The Nexus debuted in WWE during the summer of 2010 ensuing chaos on Monday Night Raw. Led by the winner of season one of NXT, Wade Barrett, the faction destroyed the arena and assaulted everyone who got in their way. The group of NXT rookies engaged in high profile feuds with the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton.
Nexus was most notable for interfering in matches, rather than the matches they had as a group. However, their leader, Wade Barrett, had some great outings as part of the powerhouse stable. They also had a pair of elimination tags and other exciting bouts.
10 The Nexus Vs John Cena (Raw 7/12/2010)
John Cena had the unfortunate task of facing The Nexus in a six-on-one handicap match. Even the face of WWE couldn't defeat all six men at once. This handicap bout isn't notable as a classic wrestling match. Its significance lies in seeing all of The Nexus, except one, in the ring at the same time.
The group would destroy Cena, hitting him with all their finishers before pinning him. The only Nexus member missing from this match was Darren Young, as Cena had taken him out before the match.
9 Wade Barrett Vs Randy Orton (Survivor Series 2010)
Wade Barrett challenging for Randy Orton's WWE Championship with John Cena as the special guest referee at Survivor Series was a match all about the finish. It didn't matter what happened in the ring. It was all about what John Cena would do. If Barrett lost, Cena would be fired but if he won, Cena would be free.
While the action leading up to the finish was nothing special, the finish was indeed exciting. Cena refused to help Barrett cheat to win the title and instead counted three after Orton nailed Barrett with an RKO. Cena was fired in kayfabe for his trouble, though it didn't last long.
8 Wade Barrett Vs Chris Jericho (Raw 8/16/2010)
The night after The Nexus lost in the huge SummerSlam 2010 main event, Wade Barrett decided that every member of The Nexus would compete for their spot in the group in a series of singles matches. Barrett wrestled none other than his NXT pro, Chris Jericho.
Barrett proved he could hang in a match with one of WWE's best. Jericho and Barrett actually had great chemistry. He reversed Jericho's attempt at a Codebreaker into his Wasteland finisher and pinned his former pro.
7 Wade Barrett Vs Randy Orton (Bragging Rights 2010)
This was Wade Barrett's biggest test since debuting on Raw with The Nexus. This was his first one-on-one WWE Championship match and pay-per-view main event only a couple of months after his debut.
After defeating John Cena at Hell In A Cell, he ordered Cena to make sure he won the match. Cena made sure Barrett won by attacking him, giving him the DQ victory but not the title. This would lead to a rematch at Survivor Series.
6 Wade Barrett Vs Randy Orton Vs Sheamus (Raw 1/3/2011)
Wade Barrett's leadership of The Nexus actually lasted for less than a year. If he was to lose this triple threat steel cage match against Randy Orton and Sheamus, he would be exiled from the group. Thanks to the man who would become the new Nexus leader, CM Punk, Barrett lost the match.
A triple threat steel cage match can be exciting in its own right. Having such great stakes for Barrett made it all the more exciting. Barrett would be exiled from his own group by the end of the night.
5 Wade Barrett Vs John Cena Vs Edge Vs Chris Jericho Vs Randy Orton Vs Sheamus (Night Of Champions 2010)
Wade Barrett would use his guaranteed WWE Championship opportunity from winning season one of NXT to enter this six-pack challenge for the top title during 2010's Night Of Champions pay-per-view. As far as a six-pack challenge goes, this was an exciting match.
Four of the most established stars, along with the current WWE Champion Sheamus and the leader of the Nexus made up an exciting bout. Of course, the other members of the Nexus would interfere, but Randy Orton would leave with the title anyway.
4 Team Nexus Vs Team WWE (SummerSlam 2010)
Shortly after the destructive faction's debut, they would be in the main event of SummerSlam against a group that was to make up the heart and soul of WWE. This was an exciting elimination tag match and ws more than worthy of main eventing SummerSlam.
The only problem was the result. After a fantastic bout, The Nexus would lose. This was absolutely the wrong decision and came about after Cena refused to lose to them. Thankfully, they would build back some of their momentum later.
3 Team Nexus Vs Team WWE (Raw 8/30/2010)
This five-on-five elimination tag match on Raw a couple of weeks after SummerSlam wasn't as epic as the initial match. However, the result and the momentum it helped to recover for the Nexus puts it ahead.
This Raw main event saw Justin Gabriel shockingly pin John Cena clean. The finish would come when Randy Orton was the only man left and was on the receiving end of Wade Barrett's Wasteland finisher. Barrett would pin The Viper to win the match for The Nexus.
2 Wade Barrett Vs John Cena (TLC 2010)
The biggest feud of The Nexus was against John Cena. He was forced into the faction and later fired by Wade Barrett. After months of a bitter rivalry, Barrett and Cena had a blowoff chairs match to settle things at TLC. While a chairs match is a lackluster stipulation, this might be the best match to come from it.
After a competitive back and forth matchup, Cena picked up the victory after an Attitude Adjustment onto the chairs. After the match, Cena dropped a bunch of chairs on Barrett on the stage, leading to a cool visual.
1 Wade Barrett Vs John Cena (Hell In A Cell 2010)
Barrett and Cena clashed at the Hell In A Cell pay per view in 2010 with the stipulation being that if Barrett won, Cena had to join The Nexus. What followed was a hotly contested back-and-forth battle that saw Barrett hold his own with WWE's top star.
Both men no-sold the other's finisher, making each look very strong. After some interference, Barrett picked up the huge win over Cena, forcing him to join the faction.