In a recent interview with Metro, Wade Barrett talked about one of the hottest free agents in professional wrestling today, former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis.
Barrett did not shy away from showering all the praise in the world for his fellow English mate, also sharing how Aldis was his first ever singles opponent, who himself was wrestling just his second singles match at the time. He said,
“I remember the fact that I think it was his second ever singles match, it was my first ever singles match. So, we were both really, really inexperienced, really, really green [laughs]. But the promoter had to put us in the main event against each other because we were really the only two on the card who looked like wrestlers! So we came out, I’m 6 foot six, I think Nick is about 6 foot three, six foot four. We were both built, we were both pumping iron – which, back in those days on the independent scene in the UK, the fact you went to the gym… there was maybe six people in the UK that went to the gym and pumped iron!”
He added, “I’m sure that match was absolutely dreadful, I hope it’s not on tape anywhere! Thankfully this was kind of that period in time where digital phones and videos weren’t that common yet, and YouTube was just starting out, so things weren’t taped as much as they are now. Hopefully that one’s lost to the annals of time.”
Comparing Aldis to the legendary Harley Race, Barrett said,
“I think first of all, he’s a fantastic talker, he’s got a great look, he’s a really good representative for this industry in general, and I love his classic throwback in-ring style. It reminds me a bit of Harley Race; kind of the pompous Englishman element adds to it as well. I’d love to see Nick involved.”
“He’s a guy I’ve got a lot of respect for, I think he’s gonna have success [with] whatever he ends up doing, whether it’s on the independents, whether it’s going back to NWA, or to any other company – or hopefully one day, come over to WWE. I think he’s got a lot he can contribute. In terms of supporters, I’m certainly on board as a supporter of Nick Aldis one day coming to WWE.”
Wade Barrett also shared that he will “probably” be a part of the kick-off show panel at WrestleMania 39.
