Former WWE Superstar David Otunga has disclosed fresh insights into the early formation of The New Nexus, explaining that he was initially intended to be the faction’s leader before the plan abruptly shifted to CM Punk. Otunga explained on TMZ Inside The Ring that mid-storyline changes forced WWE to alter the group’s direction, impacting the intended leadership.
Leadership Switch Explained
Otunga recalled confronting Wade Barrett on Raw, telling him,
“I told Wade Barrett on Raw, ‘You’re out, we voted you out,’ basically. And now, going into that, I was going to take over the Nexus. Everybody was excited,”
Otunga stated.
“Literally, the next week, CM Punk comes out, and he’s our leader now. And so we’re like, ‘Wait, what? Why did we even have this storyline?’”
This unexpected move surprised the group and changed the faction’s trajectory.
Reason Behind the Change: CM Punk’s Return
The leadership change was reportedly linked to CM Punk’s return to television and his need for a fresh stable. Otunga explained,
“From what I heard, Punk needed a new faction. I forget what his group was before with Gallows… he needed a new kind of thing like that, he was coming back, and so they gave him Nexus.”
He added,
“Initially, it was supposed to be my group, but he was like, ‘Oh, alright.’ And that’s why, at first, he didn’t even seem like he was really into it. It didn’t last all that long.”
Behind-the-Scenes Story from the Pipebomb Promo
Otunga also shared an anecdote about CM Punk’s famous pipebomb promo that convinced even the faction members it was real. He recalled,
“The night he did the pipe bomb promo, McGillicuddy and I, we’d been riding with him. He worked us,”
Otunga said.
“When he came back through the curtains, I legit went out to him. I was like, ‘Hey Punk, if I don’t see you again, it’s been real.’ And he laughed… he’s like, ‘I’m not going anywhere.’ But he worked us. I thought he legit was getting fired.”
The New Nexus Era and Its Conclusion
CM Punk officially took over as The New Nexus leader in December 2010 after the group removed original leader Wade Barrett. The faction then engaged in a feud with Randy Orton leading up to WrestleMania 27. However, The New Nexus dissolved later that year, closing a turbulent and unpredictable chapter in WWE’s faction storylines.
