They also began destroying everything at ringside, including the announce table and the ring itself. During the attack, Daniel Bryan strangled ring announcer Justin Roberts with Roberts' necktie and also spit on Cena's face. This led to WWE releasing Bryan as they reportedly felt those acts were too violent for their TV-PG programming. His absence was explained by Barrett saying that Bryan had felt remorse for his actions and as a result was kicked out of the group.

A week later, the group explained their actions as retribution for the poor treatment they received from WWE management during their time on NXT. The attack was also to threaten WWE into giving the remaining six members WWE contracts. Raw General Manager Bret Hart declined the demand and fired Barrett. When Hart then ordered the whole Raw roster to stand guard at the ringside and stage areas during the main event, Nexus attacked Hart backstage by forcing him into a limousine and crashing it into other vehicles. During the Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view, Nexus interfered in the main event for the WWE Championship, attacking all the wrestlers involved. Sheamus used the interference to win the title from John Cena. The group then spent the next few weeks attacking various WWE figures, such as Hall of Famer Ricky Steamboat on the July 19 edition of Raw. Nexus continued their attacks on the Raw roster by first attacking Edge and then Chris Jericho, after the two longtime rivals attempted to manipulate the group against each other. Later on in the show, Barrett defeated Mark Henry in a singles match. After that, Barrett and Nexus asked Cena to join them. Cena refused and said that he would take them all down at SummerSlam and that he had found some help to do it. Cena revealed his team one by one; the members were Edge, John Morrison, R-Truth, The Great Khali, Chris Jericho and Bret Hart. Team WWE defeated Nexus at SummerSlam, featuring a returning Daniel Bryan, who joined Team WWE as a surprise member. At Bragging Rights 2010, Nexus won their first titles in the WWE when David Otunga and John Cena defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre to win the titles.

Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel won the Tag Team Championship, after beating Otunga and Cena in a match in which Barrett ordered Otunga to lie down and be pinned, because of Otunga questioning Barretts leadership. Barrett then wanted John Cena to join The Nexus, but Cena refused and it lead to further consequences form Nexus. Nexus attacked Cena every week and then Barrett challenged Cena to match were if he lost he would have to join Nexus. Unfortunately Cena lost and was forced to join Nexus. Week after week Barrett would use Cena for help in his matches. Barrett received a title shot for the WWE Championship against Randy Orton. Barrett won a match against Orton by DQ. Who then as a result was allowed to select his own special guest referee for his WWE Championship match against Orton at Survivor Series. Barrett chose Cena and declared that if he doesn't win the title at the pay-per-view, Cena will be fired but if he does, Cena will be relieved of all of his responsibilities to Nexus. Randy Orton had won the match, Cena was fired. He came out the next night on Raw and gave a farewell, but it wasn't over. Cena continued to show up week after week slowly taking out each Nexus Member. Barrett then had enough and reinstated Cena to the WWE and challenged Cena to a match at TLC, Cena defeated Barrett by Attitude Adjusting him on to 6 steel chairs. This caused Barrett to be out of action for a few weeks. CM punk then talked with Nexus to become the new leader of the group. Acquiring the position after Barrett lost a Steel Cage match against Randy Orton and Sheamus, in which he would lose his status as leader and be exiled from Nexus should he lose the match. On January 10, 2011, Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater left the group, after refusing to follow CM Punk's orders of initiation, to join Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson on SmackDown. The group now called The Corre, while Husky Harris, Michael McGillicutty, and David Otunga successfully completed the initiation, and stayed in Nexus. On the January 17 edition of Raw, Mason Ryan joined Nexus.It is now a War between two alliances... The Corre and The Nexus.

Article by Wes