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Wade Barrett has gone from delivering Bull Hammers in the ring to calling the action from the commentary table—and it’s completely shifted how he views the wrestling world. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion, who last wrestled in 2016, returned to WWE in 2020 as a commentator and has been thriving in his new role ever since.
Barrett discussed in a recent chat with PWMania.com, explaining how his perspective has evolved since stepping away from competing. “The big change when you move from being an in-ring guy to a commentator is the show is no longer about you,” he said. “It’s about enhancing everybody else… It’s every character, every storyline, anything you can do to add a little sprinkle of sugar on every minute of the show.”
The former King of the Ring winner admitted that his mindset as a performer was much narrower. “Historically, Wade Barrett may have been on that show for 10 or 15 minutes… That was really all I cared about. The important part of the show was the bit that I was on,” he confessed. But now, as a commentator, Barrett has to see the bigger picture and understand how the entire show fits together.
Barrett also gave props to WWE’s creative team and management, acknowledging the behind-the-scenes complexities he didn’t fully grasp as a wrestler. “I understand, ‘Hey, this guy’s really good… but we can’t have him win here because the plan for next month is to put this match and this match together,’” he said. “My appreciation of how the mental gymnastics that management and the creative team have to go through… I have a whole new appreciation for that.”
Barrett’s commentary gig has not only given him fresh insight into WWE’s creative process but also a newfound respect for how storylines come together week after week.
Do you think Wade Barrett’s shift to commentary has brought a unique perspective to WWE’s storytelling? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
November 22, 2024 5:09 pm
Felix Upton is a seasoned writer with over 30 years of experience. He began his career writing advertisements for local newspapers in New York before transitioning to publishing news for Ringside News. His expertise includes writing, editing, research, photo editing, and video editing. In his free time, he enjoys bungee jumping and learning extinct languages.
