Barrett Will Be Better This Time

Your new Intercontinental champion, Wade Barrett
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I'm a big fan of Wade Barrett.  I'm also a big fan of Kofi Kingston.  So as you can imagine, it was bitter sweet for me to see Kingston drop the Intercontinental title on the New Year's Eve edition of Monday Night Raw.

It seems like for years the WWE has gotten behind Kofi for a bit and then pulled back on him.  He's not yet broken through to the "next level" you hear so many superstars talk about.  Will he ever?  Was dropping the IC title the beginning of the end for this talented superstar?  I hope not, but the reality is I could see Kofi once again getting lost in the shuffle.  What I'd really like to see happen for him is Evan Bourne to return (healthy and drug free) and Air Boom pick up where they left off more than a year ago.  The two are extremely talented and completed each other well.  I think they were set to be the foundation for the rebirth of the tag team division.

Now on to Wade Barrett.  Yes, he beat Kofi for the IC title nearly two years ago only to drop it relatively quickly to Ezekiel Jackson.  That was a time when the title was being used like a prop more so than it is today.  I really think that Cody Rhodes winning it in 2011 helped to restore some of the prestige to the championship.  Sure it was traded like a hot potato in 2012 with six different men wearing the gold, but I feel like all six (Cody, Kofi, Wade, Christian, Big Show, and The Miz) added something to the title.

Barrett pins Kofi
Photo courtesy: WWE

2013 should be a banner year for Barrett.  Winning his second intercontinental title should be the tip of the iceberg.  Of course I don't want to rush things for the brawler.  I don't expect him to win the world or WWE championships this year, but I certainly hope that he will make his presence known once again.  He seems reinvigorated after returning from his injury.  I hope the WWE gives him some time to continue that development of a main event player that we know he can be.  When it comes time to drop the IC title, it needs to be to someone who the company has faith in.  We don't need another year of "where are they now?" guys holding the belt.  Any belt for that matter.

Even though Kofi's door is closing, it doesn't mean the end for him by any means. I hope that he continues to flourish in 2013 and doesn't get bogged down in some sort of silly mid card feud or rejoins forces with R Truth.  That team never did anything for me.

But this is about Wade Barrett and seizing the opportunity that he has been given.  He's earned it.  Now to continue on that path and go for the big prize.  His matches in 2012 with Sheamus proved to me that he deserves some time with "the big boys" and not just a play toy for the likes of John Cena or Ryback.