5 British wrestlers who could have been WWE Champion

#1 Bad News Barrett

Wade Barrett could have easily been the top dog - and very almost was

I know this selection won't be everyone's cup of tea, but do allow me to explain.

In terms of having it all - the look, the ability, the timing AND the immediate push, Wade Barrett had everything. There are three notable points in his WWE career where I firmly believed Barrett would be delivering bad news for the rest of the roster for years to come.

Even from his debut on RAW, Barrett looked like he was heading straight for the top when he led a group of rookies, later to be named Nexus, in an invasion where they interfered in the main event and destroyed everything in sight - including the announce team, ring announcer, John Cena and CM Punk - with Cena feeling the brunt of the attack before Nexus destroyed the ring and surrounding equipment.

During the Nexus run, Barrett even pinned John Cena in a multi-man World Championship matchand defeated Randy Orton in World Championship match - but it was due to John Cena interfering when the Nexus leader won via disqualification, so never got his hands on the main prize.

Barrett made an immediate impact as the leader of Nexus, assaulting John Cena

In fact, Barrett even had a Championship match against Randy Orton where he chose John Cena to be the special guest referee, where John Cena would be fired if Barrett lost...and Barrett lost after Cena caused him to get RKOd by Orton. The "fired" Cena also caused him the rematch.

After being eliminated from the Elimination Chamber WWE Championship match and feuding with CM Punk for the rivalry with Nexus, Barrett would turn his attention to the Intercontinental Championship - a title he eventually went on to hold a monumental five times.

In perhaps his most memorable and popular run, Barrett portrayed a character called Bad News Barrett where he defeated Rey Mysterio in Mysterio's last ever WWE singles match. While Intercontinental Champion, Barrett was placed in the Money In The Bank Ladder Match, but a shoulder injury saw him pulled from the match and vacating the championship.

In his fifth reign as Intercontinental Champion, Barrett would be part of an angle where several Superstars such as Dean Ambrose, Luke Harper, R-Truth and Daniel Bryan would steal his belt. Barrett lost the Championship to Daniel Bryan in a ladder match but never received a rematch.

Wade Barrett won the Intercontinental Championship five times

Towards the end of his time in WWE, Barrett yet again should have been close to the Championship after winning the King of the Ring tournament. Traditionally, the winner would receive a major push and usually a title shot. Instead, Barrett's reign saw him face King What's Up in R-Truth with a tinfoil sceptre and eventually team with Stardust.

In what would be his final few months in the company, the Englishman was part of the League of Nations, where he would help Sheamus retain the WWE Championship and help Alberto Del Rio win the United States Championship.

It always seemed like Wade Barrett was inches away from winning the WWE Championship and becoming the first ever British Champion, but it just never seemed to happen.

Wade Barrett took a break from wrestling after being released by WWE in a move that was said to be due to a mutual agreement, he's now pursuing a career in acting and has recently confirmed a return to the squared circle with his role as general manager for Defiant Wrestling.

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