CM Punk & Nexus - What's next?

Those of you who watched Raw last night caught CM Punk emerge as the new leader of Nexus, as Wade Barrett has apparently been ousted from the group. It’s GREAT seeing CM Punk in such a critical role on Raw, and I really hope that this feud lasts until WrestleMania. After his stellar work the past couple of years, he really deserves a high profile match. And Nexus is an established group that I think has a lot of fuel left in its tank, so I’m glad that they’ve figured out a way to keep them as a focal point of the show. I’m really intrigued with the possibilities, and I’m really anxious to see what’s going to happen next. However, there are a few things I really hope they don’t do:

DON’T reveal that CM Punk was the mastermind behind Nexus. There’s no need to rewrite history here. And, for that matter, going back and saying that Punk was behind it all would cause more headaches than necessary. As many of you recall, CM Punk was wrestling John Cena the night Nexus debuted, and they beat the tar out of Punk and the rest of the Straight Edge Society as well. Why would they do that if Punk was in actuality their leader? To simply say it was a ruse is lazy and unconvincing. Why bother pretending to beat him up? It certainly wasn’t to Punk’s benefit.

And that’s the other problem. While Nexus was dominating Raw, Punk was getting his ass handed to him by the Big Show on Smackdown. What sort of mastermind would CM Punk be if his underlings were garnering all of this success while he was struggling to stay afloat?

Basically, they’re better off just saying that Punk seized an opportunity and made a deal with the remaining members of Nexus while Barrett was out of commission. One of those “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” deals.

DON’T drape CM Punk in yellow and black N’s. Back when Stone Cold Steve Austin joined the Alliance during the Invasion angle, it was imperative that Austin wore the WCW logo t-shirt in order to establish that he’s part of this team. For a long time, he didn’t, and quite honestly the angle struggled. Austin was acting like his WWE personality and really didn’t seem like he was part of this group. Yet the whole angle was built on the premise of him being their leader.

However, I take the opposite stance with CM Punk. He has a unique and gravitating look and personality, and it would be a mistake to have him conform so that he’s just another member of this group. I don’t have a problem with him wearing the Nexus arm band (it would be strange if he didn’t), but I don’t think he should wear the logo t-shirt or replace the color scheme of his Chicago-inspired trunks. Nor should he ditch his current and recognizable theme music. As the expression goes, go with what brought you to the dance. Don’t change what made Punk successful.

DON’T turn Wade Barrett face. One of the biggest questions being asked is, “Where does this leave Wade Barrett?” Honestly, I don’t know. Does he stay with Nexus under Punk’s leadership? Does he distance himself from the group and drift into obscurity like Darren Young? Or does he return as a face, fighting against the group he once led? While the last option would be something different, I think it would be a mistake. Barrett is a natural heel, and there’s a lot more he can offer as a main event level villain. Why not move him over to Smackdown, where he can continue his routine with a whole new crop of Superstars? When Edge is finished with Kane, he’s going to need a new heel to feud with (after Alberto Del Rio, is there anybody left?) The WrestleMania possibilities are wide open, and I could easily see matches against Mysterio, Edge, Taker, or Big Show. Now is not the time for Barrett to turn face.