Wade Barrett signs contract with WWE, joins NXT commentary team
After making his return to WWE last month, Wade Barrett is now officially a permanent member of the NXT commentary team.
It was announced via Sports Illustrated today that Barrett (real name Stu Bennett) has signed with WWE and will be part of the commentary team for every NXT broadcast going forward. It’s a one-year contract that includes an option to extend the partnership.
“I hope this lasts for a long time, that’s our intent,” Barrett told Sports Illustrated. “So there is no bad news to share, but never forget, there is always a little bad news up my sleeve.”
Barrett joins Vic Joseph and Beth Phoenix on the NXT commentary team. Mauro Ranallo had been the lead voice of the brand prior to mutually and amicably parting ways with WWE last month.
“Our aim is to be different, a little more unique than the other WWE programming,” Barrett said. “We don’t want to be a carbon copy of what you hear on Raw or SmackDown. I’ve known Beth for years, and she is incredibly talented, and I am just getting to know Vic. I’m excited to learn from and work with both of them, and I’m really excited to develop this into a really tight unit.”
Barrett’s original run with WWE ended when he departed the company in 2016. He had been part of the NWA’s commentary team since starting in the role last December. He returned to WWE as a commentator for the August 26 episode of NXT and has also called the two NXT episodes that have taken place since then.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.