Wade Barrett Reacts to John Cena’s “Burying Mediocrity” Comment on WWE RAW – During Monday’s episode of WWE RAW, John Cena addressed long-standing claims that he had “buried” talent throughout his career. While engaging in a promo battle with Cody Rhodes, Cena firmly denied these accusations, stating that he didn’t bury talent—he buried mediocrity.
This comment drew a reaction from Wade Barrett, who was on commentary during RAW. Barrett, the former leader of The Nexus, shared a post on social media seemingly responding to Cena’s remark.
Barrett’s reaction can be seen here.
The Nexus and SummerSlam 2010
Barrett was at the forefront of The Nexus, a faction made up of NXT Season 1 rookies, including David Otunga, Justin Gabriel, Heath Slater, Darren Young, Skip Sheffield, and Michael Tarver. The group made a massive impact upon debuting in 2010, launching a takeover of RAW and feuding with WWE’s top stars, including John Cena.
The rivalry led to a highly anticipated 7-on-7 elimination match at SummerSlam 2010, where The Nexus battled Team WWE (Cena, Edge, Chris Jericho, Bret Hart, John Morrison, R-Truth, and Daniel Bryan). Reports at the time suggested that the original plan was for Barrett to win the match, which would have solidified Nexus as a dominant force.
However, according to Heath Slater, WWE changed the finish just before the show, resulting in Team WWE emerging victorious. The loss significantly derailed The Nexus’ momentum, and by the end of 2010, Cena literally buried Barrett under a pile of steel chairs in a symbolic moment that many saw as the faction’s downfall.
By early 2011, The Nexus was under new leadership, with CM Punk taking over the group. However, the faction never regained its original momentum.
Cena vs. Rhodes at WrestleMania 41
Cena’s RAW promo, where he dismissed the notion of burying talent, came ahead of his Undisputed WWE Championship match against Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41. The event will mark Cena’s return to a WrestleMania main event, as part of his ongoing farewell tour.
Given Barrett’s history with Cena and his reaction to Monday’s comment, it’s clear that the debate over The Nexus’ fate remains a point of contention even years later.
Wade Barrett Reacts to John Cena’s “Burying Mediocrity” Comment on WWE RAW
