Wade Barrett Makes Huge Announcement About His Post-WWE Career

Stu Bennett, known to the WWE Universe as Wade Barrett, was released by the company back in May. His release from WWE was more or less something Bennett had asked for because he needed a “break from the wrestling business.” King Barrett had been aimless on WWE programming for quite some time, so WWE was just going to let his contract run out in June. However, he was granted his release by WWE a month early.

Since then, all has been quiet on the western front for him. Many people assumed that Barrett was just tired of the WWE grind, and needed to stretch his legs in another wrestling promotion where he would be better utilized as a performer. There has been a lot of speculation that Bennett would sign with TNA Wrestling or New Japan at some point after his non-compete clause ends in early August. While that is still a strong possibility, it may not be Bennett’s career focus to stay in the wrestling business.

While he was still with WWE, Bennett dabbled in filming movies and had some success. Back in 2013, Bennett had a small role in the Colin Farrell crime-thriller Dean Man Down. It wasn’t until two years later that he got a starring role in a WWE Studios film titled Eliminators, which is currently in post-production. Bennett is starring in that film as “Europe’s most dangerous assassin,” who intends to kill the main character named Martin being played by Scott Adkins.

While wrestling with WWE, Bennett was able to get some acting credits to his resume. Now that his WWE career is officially over, it is the perfect time for him to put those credentials to good use, which Stu Bennett has done very recently.

According to a report from ProWrestling, Evolutionary Films made the announcement that Bennett will be playing the lead role of “John Gold” in the studio’s new film Vengeance. It will be an action thriller about an ex-solider who later becomes a mercenary. Gold seeks revenge against the men responsible for the murder of his best friend. Bennett will star opposite of Gary Daniels, who will play the film’s main villain “Hatcher.” The film will begin shooting in less than two weeks.

Simultaneously, Bennett posted the following tweet on Twitter to promote his first lead role and his first major project since being released by WWE back in May:

Thrilled to announce that I'll be playing lead in the @evofilmsuk feature @vengeancefilmuk shooting in London this summer. #JohnGold

— Stu Bennett (@StuBennett) July 13, 2016

Bennett has a lot of potential as a leading man in the movie industry. If his tenure in WWE taught the WWE Universe anything, it’s that when he was given the chance to perform, he commands a captivating presence on-screen. He has the stature and looks of a star along with a natural charisma. A big question for Bennett’s career path into movies is if he is planning on returning to the wrestling industry or WWE in the future.

What bothered many within the WWE Universe is the untapped potential Wade Barrett had to become a superstar for WWE. It wasn’t for a lack of trying on WWE’s behalf. During his WWE career, Bennett won the first season of NXT, became a five-time Intercontinental Champion, and was the most recent WWE superstar to become the “King of the Ring.”

The door is open for Bennett to return to WWE, but there is even more potential for him to break new ground in other wrestling promotions outside of WWE. There can be more opportunity outside of WWE for the right performers. After Stu Bennett takes a break and gets his feet wet in movies, if he wants to put his WWE credentials to good use, he’d be welcomed with open arms to many wrestling promotions and possibly even WWE for a second chance to become a top draw for WWE.

[Image via WWE]