Wade Barrett was absent from this week’s episode of SmackDown, and therefore, when it was reported that he was no longer part of WWE’s commentary rotation, his absence made sense. The belief was that this was likely related to Nikki Bella saying on her podcast that she was upset with Barrett for saying she was trying “to recapture former glory,” and “desperate to prove she still has it against this new generation,” during the Clash in Paris pre-show.
However, it appears this needs to go down as an L for the dirt sheets, as Barrett has revealed on X that he had simply asked for time off at the start of the year, and will be back in a couple of weeks.
45-year-old made his name in the business by winning the first season of NXT, resulting in him sharing a ring with the likes of John Cena and Randy Orton, although he couldn’t maintain his main event spot. Still, it was a big shock when he departed the company, having decided not to renew his contract. Nevertheless, after demonstrating his color commentary ability in Billy Corgan’s NWA, he subsequently returned to WWE in this role and proved he was a natural behind the announce desk.
- Paige Makes Shocking Claim About Her AEW Tenure Amid Deep-Rooted WWE Loyalty - July 20, 2026
- Paige Opens Up About Her WrestleMania 42 Surprise Return Being Leaked - July 20, 2026
- WWE Star Penta Unmasked In Shocking Livestream Blunder - July 20, 2026
