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The Undertaker vs. Bret Hart ended in a No Contest; World Heavyweight Champion Kane and The Nexus attacked The Deadman
Earlier in the evening, Wade Barrett promised to do something unforgettable during Raw’s 900th episode celebration. Consider that a promise kept.

As The Undertaker prepared for his battle against Bret Hart, Barrett complained that he deserved the bout. When he tried to prove himself, however, The Deadman summarily dispensed of him.

Then, the arena suddenly darkened. When light was restored, Kane mysteriously stood where The “Hit Man” had been just moments earlier. The two brothers of destruction circled one another before The Phenom swiftly latched onto Kane’s neck. And just a quickly, the arena lights dimmed again. When they brightened this time, The Big Red Monster had vanished. A new plague, however, would take his place.

The Nexus, minus behemoth Skip Sheffield, who suffered a severe ankle injury a week ago, crept toward the ring and surrounded The Deadman. The five proceeded to attack their prey to no avail when the lights cut off and on for a third time. While Kane stood atop the stage and looked on with maniacal glee, The Nexus had somehow emerged in control. Barrett slammed Undertaker to the canvas just before Justin Gabriel nailed the hapless Deadman with a crushing 450° Splash. The Phenom attempted to sit up, but he simply could not summon the strength.

The Nexus def. WWE Champion Sheamus, John Cena, Edge, Chris Jericho & Randy Orton in a 5-on-5 Tag Team Elimination Match
Timing really is everything. At the conclusion of the night’s main event, The Nexus’ leader Wade Barrett proved that as he stood as proud and tall as London’s Big Ben.

Earlier in the evening, the Englishman was in the right place at the right time as he punished The Undertaker with a devastating slam to the canvas. At night’s end, he – along with his Nexus cohorts – emerged victorious in a 5-on-5 Tag Team Elimination Match against WWE Champion Sheamus, John Cena, Edge, Chris Jericho & Randy Orton.

Almost immediately, Jericho and Edge ditched their team. At a distinct disadvantage, The Celtic Warrior finally relented and was pinned by Heath Slater. Next up, Cena found himself in trouble against the overwhelming odds and eventually succumbed to the 450° Splash of Justin Gabriel.

Barrett’s fortuitous evening concluded, though, when he faced off against Orton as the remaining two competitors in the whittled-down bout. Although Orton has proven a staunch and worthy adversary of The Nexus and managed to eliminate Gabriel and Michael Tarver, he nonetheless was unable to overcome Barrett’s offense in a gutting defeat.

Owing to their mutual distrust of one another, the team of former world champions appeared to implode from lack of teamwork. Not surprising, perhaps, given the fact that they will be competing for the WWE Title at Night of Champions in three weeks. In the opening salvo for the coveted title, however, it appears Barrett has fired off one jolly good shot.

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Raw’s GM lifted ban on The Nexus competing for titles
As WWE Champion Sheamus rested regally atop his throne, Raw’s anonymous General Manager shook him from his respite. The Nexus had filed out to join the Irishman on stage when the GM informed the group of outlaws that he was lifting the ban on them competing for titles. As a result, Nexus leader Wade Barrett eagerly informed Sheamus that the “truce” between he and the group was effectively over.

There was simply no hiding from the truth. Team WWE had defeated The Nexus in their match at SummerSlam, and yet Wade Barrett was attempting to spin the crushing defeat into a rallying cry for his six disciples.

What he was serving up, though, was some weak tea – and John Cena knew it. The Team WWE founder confronted Barrett about his squad’s performance, which rankled the band of outlaws. Their pride wounded, members of The Nexus began to turn on each other, assigning blame for the defeat. The backbiting escalated until Raw’s anonymous General Manager interrupted the meltdown to announce that each member of The Nexus would face a member of Team WWE in singles competition, beginning with Barrett facing down his WWE Pro, Chris Jericho.

For the members of The Nexus, the singles matches have given them an opportunity to weed out any weaknesses. As they all agreed, any member who does not win their match is no longer in The Nexus.

Justin Gabriel def. Randy Orton by Count-out
The Nexus’ South African cyclone, Justin Gabriel, was scheduled to compete against Bret Hart, but Raw’s mystery GM had other ideas. Citing his animosity toward “Hit Man,” the GM instead arranged for a new opponent, Randy Orton.

The Viper appeared to have Gabriel securely wrapped in his grip when WWE Champion Sheamus paid an unannounced visit. The Celtic Warrior, who had lost by disqualification to Orton the night before, clashed outside the ring with his SummerSlam rival, handing Gabriel the win by count-out. As one might imagine, the loss did not sit well with Orton, who slithered back into the ring to RKO Gabriel. Outside the squared circle, Orton proved just as unrelenting in his counterattack on the Irishman, who also received an RKO as well as several lashes from a metal folding chair.

John Cena def. Darren Young
A perfect record hung heavy on the shoulders of Darren Young. Each of his teammates from The Nexus had been victorious in their matches against Team WWE members. Now it was his turn. His obstacle, however, would prove particularly momentous. Young must face Team WWE’s de facto leader and the man who severely beat him down last month, John Cena.

Also weighing heavy on Young was the fact that were he to lose, he would be banished from The Nexus. With that in mind, the bout underwent a series of momentum shifts until, finally, Cena asserted his imposing will. The force of such a powerhouse was too much for Young to bear as he faded in defeat.

In the aftermath, The Nexus approached the ring. Although Cena prepared himself for the worst, his tormentors allowed him to leave unharmed. Instead, they circled their true target: Young. After punishing their only failed member, the remaining six members of The Nexus stood tall.

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Chris Jericho and Edge attacked Bret Hart; The Nexus attacked The Hart Dynasty
Oh, Canada! With just six days until SummerSlam, Bret Hart took a break from training in Calgary to address the further deterioration of Team WWE. The legendary Canadian appeared ready to convince his fellow countrymen, Edge and Chris Jericho, to rejoin the group.

First out, the arrogant Jericho proved as condescending and stubborn as ever, rebuffing the advice of the WWE Hall of Famer. Next up, The Ultimate Opportunist praised “Hit Man” before turning on him and attacking. Hart countered and sent Edge to the mat, at which point, Jericho jammed a thumb in Hart’s eye. The attack came as Edge & Jericho prepare to face The Excellence of Execution & John Cena in a tag team match later in the evening.

As the two scoundrels retreated, Hart’s niece, Natalya, hurried to the ring. She breathlessly informed her uncle that The Nexus had just ambushed The Hart Dynasty – seemingly in an effort to prevent them as replacements on Team WWE.

Mark Henry vs. Ted DiBiase ended in a No Contest
The Nexus persist in brutalizing any Superstar even considering joining Team WWE. The carnage continued with Mark Henry. In the locker room area, The World’s Strongest Man asked Team WWE members John Morrison and R-Truth to consider his bout against Ted DiBiase his audition to join their SummerSlam squad. Once The Nexus got wind of Henry’s hopes, they quickly dashed them by attacking before the match, leaving Henry battered and immobile.

John Cena & Bret Hart vs. Edge & Chris Jericho ended in a No Contest
Marvels never cease. In a match that pitted snarling enemies, John Cena & Bret Hart faced down Edge & Chris Jericho in a battle of current Team WWE members against two Superstars who had left the squad high and dry. To dial up the tension, members of The Nexus were stationed outside the ring acting as “lumberjerks.”

During the bout, The Nexus simply couldn’t help themselves. The seven deadly sinners climbed into the ring to confront Cena and “Hit Man.” Confident they had the two where they wanted them, the numbers game tightened when John Morrison and R-Truth shot in to help their fellow Team WWE members. Then the seven deadly sinners appeared shocked when Edge & Jericho eventually turned to help their former opponents. In the end, The Nexus and Team WWE exchanged blows in a slice of what can be expected this Sunday at SummerSlam.

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Wade Barrett vs. Edge ended in a No Contest
After Team WWE cracked under the strains of infighting last week, Edge felt compelled to voice his frustration. He went rogue, belittling his SummerSlam team and challenging Wade Barrett to a singles match. Before the leader of The Nexus could respond, Edge’s SummerSlam teammate R-Truth tried to talk sense into him, emphasizing the need for unity. Raw’s anonymous General Manager interrupted Truth, however, and quickly granted The Rated-R Superstar’s request.

During the bout, Edge nearly scored a pinfall on Barrett, who immediately signaled for his Nexus comrades. Slinking toward the ring, the remaining Nexus members closed in on The Rated-R Superstar, who leaped a security barrier, scampered off into the crowd.

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The Great Khali def. Edge by Count-out
The fabric of the squad assembled to combat The Nexus continued to fray. After overhearing Edge complain about his inclusion in the group, The Great Khali challenged his potential teammate to a match. During the bout, The Nexus sauntered to the ring, prompting The Ultimate Opportunist to flee the squared circle. While Khali may have won by count-out, his situation looked precarious when The Nexus surrounded him. Rather than pummel The Punjabi Playboy, though, the group allowed him to go free.

The Nexus def. Mark Henry, Evan Bourne, David Hart Smith, Tyson Kidd, Yoshi Tatsu, Jerry Lawler & Goldust in a 7-on-7 Elimination Match
The Nexus looked like they were in seven Heaven. In a possible preview of their 7-on-7 Elimination Match at SummerSlam, the “N”-labeled squad thoroughly dominated a select group of Raw Superstars in the same match. The seven deadly sinners of Nexus used teamwork like a sledgehammer to crush their opponents, who included native Texan Mark Henry, Evan Bourne, David Hart Smith, Tyson Kidd, Yoshi Tatsu, Jerry “The King” Lawler & Goldust. After tossing out all seven opponents and having no one from The Nexus ejected, Wade Barrett and Michael Tarver taunted their SummerSlam foes, pointing out that the team assembled by Cena would never get on the same page due to their inflated egos.

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In the glow of victory over Mark Henry, Barrett was joined by his Nexus cronies, who awaited a meeting with John Cena. Earlier in the evening, a flustered Cena hinted that he may be open to joining the group that had cost him everything. And while Nexus initially hinted that they may be open to a truce, Barrett insisted on more. He told Cena that, in order to further his career at WWE, he must join The Nexus. Cena refused, though, and informed Nexus that they should enjoy the next three weeks because at SummerSlam, The Nexus isn’t going to make history, “The Nexus is history!”

Cena’s disposition changed when he announced the formation of his own group, including Edge, John Morrison, R-Truth, The Great Khali, Chris Jericho and WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart, who hadn’t been seen since The Nexus had attacked him! The newly formed group then charged the ring and chased off the outlaw group.

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The Nexus returned to their roots Tuesday night, wreaking havoc on WWE NXT. Wade Barrett led the pack of former NXT Rookies to victory in a 20-Man Over-the-Top Rope Battle Royal over the season two class and their WWE Pros, leaving an indelible mark on WWE NXT.

With the NXT Poll opening again next Wednesday on WWE.com, and the second elimination just two weeks away, The Nexus’ invasion of WWE NXT comes at a critical time in the NXT Rookies’ competition.

The Nexus returned to WWE NXT
Wade Barrett led The Nexus back to WWE NXT, just one night after they defeated John Cena in a 6-on-1 Handicap Match and attacked several Superstars on Raw. The former season one NXT Rookies were met with plenty of hesitation, but Barrett wished the season two class all of the best, and urged the WWE Pros not to instigate any trouble.

In two weeks the second NXT Rookie will be eliminated from the competition. Who will impress the WWE Universe and the WWE Pros the most in the hopes of becoming WWE’s next breakout star? Return to WWE.com Wednesday, July 21 to vote in the NXT Poll. The WWE Universe’s votes count for 50 percent!

The Nexus won the 20-Man Over-the-Top Rope Battle Royal
The Nexus has been sending shockwaves throughout Raw since banding together under the guidance of WWE NXT season one winner, Wade Barrett. Now, the former NXT Rookies have made their presence felt on season two of WWE NXT, winning a 20-Man Over-the-Top Rope Battle Royal against the current NXT Rookies and WWE Pros. The Nexus worked together as a perfect unit, using their strength in numbers to rid the ring of all of the current NXT Rookies. Then, they systematically eliminated the remaining WWE Pros – John Morrison, Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston and Cody Rhodes – after United States Champion The Miz cowardly took himself out of the match.

After the Battle Royal, The Nexus continued their assault on the WWE Pros, leaving a strong message for the WWE Universe. Barrett said the Nexus returned to prove they could make a difference in WWE, regardless if they were labeled NXT Rookies in season one.

“One thing’s for certain: You’re either Nexus or you’re against us,” Barrett warned.

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The Nexus def. John Cena in a 6-on-1 Handicap Match
Even John Cena can’t stop a rising tide – not forever, anyway. After defying Raw’s anonymous General Manager, the seven-time WWE Champion was forced to compete against The Nexus in a 6-on-1 Handicap Match (Darren Young was out due to injuries suffered at the hands of Cena last week). Despite a valiant effort, Cena was simply overwhelmed by the numbers.

After losing the contest, Cena reevaluated and armed himself with a steel chair from ringside. He managed to lay some serious hurt on several members of The Nexus before his Money in the Bank steel cage opponent, WWE Champion Sheamus, intervened. Brandishing a chair of his own, The Celtic Warrior assisted Cena in clearing The Nexus from the ring. The Irishman was likely motivated by the fact that The Nexus went after him, too, during a series of locker room area beatdowns that targeted several Raw Superstars.

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The Nexus had to know this day would come. The group of outlaws have ridden roughshod over the WWE landscape seemingly free of consequence. Until now.

Through mouthpiece Michael Cole, Raw’s anonymous General Manager e-mailed to inform The Nexus that none of their members may compete for any WWE title until further notice, including Wade Barrett, who has a guaranteed championship match of his choice.

While the seven were visibly irate, John Cena, the target of much of their ire, entered and appeared itching for a fight. He brought six other Superstars with him to confront the group: Randy Orton, R-Truth, Evan Bourne, John Morrison & Unified Tag Team Champions The Hart Dynasty.

Before the 14 could saddle up to fight, however, WWE Champion Sheamus, United States Champion The Miz, Edge, Chris Jericho, Ted DiBiase & The Usos ambushed Cena’s posse as The Nexus scattered throughout the arena.

After the dust settled, Cole received another email. The mystery GM told the Superstars to simmer, that later in the evening all of the competitors in the Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match in two weeks will compete against one another. The still-anonymous GM also implored Cena to call a truce and shake the hand of Barrett. When Cena resisted the idea, the mystery GM asked Cena to do the “right thing” before cryptically adding in the e-mail, “and that’s the bottom line because the GM said so.”

During “truce” handshake, John Cena retaliated against Wade Barrett and The Nexus; mystery GM arranged Cena vs. The Nexus in 7-on-1 Handicap Match next week
John Cena is nothing if not a man of his word. That being the case, the seven-time WWE Champion showed up in the ring, as ordered by Raw’s mystery GM, to commence a truce ceremony with The Nexus’s de facto leader, Wade Barrett. While the Brit tried to assure his rival that his group’s attacks weren’t personal, Cena remained understandably skeptical.

But Barrett offered his hand to seal the truce, and Cena finally accepted. When The Nexus boss attempted to pull away, however, he quickly found himself angling for an Attitude Adjustment. Before Cena could lower the guillotine, though, he was attacked by The Nexus’ remaining six members. Just then, Cena’s pals rolled in for the rescue, including Mark Henry, David Hart Smith, Tyson Kidd, John Morrison, Evan Bourne, Goldust, Yoshi Tatsu, Santino Marella, Vladimir Kozlov and The Great Khali.

The Nexus escaped, though, except for Darren Young, who suffered an STF at the hands of Cena. As a means of punishment, the mystery GM is forcing Cena to face The Nexus next week in a 7-on-1 Handicap Match.

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