Last Word On Pro Wrestling is celebrating the end of a decade by recognizing the major promotions of professional wrestling and the wrestlers who made those companies great the past 10 years. To kick off the series, we’re starting with WWE, which continues to be the flagship standard bearer for professional wrestling. Trying to break down the biggest and best that has passed through the WWE over the last decade was a tough task. All accolades including championship wins, Royal Rumbles, impact on the company, and lasting power were considered in determining the best of the best.
Note: Each selection was voted on by the community that makes up the LWOS Wrestling Department.
Here are the spots for the WWE All-Decade Team:
- 10 Men
- 5 Women
- 5 Teams / Factions
Men (10)
Roman Reigns
Years Active In Decade: 2012-2019
Accolades: 4x World Champion, 1x Tag Team Champion, 1x United States Champion, 1x Intercontinental Champion, 1x Royal Rumble Winner (2015), 4x WrestleMania Main-Eventer
At the beginning of the decade, WWE fans began to wonder who would be the next “face” of the company as John Cena began to age out. That next “face” became Roman Reigns. “The Big Dog” quickly filled his resume once The Shield disbanded, winning multiple world titles, the 2015 Royal Rumble, and headlining WrestleMania for four straight years. It was not just a layup for Roman to make this list, but it may be even more of a layup to think that he will be on the next decade’s list as well. Reigns powered his way to being the first selection on the All-Decade team, making this his yard too.
John Cena
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2019
Accolades: 9x World Champion, 2x Tag Team Champion, 2x United States Champion, 1x Royal Rumble Winner (2013), 1x Money in the Bank Winner, 3x WrestleMania Main-Eventer
The wrestling world misses John Cena. A sentence no fan could even begin to dream up in 2010, but here we are. Cena has not wrestled a match since January 14th, 2019 where he came up short. That was the ultimate solidification that Cena is no longer a key part of WWE programming but essentially an entire year off does not limit his accolades to make this All-Decade team. Nine of his 16 world championships came from 2010 and on. He won another Royal Rumble as he headlined two matches against The Rock at WrestleMania. Cena took a back seat from the world title picture to create some prestige for the United States Championship, including the US Open Challenge. If this decade was it, he truly earned his legacy.
Randy Orton
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2019
Accolades: 7x World Champion, 1x Tag Team Champion, 1x United States Champion, 1x Royal Rumble Winner (2017), 1x Money in the Bank Winner, 1x WrestleMania Main-Eventer
Randy Orton added seven world titles to his impressive resume. Injuries limited him in the middle years, but there is a fair chance this decade was even better for “The Viper” than the previous. Some may forget how incredible his run was against Christian in 2011 for the World Heavyweight Championship, but it was possibly his best work. As we close out the decade, Orton has created a Hall of Fame-worthy career that will last until at least 2024 with his newest contract.
Seth Rollins
Years Active In Decade: 2012-2019
Accolades: 4x World Champion, 5x Tag Team Champion, 1x United States Champion, 2x Intercontinental Champion, 1x Royal Rumble Winner (2019), 1x Money in the Bank Winner, 1x WrestleMania Main-Eventer
Not a single wrestler in the WWE had the vast amount of accolades that Seth Rollins did since his debut in 2012. Yes, the entire Shield became grand slam champions in their own right, but Rollins literally did it all. He won the tag team titles with four different people. He was the WWE Champion and the United States Champion at the same time. Rollins won the Money in the Bank then proceeded to cash it in during the main event of WrestleMania 31 to walk out as WWE Champion. Oh, and he just happened to win the Royal Rumble in 2019. The resume is long, incredible, and only getting started as “The Beast Slayer” is far from done.
Brock Lesnar
Years Active In Decade: 2012-2019
Accolades: 5x World Champion, Longest Reigning World Champion Of Decade (504 days), 1x Money in the Bank, 2x WrestleMania Main-Eventer, Broke The Undertaker’s Streak
“The Beast Incarnate” stepped back inside the WWE in 2012 and never looked back. Brock Lesnar brought back a serious threat to the wrestling ring, a beast that could not be stopped at most times. Lesnar established the part-time schedule that really had not been seen before but managed to be the box office draw he needed to be. He will close out the decade as the reigning WWE Champion and gave prestige to the new Universal Championship with the longest title reign of the decade, 504 days. To fully complete an incredible 10 years, Lesnar broke The Undertaker’s WrestleMania undefeated streak. The single most shocking moment, possibly in all wrestling history.
Daniel Bryan
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2015, 2018-2019
Accolades: 5x World Champion, 2x Tag Team Champion, 1x United States Champion, 1x Intercontinental Champion, 1x Money in the Bank, 1x WrestleMania Main-Eventer
The man that most wrestling fans could look at as the wrestler of the decade. Daniel Bryan came into this decade as an indie darling and is now ending it looking the same, but being a completely different man. Bryan cultivated the audiences by chanting one word, YES. That brought him to the main event of WrestleMania in the best story of the decade, but it was not just all this that got him this spot. He won all the gold possible to become a grand slam champion before being forced to retire in 2015. When it seemed as though nothing would be able to get him back in a WWE ring, Bryan was cleared and returned. He pulled off a heel run that no one could have imagined and will now end the decade as the fan-favorite he became. Well deserved.
Sheamus
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2019
Accolades: 3x World Champion, 5x Tag Team Champion, 3x United States Champion, 1x Royal Rumble Winner (2012), 1x Money in the Bank
As 2019 comes to an end, the “Celtic Warrior” is returning to form that brought him world championship glory earlier in the decade, but something that will not be recognized by many fans of how important Sheamus was in any role he was placed in. If he was the big babyface on SmackDown winning the World Heavyweight Championship, the heel corporate champion over Roman Reigns, or a tag team specialist with Cesaro. He managed to be one of the best of the decade and he certainly does not get the attention he deserves… at least until now.
The Miz
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2019
Accolades: 1x WWE Champion, 4x Tag Team Champion, 2x United States Champion, 8x Intercontinental Champion, 1x Money in the Bank, 1x WrestleMania Main Eventer
A man who many thought would be fired one day instead created a career worthy of the Hall of Fame. The Miz started his decade off on top of the world, as he main evented WrestleMania 27 against John Cena for his WWE Championship and even walked out as the winner. While he never saw the championship again, it was his singles career in the mid-card that earned him this position. The Miz placed himself as number two on the all-time list when it comes to the Intercontinental Championship, as he has eight reigns to Chris Jericho’s nine. Miz made it a goal to rewrite the mid-card and make it matter again, which is what he did when he got the chance to be alongside his wife in late 2016 on SmackDown. A decade to remember for “The A-Lister”
CM Punk
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2014
Accolades: 2x WWE Champion, Longest Reigning WWE Champion Of The Modern Era (434 Days)
“The Best in the World”. “The Voice of the Voiceless”. “The Straight Edge Savior”. Whatever you prefer to call him, you have to recognize his impact on the wrestling industry, specifically WWE. The longest-reigning WWE Champion of the modern era at 434 days, he captured fans’ hearts as the outspoken superstar who no one could get themselves to boo. He helped dramatically change the view of the “independent wrestler” in the WWE and delivered the promo of the decade, the Pipebomb. His time as a performer is the shortest on this team, but his overall impact may be the biggest possible. CM Punk is one of the final men on the All-Decade team.
Kofi Kingston
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2019
Accolades: 1x WWE Champion, 8x Tag Team Champion, 2x United States Champion, 3x Intercontinental Champion, Most Days All-Time As Tag Team Champion In WWE History
The voting by everyone came down to a few men, including AJ Styles who at times was a leader in the ballpark for the 10th spot on the men’s side. This was before getting down to it and seeing who made the biggest impact of all the men, which happens to be Kofi Kingston. Kingston’s story of the past decade from being at the center of the mid-card, to slowly being forgotten, joining a new group, The New Day, which turned out to be one of the best groups in company history, and finally completing the ultimate dream by becoming the WWE Champion at WrestleMania 35 in 2019. His journey through the decade is what gives him the final spot on the men’s side.
Honorable Mentions: AJ Styles, Alberto Del Rio, Triple H
Women (5)
Charlotte Flair
Years Active In Decade: 2014-2019
Accolades: 9x Women’s Champion, 1x Divas Champion, 1x WrestleMania Main-Eventer
10 total singles championships. Incredible. Charlotte Flair is on her way to not only smash the all-time record for women’s championships held by a competitor in the WWE, but also her father’s 16-time world championship reigns. Charlotte has established herself as the alpha dog of the women’s division, to say the least. Next stop in the new decade? Become the most legendary woman in WWE history. Hard to think she will have a tough time doing that. She is the leader of the women’s division on the All-Decade team.
Nikki Bella
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2018
Accolades: 2x Divas Champion, Longest-Reigning Divas Champion (301 Days), One Half Of WWE’s First-Ever Women’s PPV (Evolution) Main Event
Nikki Bella found herself as the leader of the diva’s division before it was turned into the women’s division in 2016. She dominated in every aspect when she and her sister Brie Bella made their return in 2013 following a brief break. Nikki helped become one of the main attractions of the division through Total Divas, became a rather mainstream star, and eventually found herself as one half of the main event at Evolution against Ronda Rousey. You put all that with being the longest-reigning Divas Champion of all-time and you have a spot on this team.
Becky Lynch
Years Active In Decade: 2014-2019
Accolades: 4x Women’s Champion, 1x WrestleMania Main Eventer, Longest Reigning Raw Women’s Champion, 1x Royal Rumble Winner (2019)
Without the past year or so, it is hard to say if Becky Lynch could have beaten the likes of Sasha Banks or Bayley to take on a spot on the All-Decade team, but here we are and she sure earned it. She has accolades that no one can attest to on this list, and almost none of the men can either. It makes sense, however, as “The Man” has become the face of the WWE alongside Roman Reigns to bring them into the next decade. Add in being the longest-reigning Raw Women’s Champion ever and the 2019 Women’s Royal Rumble winner, she deserves all the prestige. Oh, and she just happened to be the winner of the first-ever women’s WrestleMania main event. Selection earned.
Alexa Bliss
Years Active In Decade: 2016-2019
Accolades: 5x Women’s Champion, 1x Women’s Tag Team Champion, 1x Money in the Bank Winner
The backlash can be heard from miles as wrestling fans read this name, much like Nikki Bella above. But hear us out here ladies and gentlemen. Alexa Bliss did something that only one other woman on this team did, which was win five total singles championships on the main roster. Bliss has been at the centerfold of the women’s division since finally getting the call-up in 2016, doing it all in just that short time. She has also added a tag team championship match to her resume in the last year to solidify herself as one of five women to represent WWE in the last decade.
AJ Lee
Years Active In Decade: 2011-2015
Accolades: 3x Divas Champion
AJ Lee helped re-establish women’s wrestling in WWE. Before there was ever a thought of a Four Horsewomen or any Japanese mega-stars hit the WWE scene, AJ Lee was there to get attention back on women in this company. While she wasn’t the only one able to remove the stigma of “diva”, she still managed to help begin this evolution that so many love to toss around. Some may just remember her for the love angles she was in with Daniel Bryan and CM Punk, but what she did was have a run with the Divas Championship that took center stage. She was the first woman to do that in years and was at the helm of the evolution.
Honorable Mentions: Sasha Banks, Bayley, Beth Phoenix
Tag Teams / Factions (5)
The Usos
Years Active In Decade: 2010-2019
Accolades: 6x Tag Team Champions
The precedent was set for tag teams inside the WWE circle of the past decade by The Usos. As the only team that has been active for the entire decade, they won six pairs of tag team championships, but even more so established tag team wrestling in a company that at times completely forgot about their tag division. At times, it was not just about being champions, but putting on some of the biggest and best matches of the decade, including their incredible rivalry with The New Day. Down since “Day One-Ish” may be a saying to some, but The Usos certainly are the “Day One” team of the decade.
The New Day
Years Active In Decade: 2014-2019
Accolades: 7x Tag Team Champions, Longest-Reigning Tag Team Champions In WWE History (483 Days)
What can be said about The New Day that has not been said already? In many fans’ eyes, they are the greatest WWE tag team of the decade. They will close out 2019 as SmackDown Tag Team Champions. Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods managed to create a gimmick that went from the most hated in the WWE to by far the most beloved. The three men won the most tag team titles of the decade and became the longest-reigning tag team champions in the history of the WWE. Their spot was a guarantee and deservedly so.
The Shield
Years Active In Decade: 2012-2014, 2017-2019
Accolades: 2x Tag Team Champions
For The Shield, it wasn’t about accolades as much as it was about dominance. As singles, they have taken over the wrestling world. But without being apart of The Shield, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose would have never been world champions. They took the wrestling world by storm in 2012 when they debuted at Survivor Series, and remained the most popular group of the decade any time they were side by side. Dean Ambrose’s final WWE match was as a member of The Shield, which proves that this group defined each man’s legacy inside the WWE.
The Bar
Years Active In Decade: 2016-2019
Accolades: 5x Tag Team Champions
Two singles competitors put together following a Best of Seven series as rivals led to five tag team championship runs, including a title win that ended the longest reign in the history of the WWE. Sheamus and Cesaro became one of the best tag teams in the company despite having no chemistry prior. Not only were they hard-hitting, but they managed to establish themselves as The Bar of tag team wrestling.
Team Hell No
Years Active In Decade: 2012-2013, 2018
Accolades: 1x Tag Team Champions
Popularity is what got Team Hell No to the mountain top and also began the rise of Daniel Bryan to the main event. While the shortest-lived team on the list, their one tag team championship run helped re-establish tag team wrestling in this company. The oddball pairing of Kane and Daniel Bryan will forever be remembered.
See our other All-Decade Teams!
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. We provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. WWE fan? Check out the WWE Network to fulfill all of your WWE needs.
