The single most iconic and brutal attack by The Nexus happened on their very first night. During the main event between John Cena and CM Punk, the eight NXT rookies—led by Wade Barrett—stormed the ring and unleashed absolute chaos .
- The Assault on Cena: The group destroyed Cena with an 8-on-1 beatdown, hitting him with every one of their finishers, including Justin Gabriel’s 450 Splash. The attack was so vicious that Cena had to be stretchered out of the arena .
- Total Chaos: They didn’t stop with Cena. They attacked CM Punk, the announcers (Jerry Lawler had a monitor smashed over his head), and ring announcer Justin Roberts (who was choked with his own tie). They even tore apart the ringside area and began dismantling the ring itself .
🎯 Targeting Legends & The Undertaker
The Nexus’s goal was to destroy WWE’s old guard, and no legend was safe.
- Undertaker’s Burial (August 30, 2010): The Deadman was scheduled for a match on the 900th episode of Raw. However, The Nexus, with help from Kane, jumped Undertaker before the bell could ring. The attack was so severe that Undertaker was unable to compete, setting the stage for a later ambush at the Bragging Rights PPV where they interfered in a Buried Alive match to help Kane .
- Hunting Legends: To prove a point, Wade Barrett sent his troops to attack legendary Hall of Famers like Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat and the Bret Hart, showing that their war was not just with the current roster, but with the history of the business itself .
👑 Forcing a Legend to Submit: The Cena Era
The brutality of The Nexus wasn’t just physical—it was psychological. At Hell in a Cell 2010, Wade Barrett defeated John Cena with a terrifying stipulation: Cena was forced to join The Nexus .
- Humble Pie: For weeks, Cena was forced to wear the “N” armband and help Barrett win matches, even if it meant beating down his own friends (like Edge). It was a ruthless display of power that broke Cena down emotionally before he finally snapped and fought back .
If you want to revisit the chaos, you can find the full debut beatdown on WWE’s YouTube channel by searching for “The Nexus debuts on Raw: Raw, June 7, 2010.” It remains one of the most shocking endings in Raw history .