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WWE News: King Barrett’s Imminent Departure Causing Problems For Him?

By Mark Suleymanov
Published on: 00:36 PST, Mar 12, 2016

King Barrett is scheduled to leave the WWE this summer, and several performers in the company were reportedly not happy that news about his departure leaked, according to Daily Wrestling News.

Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet reported last month that Barrett gave WWE notice that he would not re-sign with the company after his current deal expires in June. The report stated that Barrett, a multiple-time WWE Intercontinental champion, was not happy with his position in the company and wanted to pursue outside interests.

Daily Wrestling News’ report states that several WWE superstars are not happy that Barrett is leaving over “creative issues.” When the news broke, several WWE superstars took to social media to address the rumors of Barrett’s WWE future. “The Big Guy” Ryback appeared to have an interest in keeping Barrett’s memory alive after he departs.

However, other WWE superstars were not so kind. Current WWE Tag Team champion and New Day member Big E took a shot at Barrett, saying he had not noticed the former bare-knuckle fighter on television in years.

Barrett responded to Big E’s tweet by saying “2014? That was before Xavier Woods gave you a personality injection, right?” Barrett followed up that question by attaching a link of himself cutting a promo on Big E during a WWE Main Event segment in 2014.

Perhaps the strongest comment came from the official Facebook page of Randy Orton. A video from a match between both men was posted with Orton calling Barrett a “coward.” However, it’s unclear if it was actually Orton who wrote that because most of the Facebook pages of WWE superstars are not run by the superstars themselves.

With so much speculation surrounding Barrett’s WWE status, he addressed the rumors on Twitter. The Preston, England, native was coy in his statement, not giving much information in regards to his status.

Barrett, whose real name is Stuart Bennett, signed with the WWE in 2007 and worked the company’s developmental system until 2010. He made his main roster debut on the inaugural season of NXT, winning the competition and a future WWE title match in the process. However, he first formed the Nexus, a group of rebels from NXT who wreaked havoc on the roster.

Image via Ed Webster | Wikimedia Commons| Cropped and Resized | CC BY-SA 2.0
Image via Ed Webster | Wikimedia Commons| Cropped and Resized | CC BY-SA 2.0

The Nexus angle was one of WWE’s most compelling in years as the violence that Barrett and his group were responsible for led to increased fan intrigue. After a key loss to Team WWE at SummerSlam 2010, the Nexus quickly fell apart and was no longer a Barrett-led stable by early 2010. After several failed attempts at WWE championship gold and a forgetful run with another faction, The Corre, Barrett cemented himself as a midcard mainstay.

Barrett is currently a part of the League of Nations faction alongside Alberto Del Rio, Rusev, and Sheamus. The international foursome has been together for several months and will compete tonight at WWE Roadblock. Barrett and Sheamus will team to face New Day for the WWE Tag Team titles.

Several serious injuries, including a dislocated elbow and separated shoulder, have stifled Barrett and his chances at a main event spot in WWE. He changed his gimmick from Wade Barrett to Bad News Barrett in 2013 before changing it to King Barett following his King of the Ring (KOTR) win last year. Barrett is a former five-time Intercontinental champion in addition to his KOTR victory.

[Image via Anton Jackson| Wikimedia Commons| Cropped and Resized | CC BY-SA 2.0 ]

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