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<\/p>\nWade Barrett says he\u2019s passionately committed to a full-time WWE role, admitting time away had healed some major wounds that forced him to quit the business seven years ago.<\/p>\n
The popular Brit is a former Intercontinental champion and King of the Ring winner with the sports entertainment giant.<\/p>\n
First joining the ranks of WWE as a developmental talent in 2007, making a main roster debut three years later. <\/p>\n
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Five reigns as \u2018IC\u2019 champ followed, along with his 2015 King of the Ring win and even a Slammy Award.<\/p>\n
Despite the many accolades and the fame that came with it, Barrett became disillusioned with the wrestling industry and his role in it.<\/p>\n
His frustrations over the relentless scheduling and WWE\u2019s often quirky or questionable creative storytelling peaking over the course of 2015 and 2016, the Lancastrian called time on his career to pursue other interests.<\/p>\n
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Of feeling worn down, the star told Daily Star Online: \u201cI dedicated all of my adult life to my pursuit of being in-ring with WWE and climbing the ladder.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2015 and 2016 I really had a black cloud over my head for quite a long time and that was one of the main reasons I had to step away \u2013 I\u2019d stopped finding enjoyment in what I was doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think if you feel that way about anything, you have to go away and find something else to do because nothing else is going to come [of it].\u201d<\/p>\n
Time proved to be the proverbial healer for the Preston North End mega-fan turned grappler and actor.<\/p>\n
Slowly easing himself back into the business with smaller roles on the independent scene, Barrett rediscovered his love for the business.<\/p>\n
He describes a \u201cblack cloud\u201d being lifted from his head \u2013 culminating when Tom Hannifan \u2013 then known to WWE fans as commentator Tom Phillips \u2013 picked up the phone with an offer to make a return to the company.<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\n WWE legend Wade Barrett says US Champ Austin Theory could tempt him into in-ring return![](\"https:\/\/s2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/@trinitymirrordigital\/chameleon-branding\/publications\/dailystar\/img\/logo-schema-dailystar.png\"){kind=logo}
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Barrett explained: \u201cSlowly, over time, that passion grew back, and I realised I didn\u2019t have that animosity towards the industry that I\u2019d in 2016.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy 2018, 2019 I was back in full \u2018addiction mode\u2019 to this industry of ours. It wasn\u2019t like I actively planned to remove this cloud from my head, but time away was a great healer for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came back full-throttle in 2020 when I got that call from WWE offering me a role on their commentary team.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daily Star reported recently that Barrett hasn\u2019t ruled out one day stepping back into the ring as a wrestler, but the man himself has always been clear about how realistic that prospect is. <\/p>\n
He revealed that as far back as his initial departure from the company, he even had to make peace with never wrestling again in order to move on.<\/p>\n
Of weather being an active wrestler was even floated as an idea in those initial comeback discussions, he went on to say: \u201cIt really wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I left in 2016 there was a big part of me that, in order to get over this misery that I felt I\u2019d endured, I needed to brain dump everything I had been focusing on for the last 15 years or so.<\/p>\n
\u201cPart of that was accepting \u2018okay, I\u2019m leaving WWE, and this might mean I never step in a ring again.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u201cI had to get to a point that I was okay with that before I walked away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I came back and started getting re-involved in the industry, at no time was I thinking \u2018I want to be back in ring right now.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\n WWE confirms King and Queen of the Ring set for Saudi Arabia after eight-year absence<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
For the first time since he was winning crowns and championship belts, Barrett is now fully immersed back in the crazy world of professional wrestling.<\/p>\n
The 41-year-old says he continues to juggle his WWE commitments with a pending TV show and movie he\u2019s involved in, but very much considers wrestling to be his main focus.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m incredibly lucky to have the spot,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt\u2019s a spot I love. My addiction to WWE has come back, a hundred percent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI left in 2016 and was kind of down about the industry in general and walked away for a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat love and passion for it has really come back so I see myself as a hundred percent full time back in WWE.<\/p>\n
\u201cI do have a couple of things bubbling over in terms of outside projects, but in terms of [being] focused, careerwise on WWE, that\u2019s where I\u2019m at right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
More than perhaps anywhere else in professional wrestling, life in WWE remains as changeable as ever.<\/p>\n
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<\/figure>\n WWE may 'legalise betting on scripted matches' \u2013 even keeping results secret from stars<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
After a stint behind the NXT commentary desk for his initial return, Barrett was switched to SmackDown, alongside lead commentator Michael Cole, who the Britt hailed as \u201cThe GOAT."<\/p>\n
That was, initially, to fill in for Pat McAfee after the American\u2019s decision to add a role with EPSN to his growing list of duties.<\/p>\n
Now, Barrett says his stay on SmackDown has become permanent..ish, quipping: \u201cIt\u2019s as permanent as you can ever be in a role in WWE!<\/p>\n
\u201cHistorically things have always been switched around and teams have been moved from here to there, and I\u2019m not saying I\u2019m going to be in the SmackDown hot seat for the next ten years or anything like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut in terms of the foreseeable, it\u2019s going to be me and Cole going forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cPat McAfee is always going to be a friend of WWE. He\u2019s an incredibly talented guy and we\u2019re all fans of his, too, but he has a lot on his plate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am sure he\u2019ll come in and out from time to time and be involved in various roles but, as far as I\u2019m aware, he\u2019s not going to be sat in the SmackDown hot seat for now at least.\u201d<\/p>\n
WWE presents WrestleMania Goes Hollywood, the 39th instalment of its grandest annual show, across the weekend of April 1 and 2. Fans in the UK can watch it live on WWE Network \u2013 visit wwe.com for more.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
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