This Sunday is the Royal Rumble pay-per-view, and many at Bleacher Report are favoring Wade Barrett in the 30-man battle royale match. Columnist Brian Mazique is of this opinion and penned a column this week about why a win for Barrett would provide excellent momentum.

…Orton returned to action a few days ago, battling Barrett again to no real conclusion. They will definitely clash at the PPV. However, the later in the Rumble this happens, the more impacting it is to the outcome.

If he costs Orton the win, he would also deny Orton the opportunity to become just the fourth man to have won the Royal Rumble multiple times, following Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels.

At this point, Barrett needs to win the Rumble more than Orton and any other superstar. The ascension of his push is running a bit long and it’s about time for him to capture the big victory that lets him take the next step.

Read the entire column here!

In Other News:

Gallery: Screen Captures > WWE.com > WWE.com Interview with Wade Barrett – January 27, 2012

Bleacher Report – Why Wade Barrett is Dark Horse Pick to Win Royal Rumble

WWE.com – Power 25 – January 28, 2012

Tuscon, AZ – The Viper returned ready to strike, but he doesn’t quite seem ready enough to completely decimate the ever-growing power of the Barrett Barrage. Earlier it was announced that Wade Barrett would face Randy Orton in their first face-to-face encounter after the devastating injury Orton suffered last month at the hands of Barrett in a Falls Count Anywhere match. However, the match quickly turned into an all-out, nearly unstoppable brawl.

Wade Barrett vs. Randy Orton battle to No Contest

Confident that the Viper would not dare to make his return, Wade Barrett entered the ring, demanded a bit of decorum from the audience before speaking, and stated that Randy Orton – despite any attempted comebacks – would never be the same again after last month’s devastating injury at Barrett’s hands. Orton then made his way to the ring, fueled with anger at having been bested by the bare-knuckle brawler. The two enemies began brawling, and not even ring officials running to ringside could break up the melee. Finally, SmackDown General Manager Teddy Long ordered members of the SmackDown roster backstage to come restore order. Barrett departed still standing tall yet watching as the Viper took his frustrations out by delivering a series of RKOs to those who dared stop the brawl.

Gallery: WWE.com > Digital Photos > SmackDown > January 27, 2012

Gallery: Screen Captures > SmackDown > January 27, 2012 Screencaps

A huge thanks to Jaclyn of Owensboro, KY’s WBKR Radio for sharing her interview with Wade Barrett on her afternoon program! The interview can be heard in its entirety here, and Jaclyn also has a great write-up about her first experience with the English Superstar in this one-on-one telephone interview!

The WWE Super Show is coming to The Ford Center in Evansville tomorrow night. So, naturally when WBKR was granted an interview with on of the wrestlers, I decided to have them on my show! Haha!

I had the pleasure of talking with British bad-boy Wade Barrett, and well… he was delightful! Even though I haven’t watched wrestling since Macho Man Randy Savage and Miss Elizabeth married, I was pretty excited about this! If you’re like me and don’t know alot about the WWE, let me introduce you to my new BFF, Wade.

Wade Barrett is from Manchester, England. A strapping young man, oh who am I kidding… he’s a big dude! 6’7? and 246 lbs of man stepping onto the mat on Saturday night at the Ford Center! He’s been known to throw a man down the stairs ( I’m sure it was an accident!) and toss one or two through a table! Needless to say, I think I’d want him on my security team.

Jaclyn has a great time talking to the bare-knuckle brawler on various topics, so be sure to check out the nearly 10 minute interview on WKBR!

Related Links:

WKBR – WWE Superstar Wade Barrett on WKBR (January 27, 2012)

Wade Barrett now stands atop many of the mid-card heels on Smackdown. After his intense feud with Randy Orton, it’s only a matter of time before he finds himself in world championship contention.
…Seeing as how the Royal Rumble is often regarded as the beginning of the Road to WrestleMania, it would be fitting if Barrett were to begin a rivalry through his participation in the Royal Rumble match.

Continue the full article here!

Our wonderful site moderator Roselyne has done yet another excellent illustration of Our Hero in his full and long-haired glory! Great work, Roselyne – definitely some of your best! Check out the rest of Roselyne’s work at DeviantArt!

Related Links:

Bleacher Report – WWE Royal Rumble 2012: 10 Superstars That Need to Make an Impact

Roselyne on DeviantArt

Other Media Updates:

WWE Magazine – February 2012 scans (thanks to heath-slater.net!)

Phoenix, AZ – Wade Barrett is well confident that the Barrett Barrage will prove dominant at the Royal Rumble, and anyone would be foolish to doubt the bare-knuckle fighter’s words. Barrett also remains unfazed at the return of Randy Orton this Friday on SmackDown after a length of absence due to injury at the hands of the English Superstar. During tonight’s match between Sheamus and Jinder Mahal, Barrett sat at ringside to provide commentary about his current status before this Sunday’s battle.

Sheamus def. Jinder Mahal (Wade Barrett on commentary)

Shortly after the beginning of this bout, Wade Barrett appeared at ringside to sit with the Raw commentary team and comment on various issues, including the upcoming 30-man Royal Rumble battle royal as well as his expectations of further injuring Randy Orton upon his return this Friday. After Sheamus pinned Mahal for the victory, Barrett departed ringside to exchange words with his Irish nemesis, who informed Barrett that the outcome of the Rumble would see the Celtic Warrior as the victor.

Gallery: WWE.com > Digital Photos > Raw SuperShow > January 23, 2012

Gallery: Screen Captures > WWE Raw SuperShow > January 23, 2012