Michaels
Cena
Taker
HHH
Benoit
Flair
Guererro
Orton
Angle
Batista

What's the occasion, Mr. Eck?

Can't wait for the list to start, should be pretty hard because there are a lot of viable contenders for the that number one spot. I'm sure some people will still gripe about your choices and if Michaels isn't left off of the list you'll be ridiculed for being an HBK mark, but it doesn't matter in my opinion he is the wrestler of the decade, either him or HHH

Is there any chance that #1 won't be John Cena?

What? How could you list that [blank] as number one?

Sorry. Just warming up.

without a doubt, HBK.

The fact that he came back after what was presumed to be a career ending injury and performed at a level that's even better than the considerable level he was before is a testament to his talent.

He has had the best match at damn near every wrestlemania since his return.

I think if you ask any current wrestler who their inspiration is in wrestling, the most likely answer will be HBK.

Kevin, what will the criteria for this list be?

Just kidding.

I hope you haven't already put together your list, cause I'd like to nominate El Dandy. He comes highly recommended (not just by me, but by the likes of Bret Hart).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjMB28ak98I

Will Mexico/Japan types be included or is it just best American based wrestler of the decade?

RESPONSE FROM KE: Just American-based. I should have made that clear.

Can't wait to see how you'll justify ranking HBK above Bret 'The Hitman' Hart.

Ten bucks on HBK at #1.

Actually, there's no way it can be anybody but him considering that Kev doesn't watch indies or Japan, which would eliminate Bryan Danielson, Kenta Kobashi, and Mitsuharu Misawa, who are the only people who could challenge Michaels anyway.

RESPONSE FROM KE: Just remember, it's not a "best workers" list. It's more a "biggest stars" list.

The Vegas sportsbook just put up its line...even odds HBK is #1.

Looking forward to it but I suggest that in order to build anticipation you admit straight away that HBK is your no. 1 and you do 11 to 2.

Love him or hate him it's John Cena hands down.

My vote goes to Kurt Angle.

It's hard to think of anyone who's had a better decade's worth of matches than him. Classics with Austin, Benoit, Jericho, Undertaker, Lesnar, Rey, Michaels, Samoa Joe, Styles, and even his recent program with Desmond Wolf...

Plus he's always been great on the mic, never been hesitant to put new talent over, made the biggest leap of any wrestler (besides Hogan) to go to TNA, and has consistently stayed in the main event picture despite never having married a boss's daughter or being part of certain "clique".

Based on activity throughout the decade I'd say that both HHH and Undertaker should be at or near the top of this list.

10. HBK
9. Edge
8. Booker T
7. Jeff Jarrett
6. Chris Jericho
5. The Undertaker
4. Randy Orton
3. John Cena
2. Kurt Angle
1. HHH

Dude, your readers are going to flip out when you list Brock Lesnar as #1 next week!

Then again, most of your readers flip out regardless of whom you list where, so I guess it isn't worth trying to avoid.

Styles, Angle, Jericho, HBK, Cena, Jarrett, HHH, Undertaker, Orton, Eddie are my guesses.

Given the criteria, I'd be shocked if the No. 1 wrestler on this list is anyone other than HHH. His level of influence in the WWE's creative process (for better or worse) coupled with his ability to morph from a poster boy of the Attitude Era to a key cog in the PG Era make him a shoo-in. He's been bitten by the injury bug for sure, but it's hard to argue against a guy who kicked off the decade retiring Mick Foley, closed it out by molding D-X into something family-friendly (and highly entertaining) and won the world title multiple times in between.

I hope this list takes into consideration the placement on the card and the titles won by those who were doing booking. *cough* HHH *cough* Jeff Jarret. After all, arguably the 4 most consistent performers this year were all undercard players for at least half the year or more: Jericho, Michaels, Punk, and Christian.

This is difficult.
In no particluar order I would have the following in the top ten.
Cena
Angle
HHH
Batista
Mysterio
Undertaker
Edge
Orton
J. Hardy
Jericho

I hope and pray John Cena is not in your top 9 hint hint .. I'm not just a Cena hater I get violently ill anytime I see or hear his music playing .. Cena couldnt wrestle his way out of a paper bag .. the only criteria he would fall into is # of titles won

Uh oh, this probably won't end well. I'm interested in your list though Kevin. We usually seem to agree on a lot in wrestling.

Kevin, please don't join the ranks of the mathematically-challenged media. Save this story for next year.

The decade isn't ending, there is one more year to go!

If Cena wins, we riot!!!

Well Kev we see where your allegiance is if their is another Monday night war TNA had a PPV 2 days ago and you still havent said a word about it.

"Activitiy" meaning, how frequently they wrestled (vis a vis time-off for injuries and what not)?

Presumably the promotion worked-for would factor. For instance, Sting has held X number of titles (even just in the past 10 years), but his "star power" is somewhat hindered by not working for the industry's major player.

Hmmm.... this has been a rather lackluster decade for wrestling after both Rock and Austin left WWE. Even though he's far from my favorite, I can't see anyone but Cena topping the list. I'd probably have Edge listed as #2.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this one.

How about a follow-up list of the Top Ten Wrestlers to Watch For in 2010? Who will make a big/bigger impact in 2010?

Ric Flair
He started out the decade in WCW, gave his passionate speech in the last Nitro, showed up in Charlotte at a WWF show, had a great run (with Undertaker, et al) there, formed Evolution, and had the most memorable farewell any wrestler could ever have hoped for in Orlando. Australia aside, he has had greater impact than almost any other wrestler. Ask most of the later guys who influenced them the most, the answer is consistently...Ric Flair.

Oh, oh, oh, call on me, let me be the first to make the obligatory Shaun Michaels mark comment!

Michaels
Cena
Taker
HHH
Benoit
Flair
Guererro
Orton
Angle
Batista
Flair? Really? He hasn't been anything great since 94 or even good since 96. Batista doesn't belong on the list either. where's styles?

Bryan Danielson practically single-handedly built a promotion from a small-time indy promotion to the point where it got a national TV deal.

He's like Hulk Hogan, if Hulk Hogan could also be called the best technical wrestler in the world.

Edge.

1. Kurt Angle
2. Shawn Michaels
3. John Cena
4. HHH
5. The Undertaker
6. Batista
7. Randy Orton
8. Chris Jericho
9. Edge
10. TIE: Chris Benoit/Eddie Guerrero (both careers will be forever linked due to close friendship, WrestleMania 20 moment of the decade at the end of the show, and unfortunate deaths when both passed way too young)

Brock Lesnar
Kurt Angle
HBK
Undertaker
Edge
Jeff Hardy
Christian
Jericho
HHH
Cena
Orton

John Cena should certainly be up there but the only two to wrestle at/near WWE main event level throughout the decade are Triple H and Undertaker.

I won't bother trying to guess the entire list, but I'd be quite surprised if Cena doesn't top the list. The only challenge I could see is from Edge and HHH, and maybe Angle. Keep in mind Kevin's criteria, folks.

Definitely Gillberg will win

My vote will have to go for Jericho as number one. He is consistently good throughout his career, is involved in (for the most part) good story lines and always always makes whoever is with him in the ring look good.

I cannot say much to argue with your list itself, except to say that, when I think of a Best Wrestlers of the Decade list, I think of the guys that *defined* the decade as something different than the previous decade, so that would be Cena, Orton, Edge, Batista, and Angle, moreso than HHH, Taker, and HBK. Your list clearly did not weight their "impact on business" as "impact on the decade."

Even still, your list would mirror mine a lot:

1. John Cena
2. HHH
3. Randy Orton (his time as top dog came too late to warrant #2)
4. Kurt Angle
5. Edge
6. Batista (his time on top was always shadowed by Cena)
7. Undertaker
8. Chris Benoit (sorry to offend anyone, but if he simply retired or just died, then he'd have this placement or higher)
9. Shawn Michaels (I cannot imagine this decade without his 2002 return)
10. Eddie Guerrero (although his time on top was brief, his death really defined the decade for better & worse)

For any TNA lovers, AJ Styles was an easy #11 behind Eddie Guerrero, if not in place of him. Personally, I went with Guerrero because of the changes made after his death, as well as the fact that his presence is still there in numerous storylines, which is simply unheard of otherwise but I really think that's in large part due to how influential AND entertaining he was in life.

i think it should be
1.john cena
2.triple h
3.the undertaker
4.shawn michaels
5.randy orton
6.batista
7.edge
8.chris jericho
9.kane
10.jeff hardy