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By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Over the past few months, WWE wrestler Chris Jericho and WWE announcer Jim Ross have openly discussed the lack of new talent on WWE's rosters.

In this analysis piece, I'll look at each of the top two rosters - Raw and Smackdown - compared to five years ago, then look at today's total roster vs. WWE's total roster ten years ago and 15 years ago to see whether 2009 WWE really is skating on thin ice or if it seems that way due to the roster separation.

I'm ranking the rosters based on drawing power and star power. The top of the lists are wrestlers you can point to and say yes, that person has drawn money for WWE. The rest of the list is filled out mainly by star power on the undercard. Someone like The Miz isn't in a money-drawing position, but he has star power to eventually move up the list.

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Raw - Sept. 2009
(1) John Cena
(2) Randy Orton
(3) Triple H
(4) Shawn Michaels
(5) Cody Rhodes
(6) Ted DiBiase
(7) Big Show
(8) MVP
(9) Mark Henry
(10) Kofi Kingston
(11) The Miz
(12) Jack Swagger
(13) Evan Bourne

Five Years Ago

Raw - Sept. 2004
(1) Triple H
(2) Randy Orton
(3) Batista
(4) Ric Flair
(5) Shawn Michaels
(6) Chris Benoit
(7) Shelton Benjamin
(8) Chris Jericho
(9) Kane
(10) Snitsky
(11) Eric Bischoff
(12) Christian
(13) Tomko

Raw Analysis: I believe the Raw roster in 2004 was stronger on top compared to the current Raw roster, but the undercard in 2009 has more potential than the undercard had in 2004. John Cena is a factor that could make some people believe 2009's top star power is equal or better than 2004, though.

Three of the Top Five stars are still the same five years later - Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Randy Orton. However, there are younger stars just below them pushing for the top spots. It's an encouraging sign, but WWE should already have newer stars in the main event positions five years later.

Looking at the current undercard, the wrestlers could potentially main-event PPVs five years from now. Looking at the 2004 undercard, Raw had several names who were slotted in "bit part" roles, but no one expected Snitsky to advance past his position as a heel to enhance babyfaces. In 2009, those bit parts reserved for the likes of Chavo, Hornswoggle, and Santino Marella are out of the Top 13 rankings.

Raw in 2009 has more upside with a very strong bottom four of Kofi, Miz, Swagger, and Bourne. WWE should already have these guys in PPV main events, but at least there are good signs of tremendous upside.

In this short-term analysis of the Raw roster vs. five years ago, I would say the 2004 roster wins on top stars with Triple H, Michaels, Chris Benoit, Batista, Orton, and Ric Flair. However, the second level of the roster didn't show as much promise as it does today. I believe the groundwork has been laid to improve roster depth, but WWE is a few years behind on schedule.

Smackdown - Sept. 2009
(1) C.M. Punk
(2) The Undertaker
(3) Chris Jericho
(4) Rey Mysterio
(5) Batista
(6) John Morrison
(7) Dolph Ziggler
(8) Matt Hardy
(9) Kane
(10) Cryme Tyme
(11) Hart Dynasty
(12) Drew McIntyre
(13) Finlay

Five Years Ago

Smackdown - Sept. 2004
(1) Kurt Angle
(2) Eddie Guerrero
(3) JBL
(4) The Undertaker
(5) John Cena
(6) Booker T
(7) Big Show
(8) Rey Mysterio
(9) RVD
(10) Dudleys
(11) Kenzo Suzuki
(12) Rene Dupree
(13) Kidman & London

Smackdown Analysis: When I think 2004 Smackdown, I think really bad TV involving Kenzo and Rene Dupree. Smackdown just had that vibe thanks to some poor Smackdown brand PPVs and failed characters, such as Mordecai.

WWE has definitely addressed the roster issues with the Smackdown brand. Are Ziggler, Morrison, Cryme Tyme, Hart Dynasty, and Drew McIntyre in position to draw money right now? Not quite. Ziggler and Morrison are close, but they're making a name for themselves with their wrestling ability as featured acts on the undercard. You also have to consider that Jeff Hardy was taking one of the top slots before he left WWE in August.

The Smackdown undercard has more potential in 2009 than it did in 2004. However, the middle of the 2004 Smackdown roster was loaded with John Cena, Booker, Big Show, Mysterio, RVD, and the Dudleys 5-10. That's a very strong undercard that today's Smackdown roster can nearly match with Batista, Morrison, Ziggler, Hardy, Kane, and Cryme Tyme.

The 2009 middle-of-the-roster has tremendous potential and upside. 2004 did as well with Cena and Mysterio, whose peak years as a top drawing act were ahead of him. 2004's middle also had an older roster and less upside with Booker, Show, RVD, and the Dudleys. 2009's only has two "ancients" with Batista and Kane. Morrison, Ziggler, Hardy, and Cryme Tyme could be pushing for those top four spots eventually.

Overall Analysis: In the short-term comparison of 2009 to 2004, it appears WWE's rosters have more upside and potential growth to mix newer stars into main events by, let's say, the end of 2010.

At the end of 2009, we'll see that WWE has begun to address a problem (four years later than they should have) by hitting the reset button. WWE needs a balance of veterans and younger stars, but the younger stars need to be positioned as potential future top acts.

We'll see how much of a disparity there is between 2009 and 1999, however, in the next installment. Then, we'll look at 2009 compared to 1994 when WWE's rosters really had that "Smackdown 2004 vibe."

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