Top 20 Wrestlers Of The Decade

Posted on 22. Dec, 2009 by admin in Sports

FACT: Wrestling is the second most watched sport in the world

Wrestling Entertainment has endured a topsy turvy decade with the buy-out of brand giants WCW, a change of name from WWF to WWE and the untimely deaths of such wrestling greats as Chris Benoit Eddie Guerrero, Crash Holly, Sensational Sherri and The British Bulldog.

Yet in the midst of this has been a constant rise of popularity, mega brand deals and the making and nurturing of some of the best wrestlers of all time. The new millennium signalled the unfortunate end of the Attitude Era in WWE, the NWO Era in WCW and the somewhat rebellious production of ECW but in entered a new breed of charismatic wrestlers and the emergence of another growing product TNA.

Although hardcore fans feel wrestling has lost its way since the emergence of PG TV ratings and multiple soapish storylines, they can’t deny 2000-2009 popularized wrestling content and brought many wrestlers to their peak.

Here’s Pbleepd’s Top 20 Wrestlers of the decade.

#20 John Cena
Finsher: Attitude Adjustment
World Heavyweight Champion; WWE Champion;
U.S. Champion;
World Tag Team Champion

Love Him or Hate Him John Cena has made a huge impact since his introduction to the WWE. Making his debut and taking Kurt Angle to the wire is no easy feat but he was able to compete and look convincing doing it. Since then he hasn’t looked back with multiple titles, victories over the biggest and best in the company and a enviable physique showcasing forearms bigger than most people’s legs. His never say die attitude and dedication to the brand will see the wrestler stay at the top of the WWE roster for years to come.

#19 Victoria
Finisher: Widow’s Peak
WWE Women’s Champion
TNA Knockouts Champ

One of the most underrated female wrestlers of the decade. Victoria represented the rare breed of modern female wrestlers who knew how to wrestle and pull off moves convincingly. Having her in the ring meant you knew you were going to have a decent match as she was strong, athletic, verbal and had passion for the craft. It was just unfortunate that she wasn’t appreciated as she was always a heel and wasn’t the stereotypical babyface blonde that WWE love to promote. You can now catch her delivering female beatdowns in TNA as Tara

#18 Brock Lesnar
Finisher: F5
3-Time WWE Champion

Brock Lesnar had to have made one of the most dominant impacts in WWE History. From the moment he was introduced to the world as “The Next Big Thing by Paul Heyman he made quick use of dismantling all in his way to the WWE Championship. He competed in some of the best matches of the decade with Kurt Angle and scared all with his huge physique and devastating finisher. There’s no doubt he was a force in the first half of the decade

#17 Booker T
Finisher: Scissor Kick
2-Time WWE Champion
Tag Team Champion
United States Champion
Intercontinental Champion
TNA Legends Champion
TNA Tag Team Champion

Booker T continued his already illustrious career joining WWE at the beginning of the decade and went on to have memorable feuds with the best in the business from The Rock to Stone Cold Steve Austin. With changes from the heel Booker T, the spinaroonie face Booker T to the annoying King Booker, the wrestler managed to keep fresh and bring entertainment to wrestling. Athletic and strong Booker left WWE and tried his trade in TNA where he formed an alliance with Sting, Scott Steiner, Kevin Nash and Kurt Angle in one of the company’s best storylines.

#16 Goldberg
Finisher: Jackhammer
WCW Champion
WWE Champion

Wrestlemania 19 was a great event but one memory that stuck in the minds of most was a little advert in the middle of the show which announced the arrival of one of the most dominant wrestlers of our generation, Bill Goldberg. Coming from a history that boasted a 108 match winning streak in the WCW, Goldberg’s emergence sprang new life into WWE and he made an immediate impact taking out The Rock. Goldberg went on to have feuds with Chris Jericho, Kane, Triple H and Batista but everybody anticipated his match with Brock Lesnar at Wrestlemania 20. Goldberg only lasted one year in WWE but it fed the hunger of all wrestling fans who were dying to see him in WWE

#15 Lita
Finisher: Moonsault, DDT or Twist of Fate
4-Time WWE Wonen’s Champion

One of the most popular female wrestlers of all time Lita made herself known with an earlier affiliation with The Hardy Boyz in their alliance Team Extreme. Praised for her athletic ability and high action displays Lita was multi-women’s champion with a plethora of memorable feuds with the likes of Trish, Victoria and Molly Holly. Her on-off screen relationships with Matt Hardy and Edge triggered an emotional storyline in the mid 00s which turned her heel but gave her fresh impetus to diversify her character.

#14 Batista
Batista: Batista Bomb
4-Time World Heavy Weight Champion
WWE Champion
3-Time WWE Tag Team Champion

The Animal Batista is a favourite of most wrestling fans and the ladies. Face or Heel Batista envokes a reaction from viewers that many wrestlers cant due to his size and physical prowess. Possessing an area of power moves, Batista made a big impact as the enforcer in the WWE Alliance Evolution with Ric Flair, Randy Orton and Triple H. After turning on them it was all gunz blaze as Batista defeated the best in the business from The Great Khali, to the Undertaker to Triple H. Injuries have postponed his development but he still remains one of the most powerful wrestlers ever

#13 The Hardy Boyz
Finisher: Leg Drop & Swanton Bomb
6-Time Tag Team Champions

The beginning of the decade saw a group of amazing tag team performers including the Dudley Boyz and Edge & Christian but as much variety to the tables as the Hardy Boyz. Matt and Jeff Hardy were a fan favourite for their extreme moves which including 20 foot drops, somersaults in the air and “craftsmanship” with ladders to name a few. They were involved in one of the best feuds of the decades and introduced the world to arguably the greatest WWE match in recent memory “Tables, Ladders & Chairs”.

#12 Rey Mysterio
Finisher: 619
World Heavyweight Champion
4-Time Tag Team Champion
2-Time Intercontinental Champion
3-Time Cruiserweight Champion

Easily one of the hardest working wrestlers to date, Mysterio had one hell of a decade to follow his previous years with WCW. Standing at only 5ft 6, he was always the underdog but his spirit and plethora of high-flying moves always proved doubters wrong. Combining quickness with surprising physicality Mysterio was able to capture multiple titles and have great feuds with WWE’s finest. Fan favourite and all-round good guy Rey Jr reigns as high-flying king.

#11 Eddie Guerrero
Finisher: Frog Splash
WWE Champion
4-Time Tag Team Champion
2-Time Intercontinental Champion
United States Champion
2-Time European Champion

Eddie’s stint in the WWE was a successful one; whether he was heel or face Eddie brought the best out of his talent, his opponents and fan reaction. Displaying a high-range of air and mat skills Guerrero was one of the best technical wrestlers of the decade. He had charisma to boot penning the phrase “we lie, we cheat, we steal” which soon became the most entertaining theme of the mid 00s. His untimely death was a shock to the WWE world but his legend still lives on with even wrestlers now referencing him.

#10 Chris Benoit
Finisher: Crippler Crossface
World Heavy Weight Champion
4-Time Tag Team Champion
3-Time United States Champion
4-Time Intercontinental Champion

Chris Benoit was widely regarded as one of the most popular and gifted technical wrestlers in history. No matter rain or shine Benoit put in 100% to all of his wrestling displays and appeared in some amazing matches and feuds this decade. His devastating technical moves and painful submission finisher “The Crippler Crossface” were a personal favourite and he was able to achieve his life-long dream of capturing a title at Wrestlemania.

#9 Trish Stratus
Finisher: Stratusfaction
7 WWE Women’s Champion
Hardcore Champion

Trish Stratus was the epitome of growth as year after year her status, athleticism, skills and character grew in WWE. Since her debut in 2000 she was involved in an array of storylines including a love triangle with Vince McMahon and his wife, a feud with Lita and the fan attacks from Mickie James. With each storyline her character developed and took new dimensions; she partook in some great matches with Victoria and Molly Holly and came through victorious on most holding the women’s title for up to a year. She will be remembered as the best female wrestler of the decade and arguably all time.

#8 Kurt Angle
Finsher: Angle Slam
4-Time WWE Champion
WCW Championship
WWE Tag-Team Champion
WWE Intercontinental Champion
European Champion
Hardcore Champion
WCW United States Champion
TNA World Heavyweight Champion
TNA Tag-Team Champion
TNA X Division Champion

The Olympic Gold Medallist had an impressive debut year in WWE winning two major titles. From there he never looked back; using his technical background to master moves on his opponents and introduce a new breed of champion. Angle always got the fans involved and his best work was as a heel drawing boos and chants of “you suck” whenever he appeared. Yet the irony of it was that everyone knew he didn’t suck, he was one of the best to step foot in the ring this decade. Angle moved on to TNA and elevated the brand where he won all major championships and took part in memorable feuds with Samoan Joe. Some decade.

#7 Edge
Finisher: Spear
9 Time WWE Champion
12-Time Tag Team Champion

Amongst one of the most popular wrestlers backstage, Edge’s development has been quick and deserved. Starting as part of one of WWE’s greatest tag-teams with Christian, Edge quickly mastered his craft competing in high-flying and high energy matches including the famous TLC match. Together him and Christian won multiple times until they split. Edges singles career catapulted him to main event status as he honed his skills on the mat and the mic and became one of the most charismatic wrestlers of the decade. Despite two major injuries Edge has had enough input and great storylines to make his presence felt this decade and hopefully years to come.

#6 Chris Jericho
Finisher: Walls of Jericho
2-Time WWE Champion
Undisputed Champion
9-Time Intercontinental Champion
5-Time Tag Team Champion
Hardcore Champion
European Champion

Chris Jericho’s impact on the WWE is often played down but he is easily one of the best workers on the mat and mic of all time. He has brought much needed entertainment and ethic into feuds this decade with matches with all main-eventers in the WWE. From his slick-mouthed funny tirade on Stephanie McMahon to his obnoxious egotistical taunts at WWE veterans and fans he has always been able to re-invent his character and stay relevant and entertaining. He was amongst the most technically gifted wrestlers of the decade and continues to entertain in the WWE and work well with younger wrestlers.

#5 Triple H
Finisher: The Pedigree
11-Time WWE Champion
2-Time Tag Team Champion
Intercontinental Champion

This decade saw the emergence of HHH’s new persona “The Game” who would become a prominent main eventer and a dominant force in the WWE. Triple H has always been a great in ring performer, selling moves from opponents as well as excelling in inducing pain on them with his power moves. His feuds have always been memorable and entertaining and despite major injuries he has proved himself King of Kings with a double figured win of world championships. Humorous and believable on the mic, fans react well to his confidence and through D-Generation X, he and Shawn Michaels have created a franchise within the WWE that never wanes.

#4 The Undertaker
Finishers: Choke Slam, Tombstone, Last Ride & Hell’s Gate
4-Time WWE Champion
4-Time Tag Team Champion
Undefeated at Wrestlemania

Easily having the best entrance of all time, The Undertaker is a name that sticks with most. A veteran still at the top of his game The Undertaker has taken on two personas in the past decade and handled business with both. Standing at almost 7ft he is a force to be reckoned with hitting you with spurts of strength, speed and technical ability. He has faced and beaten the best from Triple H to Shawn Michaels to Batista and he’s still going strong. Undefeated at Wretlemania he has legacy that will prove difficult to tarnish.

#3 The Rock
Finisher: Rock Bottom
4-Time WWE Champion
2-Time WCW Champion
3-Time Tag Team Champion


In our opinion the greatest ever on the mic, The Rock continued in 2000 onwards to entertain fans of all ages with his wit, energy and sincerity. The Rock was indeed “the most electrifying man in sports entertainment” he had a selection of special offensive moves in his ammo from the people’s elbow to the samoan drop. With The Rock you always knew the show he was on was going to be a good one thanks to his excellent wrestling and inspiring charisma. The People’s champ drew so much attention that a prominent show (Smackdown) was named after him and to this day fans pray for his arrival again.

#2 Shawn Michaels
Finisher: Sweet Chin Music
WWE Champion
3-Time WWE Tag Team Champion

When Michaels injured his back in the late nineties it was said he would never return to the ring again. However this decade there was a resurgence of the future hall of famer as Michaels returned to the ring in 2002. Here he started an amazing feud with Triple H which produced some classic matches and lead him to winning the illustrious heavyweight championship. Michaels continues to be a professional on the mic and in the ring, able to work with wrestlers of all ages and give an extra dimension to matches. He competed in one of the greatest matches this decade with the Undertaker at this year’s Wrestlemania and his resurrection of DX has proved to be a great move for merchandising in the WWE. Did I mention he has the best name for a finisher in Sweet Chin Music?

#1 Stone Cold Steve Austin
Finisher: Stone Cold Stunner
2-Time WWE Champion
2-Time Tag Team Champion
WWE Hall of Famer

The man single-handedly responsible for saving WWE was a prominent figure in the first half of the decade. With Austin it doesn’t matter whether he turned face or heel he was always great to watch and remained a favourite amongst fans. He was involved in some great storylines from turning his back on The Rock to his feud with Triple H (which started from Austin being knocked over and injured for almost a year) to his betrayal of WWE to join the Invasion (WCW/ECW), only to betray the Invasion and join the WWE again. Whatever Stone Cold did, it was big news; he brought energy to shows and had the best finisher in the business (Stone Cold Stunner). A deserved Hall of Famer Stone Cold was at the forefront of the best WWE years in modern times.