Ryback welcomes Stu Bennett (Wade Barrett) to the show.
Ryback admits that he didn’t really like Barrett when they first encountered each other many years ago at Ohio Valley Wrestling. Barrett laughs and notes that the feeling was mutual, but they both recall having a short conversation at one point which resulted in both of them realizing that the other guy wasn’t so bad after all. They’ve been good friends ever since.
They both point out that breaking into WWE as members of Nexus was a terrific opportunity for them. Unfortunately Ryback was injured shortly thereafter, and although Barrett had a main event run for a while it simply didn’t last. Barrett notes that it can be frustrating for talent when they simply have to sit and bite their tongues while other performers are given better roles.
Ryback informs that the line, “You’re either Nexus, or you’re against us” was actually his idea. Barrett confirms that, noting that he was stumbling through a spontaneous promo after a PPV one evening and Ryback whispered in his ear to use that line. Barrett closed the promo with that line and Vince McMahon immediately loved it. Although Barrett was the first person to use that line in WWE, Ryback did indeed come up with it.
Ryback asks Barrett about his mindset during his last year in WWE. Barrett notes that he was very unhappy with his character’s creative during that time. He also had a small neck injury, and adds that you can work through some injuries if you’re happy, but when you’re miserable it gets very tough to risk further injury and risk your body night after night.
