Englishman Wade Barrett has become the first ever winner of WWE's new show NXT and becomes wrestling's next breakout star.
Manchester athlete set to make WWE splash
Englishman Wade Barrett has become the first ever winner of WWE's new show NXT and becomes wrestling's next breakout star as a result.
Barrett, who hails from Manchester, defeated David 'A list' Otunga in the finale of the first ever series of NXT after the WWE Pros had earlier eliminated Justin Gabriel.
He then stood victorious in the ring and warned the WWE superstars that the "era of Wade Barrett has arrived."
"Change is here and change is now, and it is a change that is going to take Wade Barrett to the WWE title" the arrogant superstar claimed.
Barrett, who was tutored by the six-time world champion Chris Jericho, has now earned himself a future pay-per-view title shot against the champion of his choice and has become a fully fledged WWE superstar himself.
He had earlier won an elimination triple threat match between himself and the other two finalists before the first Pros poll.
Surprise twist
Justin Gabriel hit his extraordinary 450 splash on David Otunga but Barrett was on hand to pull the South African high flier out the ring and cover the 'A list' himself to eliminate Otunga.
After a physical back and forth battle between the final two rookies, Gabriel attempted to hit another 450 splash only for Barrett to counter it, raising his knees and then rolling up Gabriel for the victory.
It was then announced that next week, immediately after the first season's finale, the second season will begin, with brand new rookies and Pros.
The Miz will return for his second successive season as a pro and will look to form a more cohesive partnership with his new rookie, Alex Riley, than he did in the first season with Daniel Bryan.
Other Pros for season two include new United States champion R-Truth, "the Guru of Greatness" John Morrison and new Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston.
In a surprise twist "LayCool", the self professed co-Women's Champions of Michelle McCool and Layla will also be mentoring a rookie, 'martial arts expert' Kaval.
The question now is whether Barrett can go on and challenge for titles on either RAW or SmackDown, and can emulate the likes of the first Irish-born WWE champion Sheamus and recently deposed Intercontinental Champion Drew McIntyre.
Don't forget to tune into WWE NXT every Tuesday morning at 1am in the hour leading up to Live Late Night RAW.
