Former WWE Superstar David Otunga has opened up about one of the most pivotal—and controversial—moments in mid-card wrestling history, revealing the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded when John Cena defeated The Nexus at SummerSlam 2010.[1] In a candid interview, Otusha didn’t mince words about how the finish change ultimately sabotaged the momentum of what could have been one of WWE’s most dominant factions of the 2010s.
The revelation comes years after the match took place, with Otunga providing an insider’s perspective on creative decisions that wrestling fans have debated for over a decade. His comments shed light on the internal politics that plagued The Nexus during their critical early months, offering valuable context for understanding why the group never quite reached the heights many anticipated.
The Original Plan: Nexus Was Supposed to Win
According to Otunga, The Nexus had a completely different finish planned for their high-stakes encounter with Cena at SummerSlam 2010. The group had been building momentum for months, establishing themselves as the most dangerous faction in WWE. They were positioned as unstoppable, a collection of young, hungry competitors ready to take over the company.
“We knew all day we were supposed to go over,” Otusha revealed in the interview.[1] The victory was meant to be a definitive statement—The Nexus proving they could overcome anyone, even the face of the company. However, that narrative was about to change dramatically.
As the event unfolded, the plan shifted. Otunga and his teammates received word that the finish had been altered. Instead of The Nexus emerging victorious and continuing their ascent, John Cena would go over. The reason? Cena himself wanted to win the match.
The Finish Change: When Politics Overshadowed Storytelling
The decision to change the finish at the last minute created palpable tension among the performers involved. Otunga was direct about the emotional response from his teammates: “The other guys in the match weren’t happy about that.”[1] This wasn’t simply disappointment about losing a match—it was frustration with a creative decision that fundamentally altered the trajectory of their storyline.
What makes Otunga’s account particularly compelling is his measured assessment of Cena’s involvement. Rather than attacking the future Hall of Famer, Otusha suggested that even Cena himself may have recognized the decision wasn’t optimal in retrospect. “I think John probably knows that wasn’t the right idea,” Otusha stated.[1] He continued, “Maybe obviously, at the time, he thought that was the right call, but in retrospect, I don’t even think he would agree that that was the right thing to do.”[1]
This nuanced take reveals the complexity of backstage dynamics. It wasn’t necessarily about ego run amok, but rather a moment where creative vision took a backseat to perceived star power and the politics of the moment.
The Domino Effect: How One Loss Unraveled Everything
The consequences of that single match result rippled through the entire trajectory of The Nexus. Otunga articulated the broader impact with striking clarity: “You spend six months or however long it was building this faction, and we’re the strongest thing, we’re the hottest thing they have. Then now, why would you have us lose that?”[1]
The logic was simple but devastating. The Nexus had been positioned as the company’s most compelling new force. They were the hottest act on television, generating genuine intrigue and anticipation. Losing to Cena in their biggest opportunity didn’t just mean a setback—it signified that they weren’t truly on his level, that they couldn’t overcome WWE’s biggest star when it mattered most.
“This is the main event. To really build these new stars, you want us to keep going. We could have rode this all the way to Mania,” Otusha explained.[1] The vision was clear: The Nexus could have maintained their momentum through WrestleMania, establishing themselves as legitimate main-event threats and creating multiple compelling storylines for the industry’s biggest show.
Instead, the loss initiated a decline from which The Nexus never truly recovered. “After that, we’ve now lost, and that took us down a few pegs. After that, we never regained the steam. They ended up separating us,” Otusha reflected.[1]
The New Nexus: A Disconnect That Never Recovered
The dissolution of the original Nexus structure led to another creative pivot—one that Otusha viewed as equally misguided. The faction was eventually reformed as The New Nexus, this time under the leadership of CM Punk rather than Wade Barrett. While Punk was certainly a major star, the transition felt jarring to audiences and performers alike.
“Wait, what? How does this fit in? And I guess he needed a faction. Straight Edge Society was done, and he needed a new faction. So I don’t know why they decided just to give him Nexus,” Otusha questioned.[1] The creative logic seemed backwards—taking an existing faction and simply reassigning leadership without properly building the transition or explaining the narrative shift.
“So then the storyline that we had going just stopped, and now we’re The New Nexus with CM Punk, which, eh. It never really took off, I think, because it was a disconnect for the fans too,” Otusha concluded.[1] The disconnect wasn’t just internal; it was visible to audiences watching at home, who could sense the disjointed nature of the creative direction.
Otusha’s Current Status: Never Truly Retired
Interestingly, when asked about his retirement status, Otusha offered a fascinating clarification. “No, I just consider myself as having not wrestled in a long time,” he stated.[1] The distinction is important—Otusha hasn’t formally retired; he simply stepped away from in-ring competition as his role evolved within the company.
“It wasn’t necessarily my last match. That’s the thing, in my mind, I’ve never had my last match. It’s just where I was in the company and becoming an announcer and doing all that, they didn’t really want me doing in-ring stuff,” Otusha explained.[1] His transition from performer to broadcaster represented a natural evolution, though the circumstances surrounding The Nexus’s decline certainly influenced the timing and nature of that shift.
The Lasting Legacy
Otusha’s candid reflections serve as a reminder of how crucial booking decisions can be in professional wrestling. A single match result, a last-minute creative change, and a subsequent series of decisions can completely alter the trajectory of performers and storylines. The Nexus represented a missed opportunity—a group that could have defined an entire era of WWE had they been allowed to maintain their momentum and establish themselves as legitimate threats to the company’s established order.
The interview provides wrestling fans with valuable insight into the behind-the-scenes realities of WWE creative, where sometimes the most compelling stories get derailed by politics and perceived necessity rather than long-term vision.