Shining a Spotlight 12.10.09: Stars of the Decade

Posted by Michael Weyer on 12.10.2009

My picks for the stars who made the biggest impact and popularity over the last ten years.

　
　

I know that technically, the decade doesn't truly end until 2010. But, bowing to the trend, joining in the list of people who are looking back at the last ten years. For wrestling, it's a huge endeavor. This was a decade of massive change with WCW going under, TNA and ROH rising and the death toll of wrestlers making a troublingly dramatic rise. Looking back and trying to pick out "best" of the last ten years can be a pretty tricky proposition for the most level-headed of people. And let's face it, a great majority of folks in the IWC aren't known for level heads.

Of course, I'm sure other "Best of the Decade" lists and recaps will do similar things. I just got Entertainment Weekly's special issue where they make some pretty odd picks for their "Entertainers of the Decade" list (like Will Smith on but George Clooney not). And when it comes to their TV and movie lists…Look, I love Gladiator but number three of the decade? And who else honestly thinks that the failed HBO "comedy" The Comeback deserves a place on the top 10 list while 24 and Battlestar Galactica are left off?

For wrestling, where opinions vary wildly, ranking "the best" is almost a futile proposition. Which is why I made the decision not to do an actual ranking system with my picks. I did have a few criteria. First, with a couple of exceptions, picking guys who either began or broke out big in the last ten years. I know Shawn Michaels had some great matches and moments and appreciate the guy still being so fantastic but his best years were in the ‘90's. I'm also picking guys not so much for their athletic abilities but their overall impact over the last decade. Third is that folks will no doubt notice two names missing: Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit. For Eddie, as great as he was, he was limited in 2000-2002 by injuries and his personal demons and while his remaining three years were great, not quite enough to impact the whole decade. As for Benoit…as brilliant as he was in the ring, I was never too huge a fan of the guy when he was alive and I am still unable to separate him from the monster he became in those last few days.

A quick note on a few who came close but didn't quite make the list:

*Matt and Jeff Hardy: Close on both as they are great in the ring but, and I realize I'm in a minority, I never really bought into either as a strong singles superstar. Yes, Jeff was terrific but just could never get behind him and sadly, he showed he wasn't quite ready for the responsibility of carrying a company as champion.
*Batista: I've never understood the rush of love toward Big Dave as he has shown good work given the right opponent (HHH or Undertaker) but just hasn't impressed me as more than a jacked-up muscle man who's rough on the mic.
*Nigel McGuiness: I'm sure ROH fans will trash me for leaving him off as he is great in the ring but frankly, between him and Bryan Danielson, the latter really had a bigger impact on things.
*Brock Lesner: He was a phenomenon to be sure but the fact he only spent three years in WWE pretty much disqualifies him. He was a great worker in that time and easy to see why he was given the big shots so fast but turning his back to embrace football, followed by MMA does mar his legacy.
*Due to the fact I'm not as learned as others on Japanese wrestling, will be leaving off some of the Far East stars.

Also, this is mainly wrestlers but do have to give shout-outs to others who affected us over the decade:

*Vince McMahon of course, who finally got the victory over WCW and while he stumbled (the XFL), has continued to maintain WWE as the giant in the business and seen it succeed more despite the dips the industry has gone through.
*Dixie Carter, whose financial support of TNA saved the company from total bankruptcy and has boosted it big-time for fans with the deal with Spike TV and given it true hope for the future.
*Gabe Sapolsky, whose wonderful booking style helped ROH stand apart as true wrestling and aided the company in achieving its reputation.


So here we go with my list, again, in no particular order. I'm sure some will argue my picks but then, that's true for any "best of" listing from anyone. But I'd like to think my choices are pretty sound overall. My picks:


　

AJ Styles: A key reason TNA has managed to succeed as well as it has is The Phenomenal One. His record speaks for itself: 3 time NWA Champion, 4-time NWA tag team champion, TNA World Champion, TNA Legends Champion, TNA tag-team champion and of course, not only the first-ever X-Division Champion but holder of the belt a record six times. That's not to mention his runs as Pure and tag-team champ in ROH. Styles set the bar for the division that put TNA on the map with his incredible style of technical wrestling and high-flying maneuvers. The man has done stuff I have literally never seen before, taking some fantastic bumps and a great seller. He's also loyal to TNA, doing whatever it takes to help the company out. He had a rough patch with the period where he was portrayed as a comic relief moron but TNA now realizes how much of a superstar he is. He's been the face of the company since it started and as long as he's around, TNA can still call itself something truly special.


　

John Cena: A brilliant example of how a worker can blossom when he lets himself loose. He was okay as the Prototype in OVW but came off just too bland as a rookie face in WWF. But when he latched onto his rap persona, it unleashed his true spirit, giving birth to a major star. He's underrated majorly for his ability to sell injuries and brings a lot to the table in big battles. I remember his 45-minute classic with Michaels where Cena still looked fresh at the half hour mark as he never gets blown up, a testament to actual conditioning. On the mic, he's a wonder with great lines and humor and commands a camera better than anyone since the Rock left. He is has been caught between being cheered and booed but carries those off well (witness how he was able to handle the incredibly hostile crowd at One Night Stand ‘06) and continues to put out great matches. Like him or not but you have to give props to his amazing rise and ability to carry the company on his shoulders and prove how the right guy can still rule the wrestling world despite his detractors.


　

Kurt Angle: Even with his Olympic background, the idea that Angle could excel at wrestling so well was doubtful. But he surpassed every expectation, winning pretty much every title available in WWE. The man's technical skills are a marvel, even more impressive now given how most thought his career would be over in 2003 with a neck injury but continues to impress. Better is how Angle mixed that with a great character, a guy convinced he's respected and loved despite the "you suck" chants and even when playing a goofball, he comes off brilliantly on the mic. His move to TNA has shifted things up and his personal antics have gotten some poor press in the IWC. But when he wants to be, Angle can still be one of the best workers on the planet and has left a legacy of some of the decade's best bouts, winning huge respect. And that is true.


　

Edge: I never thought he had it in him. I knew he was good in the ring and he and Christian made a wonderful heel team as the decade started out. But I really did not expect the man to blossom into one of the biggest heel stars in years. The man just has instant charisma on the mic and can pull fans along with him. It's true his real heel status was achieved by his affair with Lita which boosted him to the main event. But he's proven he belongs there, able to carry the title for either brand and if not for his tendency to get injured at the wrong times, he'd be a lot more dominant. But he's able to still put in great matches, especially with ladders or cages and solidified himself as one of the best heels of the decade, a status that's led to one of the best stars of the last ten years.


　

Samoa Joe: It's still amazing how a man of his size is able to move across the ring so well with the speed and agility of men much smaller. That's matched by brilliant technical skill as he's a master of submission moves and some great ring psychology that made him a force in both ROH and TNA. He's improved majorly on the mic, coming off mostly silent but deadly and carries the crowds well with that great attitude. It took a while for TNA to finally pull the trigger on him as champion but he's held his own well and proven how you don't need a sleek physique to make it big in the wrestling world.


　

Trish Stratus: Back in 2000, if you'd said that Trish Stratus would be regarded as one of the best female wrestlers of her generation, you'd have been laughed at. Back then, she was just very ample eye candy in skimpy outfits, albeit one who could take great bumps. But a bit of training unlocked a talent in the ring no one expected, able to rise above the "diva" label and be a truly great wrestler. Her moves were amazing and could hold her own from costume fights to hardcore battles against the likes of Lita and Victoria among many more. Her choice to get out at the top of her game was smart and she stands as a great example of how you can't judge by looks alone as some women really can bring the A game to the mat better than a lot of guys.




HHH: I'll get some heat on this one but it's hard to ignore the impact Hunter has had on WWE in the last decade. Most will say it's negative, pointing to his hogging the title and spotlight so much from 02-05. However, HHH really did his best in the ring, putting on great matches and feuds and has such charisma that you kept watching. He was slowed by injuries and I think fatherhood may have him shuffling priorities. Witness how he put Batista over big-time in their ‘05 feud and shifted away from the title scene for a long while afterward. The thing is, HHH is still capable of good matches and some great promo work that has solidified him as one of the decade's biggest.




Christopher Daniels: I admit, this one's more of a personal pick as I've always liked the guy. He's another "TNA original" who's done great work in the company as he and Elix Skipper helped make the tag team division of the company hot with their feud with America's Most Wanted. But in singles competition, he was fantastic, still the longest-reigning X-Division champion ever with his plethora of fantastic moves, mixed with his great arrogant charisma. He didn't resort to the easy heel cheating but won a lot of his bouts clean, showcasing his great talent. His pairing with Styles as tag champions remains a highlight of TNA's run and while he was marred a bit with the "Curry Man" gimmick, he looks ready to rise again with his own name. However he goes in the future, the Fallen Angel certainly took off in this decade.




Randy Orton: He was always going to make it, that's obvious. Even his early work in OVW showed the great potential he had although it took a while to click in WWE. They made a few mistakes (his ill-advised face turn in ‘04) but Orton has gotten over by basically being himself: A cocky, arrogant jerk convinced he's the best around and doesn't care who he hurts along the way. The man's backstage attitude and actions aren't pleasant but he is a fantastic heel wrestler and his reigns as champion in WWE show they have faith in him making it work. He's still able to carry that belt and be a huge star and is able to use people's hatred to his advantage as few can.




CM Punk: One of the architects of ROH as we know it, Punk's act is brilliant: A guy with tattoos and piercing who preaches a clean-cut image of no drugs or drinking. In the ring, he's a marvel, able to go from brawling to technical brilliance with ease. His feud with Joe for the ROH title remains arguably the best series of matches in North America in the last decade. There were doubts he'd be able to conform to WWE but he overcame those brilliantly with first OVW and then making ECW really watchable. He's proven he can be a worthy World champion as well and his heel turn was wonderfully done thanks to his charisma. Whether side he's on, he's truly straight-edge when it comes to being one of the most original and hard-working figures of the last ten years.




Chris Jericho: Another guy who started in the ‘90's, Jericho was lost in WCW due to its politics. Some might argue that continued in WWE but Jericho did get his chances at the big time several times and showed he could carry things wonderful. His ariel moves are good along with his technical style but of course, it's his amazing presence on the mic that's made him a true favorite. The guy is funny as hell and able to dominate the camera whenever he's on, always providing a good show. Whether a funny face or a cocky heel, you can't help but root for him and enjoy the great show he puts on. A decade after the arrival of Y2J, Jericho continues to spread his influence and give fans some fine entertainment.




Bryan Danielson: The Founding Father of ROH, one of the main-eventers of their very first show and a driving force for their success afterward. One of the single most talented wrestler you've ever seen, the man racked up slews of titles along the independent circuit from Memphis to Japan. But ROH is where the Dragon made his name, engaging in brilliant battles with pretty much everyone the company could offer, mixing styles in an amazing manner. Danielson's loyalty to the company was strong and helped ROH out majorly but he's likely to succeed in WWE as well. However, it works out, the Dragon certainly fired things up for the past decade and helped make ROH the go-to promotion it is.


I'm sure there'll be some arguments about my choices but I stand by them. Next week I continue with my look at the decade's most memorable matches. For now, the spotlight is off.