By Shawn Valentino, PWTorch Specialist

The 2000s was a roller coaster of a decade in professional wrestling. It started off with two major companies struggling to become the best in the business. It finished with one major company dominating the wrestling universe and a smaller company trying to stake its claim. Through the years, we have had many memorable moments that defined the era and transformed the wrestling business. In the past few weeks, I have written articles on the top matches and performers of the decade. You can find links to those articles here.

This week, we will look back at the top wrestling stories of the last ten years.

(10) The Return of Shawn Michaels

At the start of the decade, most of us believed that Shawn Michaels would never wrestle again. The Heartbreak Kid had been sidelined with a broken back and was also battling serious personal issues. Amazingly, he returned triumphantly at Summerslam 2002 against his old friend Triple H in an instant classic match. Little did we know that it was just the beginning of a decade of brilliance that actually topped his performance in his supposed prime years earlier.

Michaels was the top performer in wrestling of the last ten years with one spectacular match after another. He was regularly the highlight of television and pay-per-views and had some of the best matches and feuds of the decade. The Showstopper's return showcased many dream matches against the likes of Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle, Chris Jericho, Undertaker, etc, as well as battles against some of the top young talent such as Edge, John Cena, and Rand Orton. His unparalleled series of matches on the Grandest Stage of Them All earned him the nickname Mr. WrestleMania. Although he appeared to be finished at the start of 2000, it is hard to imagine the decade without the phenomenal performance of the Heartbreak Kid.

(9) The Brock Lesnar Saga

When Brock Lesnar first arrived in the wrestling scene in 2002, he was anointed The Next Big Thing. Lesnar had everything it took to be a major superstar, from a frightening look that resembled a baby mutated to mammoth proportions, to sensational athletic ability that defied his size. He combined the strength of a bodybuilder with the aerial agility of a cruiserweight. The WWE immediately shot him to the top with a series of victories over some of their most legendary stars, including The Rock and Hulk Hogan. He won the Heavyweight Championship early in his career and was a main event player for his entire two years with the company. He was only scratching his potential when he suddenly decided to leave the company at WrestleMania 20. Who could forget the surreal spectacle as he and Bill Goldberg were literally booed out of the company.

That would not, however, be the end of Brock's story. He was still to be The Next Big Thing, only in a different genre of competition. The rise of Ultimate Fighting Championships was about as influential on the wrestling world as anything this past decade. When Lesnar's NFL dreams fell through, he entered the UFC and quickly showed that he had the skills to become an enormous star. Of course, he would go on to defeat Randy Couture to become the champion and the biggest draw in the sport. Brock's transition from the future of the WWE to the future of the UFC exemplified the symbolic shift in popularity from the dramatic world of pro wrestling to the intense warfare of MMA this past decade.

(8) Hulk Hogan Comes Home

At the height of the Monday Night War, Vince McMahon had vowed never to work with Hulk Hogan again. When WCW went out of business, it freed up the services of the biggest star in wrestling history and allowed an opportunity for the Hulkster to make a grand homecoming. He returned a few months before WrestleMania 18 with an unforgettable faceoff with The Rock, where they set up their legendary Icon Versus Icon confrontation. He came into Mania as the heel leader of the NWO, but the Skydome crowd had different ideas, giving him a gigantic ovation and bringing back Hulkamania to the WWE.

Hogan would make sporadic appearances over the course of the decade, with dream matches against Vince McMahon, HBK, and Randy Orton. He also was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The Hulkster was smart about preserving his legend by wrestling infrequently but enough to make every appearance seem special. Of course, he finished the decade by signing with TNA, but even if he never goes back to the company that made him an icon, he left one last stamp on an indelible legacy.

(7) Rock and Austin Depart Wrestling

Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock were the two superstars that symbolized the Attitude Era and ignited the biggest boom period in wrestling history. They continued their dominance at the start of the 2000s and they had both become household names that transcended pro wrestling. The two superstars each had brilliant matches against the likes of Triple H, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and others, but the Texas Rattlesnake and The Great One saved their most electrifying matches for each other, including their epic championship encounter at WrestleMania 17. Both Austin and Rock were relatively young and in their prime, and they could have had years of success at top of the wrestling business.

Unfortunately, fate intervened and took the two legendary combatants in different directions. For The Rock, Hollywood opportunities became too lucrative to pass up and he left wrestling while still healthy and in his prime for greener pastures. He became the most successful wrestler in the history of show business and landed on the cover of Entertainment Weekly as the top young star in the movies. For Stone Cold, a far different set of circumstances landed him in the film world. The severity of his neck injury ended his career in the ring and he is also now bringing his talent and charisma to the big screen. Thankfully, before they finished their time in the squared circle, they gave us one final magic moment together at WrestleMania 19. It was the end of an era that will likely never be matched.

(6) The Rise of TNA

The fall of WCW signified the end of competition in the wrestling landscape and created a virtual monopoly for the WWE. Rising out of the ashes during this period was an upstart company created by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett called TNA. It was to have weekly pay-per-views and give talent a place to hone their craft. Unfortunately, the small organization was often no more than a vanity promotion for the talented but relatively bland and charismatically challenged Jeff Jarrett.

Fortunately, through a business partnership with Panda Energy, the company stayed afloat despite average ratings and mediocre pay-per-view business. Because of their lighter schedule, many top stars like Kurt Angle, Mick Foley, Christian, and Booker T joined TNA and made them a viable alternative to the WWE juggernaut. Younger stars like A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels put on some of the most incredible matches of the decade. Their X Division raised the bar for athleticism and excitement in the ring before degenerating into ridiculous spot-fests with lots of action but few memorable moments. TNA concluded the decade by signing the biggest name in professional wrestling. Although it is debatable whether Hogan can actually help the company, his presence instantly gives them credibility and ensures that they are here to stay for the near future.

(5) The Triple H-Stephanie Union

It seems like ages ago now, but in the early years of the 2000s, Triple H was legitimately the best wrestler in the business. The Game began the decade in style with memorable feuds against Foley, Rock, Austin, Benoit, and Michaels. During that period, his matches were compelling psychological dramas that elevated each participant. Somewhere along the way, partially because of multiple quad injuries but also because of his unwillingness to advance his style, his matches became plodding and formulaic. Even his dull in-ring work seemed like must-see television compared to his long-winded repetitive promos. Despite his swarmy image and sarcastic antics that dragged down WWE programming too often, he remained a top star throughout the decade and was part of two of the most successful stables in wrestling in Evolution and DX.

Of course, Hunter's most memorable match of the last ten years was not in the ring, but in his romantic union with Stephanie McMahon. It can be debated how much the marriage to the boss's daughter has sustained his slot as a top star, but there is little doubt that he would not be such a staple of the main event picture otherwise. He hogged up the world title picture and closed WrestleManias ahead of obviously more deserving candidates. Triple H still has a formidable star presence and often has quality matches, but his career will be clouded in controversy because of the powerful family he married into. Although it may have not have been good for business, it is indisputable that the union of The Game and Stephanie was one of the top stories of the era and will continue to have influence in decades following.

(4) John Cena Becomes Wrestling's Top Star

With the early departure of Rock and Austin and Triple H's controversial status, the WWE needed a major superstar to build around. Enter John Cena. He began his path to stardom playing an edgy rapper that cut scathing rhymes on his opponents and antagonized audiences. That is the Cena many fans, including myself, found most entertaining. His incredible charisma and inherent likability soon turned him face, and WWE decided to make him their top star. He brought an excitement to the arena that captivated fans while dividing their allegiances. Women and children loved him for his good looks and strong character. WWE's main demographic of adult males generally looked at his dorky behavior and lame promos with disdain. This division gave his matches a unique dynamic, and it was obvious crowds were paying to see Cena, whether it was to cheer or boo him.

Like Rock and Austin, Cena ventured off into films, although within WWE's own studios. He also had a hit rap album and appeared on numerous mainstream talk shows. Although he is not yet a household name, he is on his way to becoming a multimedia superstar. In the ring, his matches have improved in quality and he has had great matches with Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton, Edge, Triple H, and others. Although he still needs to work on his character to make himself more appealing to wrestling's chief target market, his magnetic personality make him a very good face of the modern wrestling universe.

(3) Ric Flair "Retires" in Style

The legendary career of The Nature Boy Ric Flair has lasted for over thirty years. He could have easily finished off his career over ten years ago, but he remained a fixture of WWE programming for all of the 2000s. Unfortunately, he was often not portrayed with the respect he deserved. Flair did show flashes of brilliance in great matches and feuds with Triple H, Randy Orton and Mick Foley, but it was a rocky road for him through the years. Thankfully, he saved his best for last in one unforgettable weekend in Orlando.

Flair was taking part in a retirement storyline that was to culminate at WrestleMania 24. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and gave an emotional speech that was worthy of his incomparable career. The following day he had a classic match with Shawn Michaels with a dramatic finale that would have been a fitting coda to his in-ring days. He was also given a grand tribute on Raw bringing back major friends and figures from his past and allowing him to ride off into the sunset in style. It was the most magnificent send-off in the history of wrestling. Unfortunately, it has already been tainted due to his involvement in matches overseas and his arrival in TNA, but this was a magical weekend that will be special to all wrestling fans.

(2) Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero: The Triumph and the Tragedy

Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero were once seen by many fans as everything that was good about the wrestling business. They were undersized wrestlers with oversized talents that were underutilized by promotions because they did not fit the definition of the traditional star. They came to the WWF in 2000 as part of the Radicals faction. The two friends rose up the card with their tremendous in-ring gifts. Guerrero was the more charismatic of the two, while Benoit was the epitome of intensity. They finally struck gold in 2004 and they enjoyed a moment in the sun at the end of WrestleMania 20 as the two teary-eyed warriors held World Championship belts in the air. They both had a long, arduous journey to the top, and for many fans, it was a dream come true

Unfortunately, the dream would soon turn to a nightmare. Eddie would die suddenly the following year, sending the wrestling world into shock. Of course, we all know the events that transpired in the summer of 2007, when Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself. Each of them had fallen prey to the dark side of the business. Like so many other wrestlers, they had to turn to drugs to sustain their appearance and survive the draining schedule. Although, they were the two most memorable tragedies, their deaths were emblematic of the severe toll the wrestling business takes on its workers. Unfortunately, many other stars died far too young, emphasizing that drastic changes need to be made to prevent this deadly subculture of drugs and painkillers. Benoit and Guerrero represented everything the wrestling world stood for in the decade, from the highest highs to the lowest lows.

(1) WWF Buys the Competition

The Monday Night War between WWF and WCW electrified the wrestling business and brought an unprecedented number of fans to the product. Wrestling enjoyed mainstream acceptance and for awhile was the hottest thing in pop culture. Although they reached the apex of their popularity in the late nineties, WCW had been around for years with various owners and identities. By the early 2000s, their spending became so out of control and the programming was so weak that it became a liability. As we all know, when the company was up for sale in early 2001, it was none other than Vince McMahon that would purchase the competition. Nobody who saw it will forget the simultaneous appearance of Mr. McMahon on both Raw and Nitro.

With the purchase of WCW and ECW came the end of true competition in the wrestling business and WWF essentially monopolized the industry. Unfortunately, they botched a potentially lucrative storyline by making the "invading" talent look weak, thereby losing millions of viewers in the process. The end of true competition has often stifled the creative output and fans have had to sit through some really lame programming. Smartly, WWE decided to split their talent roster into the Raw, ECW and Smackdown brands, thereby preventing a further watering down of the product. The brand extension has resulted in the creation of several hot young stars that may have not had a chance to shine otherwise. The WCW purchase also gave WWE access to a huge library of footage, and they have taken advantage of it by releasing some terrific DVD compilations. Although it may not have been the best thing for the business, WWF's purchase of its competition was the biggest wrestling story of the decade.

Please send questions, comments, and feedback to valentino.torch@gmail.com

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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