Wade Barrett is finally opening up about why Bad News Barrett one of the most organically over gimmicks of the 2010s ultimately fizzled out in WWE, and according to him, the downfall had nothing to do with fan support. Speaking to Inside the Ropes about the rise and fall of the character, Barrett explained that the audience reaction was undeniable. The problem wasnt that fans rejected the act it was that they loved it too much. Barrett made it clear that for most of his WWE career, he was positioned as a heel and was perfectly comfortable in that role. But Bad News Barrett was different. The crowd began cheering him, especially when he delivered the catchphrase that made the gimmick famous. Recognizing the shift, Barrett approached Vince McMahon directly and suggested turning babyface. The answer he eventually received shut that idea down immediately. That decision created a creative dilemma. Every time Barrett delivered the iconic line Im afraid Ive got some bad news the crowd erupted. Instead of pivoting into the reaction, WWE chose to remove the one element fans were reacting to. Barrett says Vince then gave him a direct instruction. From Barretts perspective, that stripped the character of its identity. He went further, explaining exactly why the gimmick worked in the first place. Barrett tried to push back. So I explained that to Vince heres my thoughts. I dont agree with you. But the response was final. No, no, itll be fine. No problem. Just go out and do that. What followed was a slow decline. The reaction cooled. The momentum faded. In Barretts view, Bad News Barrett didnt fail because the gimmick wasnt working. It failed because creative refused to adapt when the audience turned him into a fan favorite. Instead of leaning into the cheers, WWE pulled the catchphrase the heartbeat of the character and the act never recovered. What do you think should WWE have turned Bad News Barrett babyface when the crowd demanded it, or was keeping him a heel the right call? Drop your thoughts below and let us know. Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication. G Add as a preferred source on Google
