Fantasy Booking: The Nexus (Part 4)

Welcome back to the fantasy booking. The Nexus have taken out several top stars and have even dismantled CM Punk’s Straight Edge Society. In Part 3, Wade Barrett’s WWE Championship reign continued to build momentum, but it hasn’t been perfect. Barrett has become obsessed with the WWE Title, and some members are starting to become frustrated with his leadership. Meanwhile, Randy Orton and the returning Sheamus are itching to tear the group apart.

Fantasy Booking: The Nexus (Part 3)

Part 4 picks up on the road to TLC, where Barrett’s WWE Championship will be up for grabs in a threat threat TLC match against both Orton and Sheamus. With Nexus banned from ringside after the anonymous Raw General Manager’s threat, Barrett knows he’ll get the beating of a lifetime at TLC. But will he step up and find a way to retain the belt all by himself? Will Nexus show up and face serious consequences? Or will TLC mark the end of Wade Barrett’s WWE Championship reign? There’s only one way to find out. Enjoy!

Chapter 5: Pressure Building At The Top

Raw – November 29, 2010

Barrett cuts a promo about his dominance:

I am the single most dominant WWE Champion of all time because I represent more than myself. I represent a movement. But now the Raw General Manager has neutered my movement. I’ll just say this once:

If I go down at TLC, I’m not going down alone!

Later, in the locker room…

The Nexus talk without Barrett present. Otunga proposes a “loophole”:
If WE can’t interfere… what about someone else?

Daniel Bryan raises an eyebrow:
You mean Miz!?

Otunga just smirks. Justin Gabriel doesn’t like the idea:
Miz is a weasel, man. He’ll cash-in on Barrett, not help him.

Otunga replies:
Or maybe, we turn Orton and Sheamus against each other. Let THEM take themselves out of the way.

Seeds planted.

Main event: Randy Orton vs Justin Gabriel

They have a competitive match. Gabriel actually gets a lot of offense and even a few nearfalls. Orton sells the idea that Gabriel is fast and dangerous, putting him over big time. Barrett comes down to the ring during the match but doesn’t interfere. Orton ultimately wins with the RKO.

Post-match, Orton looks at Barrett and challenges him for a fight, but Barrett smiles and walks away. Sheamus shows up in the ring and hits the Brogue Kick on Gabriel. The Nexus immediately enter the ring, with the other face midcarders (Morrison, Truth, Henry, Bourne & Santino) running in as well. Raw ends with everyone throwing fists inside the ring.

Raw – December 6, 2010

Backstage, Randy Orton and Sheamus have gathered the five midcard babyfaces. Orton says their efforts in fighting Nexus are appreciated, but they can’t afford another distraction in a big match, especially now that Nexus are banned from ringside.

Allow us to handle our own business – says Orton in his cold, deliberate tone.

Santino Marella raises his hand like a kid in school:
Hmmm hmmm, excuse me Urandy Ortan. But if-a, you know, we accidentally… sleep the banana peel? It happens-a!

Orton just stares at him with a death glare. Santino slowly backs off and whispers in R-Truth’s ear: You said-a da viper likes da banana.

Mark Henry steps up, serious now – Look man, we’ve been trying to help because Nexus has the numbers advantage. We’re just doing what we can.

Sheamus suddenly gets a bit closer to Henry and says they don’t need any help. Henry gets right in his face:
Oh, this is just about you and Orton now? Nexus hasn’t messed with anyone else but you, right? We’ve all been targets, Sheamus.

The tension is high until Orton speaks again: Stay out of it. If we’re going to take Barrett down, it’ll be on our terms.

Wade Barrett vs Evan Bourne

Barrett gets a strong win in the ring without any help at all. He dominates most of the match and wins clean with the Wasteland. He grabs a microphone afterwards:

This is what I look like without The Nexus at ringside. Still dominant. Still the champion. You see, I don’t NEED them; I LEAD them.

Main event: Sheamus vs Daniel Bryan

Hard-hitting match. Bryan impresses, but Sheamus powers through and gets the win with a Brogue Kick in midair.

Barrett appears on the stage again during the match. Sheamus invites him this time, and Barrett almost accepts… but again backs away, jawing at him from a distance.

Backstage, Orton is watching the monitor expressionless. Calculating. Snake stuff, you know!

Raw – December 13, 2010

Go-home episode before TLC.

The show opens with a tense contract signing for the upcoming WWE Championship match. The ring is surrounded by tables, ladders and chairs. Wade Barrett, Randy Orton and Sheamus each take turns signing the contract. Barrett brags about how he’s already beaten everyone put in front of him, while Sheamus and Orton remind him that Nexus won’t be there this time.

As Orton gets in Barrett’s face, Sheamus shoves him aside, claiming he’ll be the one leaving TLC with the title. Orton doesn’t appreciate that, and fists start flying. Chairs get launched and all hell breaks loose as Sheamus and Orton beat up Barrett. But then, The Nexus arrive.

The numbers overwhelm Sheamus and Orton once again. Young and Bryan restrain Orton while Otunga and Slater smash Sheamus with chair shots. When Barrett recovers, he orders the destruction: Orton and Sheamus are both put through tables as Barrett simply raises his belt over the fallen challengers.

Backstage, the face midcarders are seen watching the monitor, looking ready to rush out and help. That’s when Mark Henry steps in front of them and says: No. Let them learn the lesson the hard way. The others reluctantly stand down.

After the commercial break…

Wade Barrett is in the back with all the Nexus members.

Great job, lads. But remember, this Sunday there can be no interference. We can’t afford it. Do you understand me? All of Nexus nod, but Otunga mutters to Gabriel:
In case Wade’s about to lose… we’re not just gonna watch, are we?

Main event segment

Wade Barrett walks confidently to the ring surrounded by Nexus. He must surrender the championship belt, which will be hanging above the ring at TLC. He lets the championship go, and then smugly thanks Nexus for the “statement” they made earlier. Barrett claims that what happened tonight is exactly what will happen at TLC.

Sheamus’ music hits. He limps onto the stage, holding a chair. But Randy Orton blindsides him from behind and it leads to another brawl. Orton and Sheamus eventually storm the ring and take the fight to Barrett, but the numbers are too much. Barrett orders a repeat of the table spot from earlier when…

SOMEBODY’S GONNA GET THEIR ASS KICKED!

Mark Henry‘s music hits and he comes out with Morrison, Bourne, R-Truth and Santino. They charge down the ramp with chairs, and the crowd explodes as they clear the ring. Wade Barrett is yanked from the ring at the last second, and Nexus escape up the ramp. As Orton and Sheamus slowly recover in the ring, Henry turns and gives both men a long, deliberate stare, almost as if to say “I just saved your ass”.

Sheamus and Orton glare back as Raw goes off the air with the camera panning up to Barrett’s WWE Championship hanging above the ring. They start fighting each other in the last seconds of the episode. Will it come down to Sheamus vs Orton over the title at TLC?

TLC – December 19, 2010

During the show, we cut to Sheamus pacing in the locker room as Mark Henry, John Morrison, R-Truth, Santino Marella and Evan Bourne enter. Sheamus immediately gets in their face.

Listen up, fellas – he growls. I get it. I appreciate what you did last Monday night on Raw. But I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again. Later tonight it’s between me, Randy and Barrett. We don’t need anyone else getting involved. If you even think about coming out there… I’ll kick your heads off. Got it?

Even me? I’m a very small-a target! – asks Santino with his hand raised. Sheamus stares at him coldly: ESPECIALLY YOU. Santino gulps and slowly lowers his hand.

Mark Henry steps forward: We hear you loud and clear. But don’t forget WE are the only reason you two are still medically cleared to compete in the main event. He stares Sheamus dead in the eye before all of them walk away.

Right before the main event…

Randy Orton RKOs Santino backstage. Just in case!

Main event: WWE Championship TLC Match – Wade Barrett(c) vs Sheamus vs Randy Orton

Wade Barrett enters last. He tries to look confident, but he’s terrified. From the moment the bell rings, Sheamus and Orton are united in one goal: to punish Wade Barrett. The leader of The Nexus does not hit one move throughout this entire match. That’s right, not ONE. He’s systematically dismantled the whole time, with Sheamus and Orton beating him up with weapon shots and several finishers from both men. Barrett pays for everything he’s done ever since the summer, and the crowd loves every second of it.

Finally, they team up for one last act of retribution, hoisting Barrett up and double-powerbombing him through the announce table. Barrett lies motionless and remains there as it does indeed come down to Randy Orton vs Sheamus for the WWE Championship, just like they promised. They slug it out with ladders, each trying desperately to climb to the top. Both men finally reach the top of the ladder and begin trading blows, until both fall from the ladder and take each other out.

AWESOME!

It’s The Miz! He’s going to cash it in. Miz is alone in the ring waiting for the official Money in the Bank cash-in announcement but… The Nexus hit the ring!

They don’t care about the warning anymore; they couldn’t sit back and simply watch Barrett lose the title. Miz runs away with the briefcase, so they start beating up Orton and Sheamus instead… Cue Morrison, Truth, Henry & Bourne to even the odds despite what Sheamus said earlier! A wild brawl breaks out all over ringside. In the chaos, Sheamus sees Mark Henry and hits the Brogue Kick. Henry collapses, distracting all the babyfaces and ultimately allowing Nexus to take control.

They beat up everyone, saving Orton and Sheamus for last. With the ring cleared, The Nexus put Barrett back in the ring. David Otunga hoists Barrett onto his shoulders and literally carries him up the ladder, essentially winning the match FOR his leader. Wade Barrett unhooks the WWE Championship belt and raises it high while selling the beating he took. The final pay-per-view of 2010 ends with Barrett clutching the title, smirking despite being half-conscious, while the rest of Nexus raise his arms.

The consequence is now hanging over their heads, but Barrett leaves TLC 2010 still the WWE Champion.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Thanks for reading. I hope you liked it!

What will happen next? Is this the end of The Nexus or does this mean NOTHING can stop them? Stay tuned for Part 5, which is coming soon.