David Otunga feels that Nexus had the potential to achieve the same level of success as The Shield. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vleet, the former WWE star reflected on John Cena’s notable SummerSlam victory over their faction and suggested that their trajectory might have been very different if Cenation’s leadership hadn’t insisted on changing the match’s outcome.
When asked about Nexus’s potential, Otunga compared their group to The Shield, saying the latter was essentially a refined version of Nexus based on an idea he originally had. He believes The Shield succeeded where Nexus fell short, and that Nexus could have enjoyed a similar successful run.
Of the original eight Nexus members, only Bryan Danielson captured a world title, accumulating six between WWE and AEW. Meanwhile, The Shield’s trio boasts 17 world title reigns across WWE and AEW, with Dean Ambrose holding the record for most AEW World Title reigns at four, and Roman Reigns holding the longest modern WWE World Championship reign at 1,316 days.
Fan Take: This insight from David Otunga offers an intriguing “what if” scenario that WWE fans love to debate—the notion that Nexus might have shaped WWE history differently if given a better chance. It underscores how pivotal booking decisions can alter careers and storylines, emphasizing the delicate balance between creative direction and wrestling success.
