TRIPLE H

• Has wrestled in WWE the entire decade

• Eleven-time world champion (five WWE titles; five world heavyweight titles; one undisputed title)

• Along with The Undertaker, the only Attitude-era main-eventer who was active the entire decade

• Wrestled in nine WrestleManias; was in world title matches in eight of them

• Was on top during WWE’s peak year in 2000

• Had memorable programs with The Rock, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Mick Foley, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Batista, Randy Orton and John Cena

• Triple threat match with Chris Benoit and Michaels at WrestleMania XX (2004) is perhaps the best WrestleMania world title match ever

• Leader of Evolution, one of the top heel groups of the decade

• Reunited with DX partner Michaels to form one of WWE’s most popular acts

• Helped elevate Batista, Orton, Cena and Benoit

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Categories: Wrestler of the Decade
        

JOHN CENA

• Has wrestled in WWE since 2002

• Seven-time world champion (five WWE titles; two world heavyweight titles)

• Has become the face of WWE in the post-Attitude era

• WWE’s top draw and top merchandise seller the second half of the decade

• Consistently elicits most passionate crowd response (both positive and negative)

• Wrestled in world title matches at WrestleMania every year between 2005 and 2009

• Won WWE title at WrestleMania in 2005 and 2009; successfully defended title in 2006 and 2007

• Thirteen-month title reign in 2006-2007 is sixth-longest in WWE history

• Had memorable feuds with Edge, Randy Orton, Triple H, Shawn Michaels and Kurt Angle

• Has become a crossover celebrity to some extent

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Friday.

Photo courtesy of WWE

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THE UNDERTAKER

• Has wrestled in WWE the entire decade

• Four-time world champion (three world heavyweight titles; one undisputed title)

• Second decade of spectacular 19-year WWE run was even more impressive than the first

• Stayed relevant by re-inventing his character on occasion and employing a more demanding in-ring style

• Undefeated streak at WrestleMania has become a key element of WWE’s signature event

• Wrestled in nine WrestleManias

• Match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXV is considered by many to be the greatest WrestleMania match ever

• Won the world heavyweight title at WrestleMania 23 (2007) and WrestleMania XXIV (2008)

• Had memorable programs with Edge, Batista, Kurt Angle, Randy Orton and Ric Flair

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Friday.

Photo courtesy of WWE

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SHAWN MICHAELS

• Has wrestled in WWE since 2002

• Returned to WWE in 2002 after four-year hiatus and picked up right where he left off

• Had some of the most memorable matches of the decade against Ric Flair, The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, John Cena, Triple H, Chris Jericho and others

• Wrestled at seven WrestleManias and had the best or one of the best matches at each one

• One-time world champion (world heavyweight title)

• Wrestled in world title matches at WrestleMania XX (2004) and WrestleMania 23 (2007)

• Defeated Flair in Flair’s final WWE match at WrestleMania XXIV (2008)

• Match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV (2009) is considered by many to be the greatest WrestleMania match ever

• Reunited with DX partner Triple H to form one of WWE’s most popular acts

• Feud with Jericho in 2008 was one of the most memorable of the past 10 years

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Friday.

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KURT ANGLE

• Wrestled in WWE until 2006; joined TNA in 2006

• Nine-time world champion (four WWE titles; three TNA titles; one world heavyweight title; one WCW title-WWE version)

• Wrestled in world title matches at WrestleMania in 2003, 2004 and 2006

• Had show-stealing match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 21 (2005)

• A main event-level star throughout the decade

• Perhaps the best in-ring performer of the decade

• Helped legitimize TNA as No. 2 national promotion

• Still performing at high level despite serious neck injuries

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Friday.

Photo courtesy of WWE

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EDGE

• Has wrestled in WWE the entire decade

• Nine-time world champion (five world heavyweight titles; four WWE titles)

• Had memorable feuds with John Cena, The Undertaker, Mick Foley and Jeff Hardy

• Wrestled at eight WrestleManias

• Wrestled in world title matches at WrestleMania in 2008 and 2009

• One of the top heels in the business from 2005 to 2009

• Participated in classic ladder and TLC tag matches with partner Christian against the Hardy Boyz and Dudley Boyz

• Won WWE-record 27 titles overall in the decade

• Winner of the first Money in the Bank Ladder Match

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Friday.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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CHRIS JERICHO

• Wrestled in WWE until summer of 2005; returned in fall of 2007

• Five-time world champion (two world heavyweight titles; two WCW titles-WWE version; one WWE title)

• Defeated The Rock and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin in the same night in 2001 to become first undisputed world champion

• Defended undisputed world title against Triple H at WrestleMania X8 (2002)

• Wrestled at eight WrestleManias between 2000 and 2009

• Feud with Shawn Michaels in 2008 was one of the most memorable of the past 10 years

• All-around performer is one of the industry’s most charismatic stars and best talkers

• No top-level wrestler was more durable

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Jan. 1.

Photo courtesy of wwe.com

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THE ROCK

• Wrestled in WWE until 2003; had one match in 2004

• Accomplished more in about half a decade than most wrestlers did the whole decade

• Won six world titles between 2000 and 2002 (four WWE titles; two WCW titles-WWE version)

• Headlined WrestleMania in 2000 and 2001 and stole the show with match against Hulk Hogan in 2002

• Became mainstream celebrity, balancing successful movie career with wrestling for several years

• Had unparalleled charisma and was perhaps the best of all time at cutting promos

• Helped elevate Triple H, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit and Brock Lesnar

• Made occasional non-wrestling cameos on WWE television after ending in-ring career, including memorable appearance during 2008 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Jan. 1.

Photo courtesy of Associated Press

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RANDY ORTON

• Has wrestled in WWE since 2002

• At 24, became youngest world champion in WWE history in 2004

• Six-time world champion (five WWE titles; one world heavyweight title)

• Had memorable feuds with John Cena, Triple H and Mick Foley

• Successfully defended WWE title against Cena and Triple H in a triple threat match at WrestleMania XXIV (2008)

• Also wrestled in world title matches at WrestleMania 22 (2006) and WrestleMania XXV (2009)

• Had few peers among fellow heels from 2007 to 2009

• Member of Evolution, one of the top heel groups of the decade

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Jan. 1.

Photo courtesy of Orlando Sentinel

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BATISTA

• Has wrestled in WWE since 2002

• Five-time world champion (four world heavyweight titles; one WWE title)

• Had classic world heavyweight title matches with The Undertaker, including at WrestleMania 23 in 2007

• Was hottest wrestler in the business when he defeated Triple H for the world heavyweight title at WrestleMania 21 in 2005

• Consistently in the world title picture during second half of the decade

• Member of Evolution, one of the top heel groups of the decade

• Knock against him has been susceptibility to serious injuries

I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the decade every day through Jan. 1.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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As much as we love lists here at Ring Posts, it goes without saying that there will be one for Wrestler of the Decade. Beginning Wednesday and continuing through Jan. 1, I will count down the top 10 wrestlers of the past 10 years.

Continue reading "Wrestler of the Decade" »

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Categories: Wrestler of the Decade