Wade Barrett Has Left WWE

Coming off the heels of the release of Alex Riley, Hornswoggle, Zeb Colter, and later Cameron and Santino Marella, there was a new big release that a few saw coming, but it was done on their terms.

Wade Barrett, real name Stu Barrett, has finalized his release from the company. In a statement released by Barrett on his Twitter account just a few minutes ago, he expresses gratitude about his career, but after 9 years needs to step away.

Goodbye @WWE.. pic.twitter.com/bYkPYW628Q

— Stu Bennett (@WadeBarrett) May 6, 2016

Barrett, along with the likes of Daniel Bryan, Darren Young, and Titus O'Neil formed the Nexus, which consisted of the first group of NXT competitors that were looking to take over the company. In a sort of invasion angle, Barrett assumed leadership of the group, eventually forming a splinter group called The Corre once the Nexus was led by CM Punk.

Barrett was seemingly destined for great things, and managed to capture the Intercontinental Championship on five occasions and was the first winner of the NXT competition. Barrett was last seen as King Barrett after winning the 2015 King of the Ring, making him the 20th to wear the crown. In 2010, he challenged for the WWE Champion on three different pay-per-views.

A string of injuries delayed Barrett's push to full-time main event status, but he was seen as one of the best talent that WWE had to offer as a complete packaged superstar and was even featured in WWE Studios' Dead Man Down.

He was written off of TV in the past few weeks as the first member of the League of Nations to get kicked out of the group.