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View Full Version : The Changing Face of WrestleMania/WWE

XL
03-31-2010, 08:30 PM
With HBK's storied career coming to an end this past weekend in a match against The Undertaker I got to thinking about how these two men had out lasted a lot of the guys featured on the WWE's showpiece over the last 10 years alone.

The list below should show all the wrestlers/divas featured in matches since WrestleMania 16 (2000) and either their current status or how they left WWE.

Big Bossman (deceased)
Bull Buchanan (released)
The Godfather (released)
D-Lo Brown (released)
Hardcore Holly (released)
Test (deceased)
Albert (released)
Al Snow (released/retired)
Steve Blackman (retired)
Edge
Christian
Bubba Dudley (TNA)
D-Von Dudley (TNA)
Jeff Hardy (TNA)
Matt Hardy
Terri (released/retired)
The Kat (released/retired)
Grand Masta Sexay (released/retired)
Scotty 2 Hotty (released)
Chyna (released/retired)
Eddie Guerrero (deceased)
Perry Saturn (released/retired)
Dean Malenko (retired)
Chris Benoit (deceased)
Kurt Angle (TNA)
Chris Jericho
Kane
Rikishi (released)
X-Pac (TNA)
Road Dogg (released/retired)
Triple H
The Rock (retired)
Mick Foley (TNA)
The Big Show
Rob Van Dam (TNA)
William Regal
Ron Simmons (retired)
Bradshaw/JBL (retired)
Tazz (TNA)
Stevie Richards (TNA)
Val Venis/Sean Morley (released)
Raven (TNA)
Ivory (released/retired)
The Undertaker
Steve Austin (retired)
Diamond Dallas Page (released)
Maven (released)
Goldust
Spike Dudley (TNA)
The Hurricane (released)
Ric Flair (TNA)
Booker T (released)
Scott Hall (TNA)
Billy Gunn (released)
Chuck Palumbo (released)
Lita (retired)
Jazz (released)
Rey Mysterio Jr.
Trish Stratus (retired)
Victoria (TNA)
Chavo Guerrero
Rhyno (TNA)
Shawn Michaels (retired)
Hulk Hogan (TNA)
Brock Lesnar (retired)
John Cena
Mark Jindrak (released)
Garrison Cade (released)
Rene Dupree (released)
Rob Conway (released)
Randy Orton
Batista
Sable (retired)
Torrie Wilson (released/retired)
Stacy Keibler (retired)
Jackie Gayda (released/retired)
Nunzio (released)
Shannon Moore (TNA)
Funaki
Ultimo Dragon (released)
Tajiri (left)
Akio
Billy Kidman (retired)
Jamie Knoble (retired)
Goldberg (retired)
Rikishi (released)
The Bashams (released)
Charlie Hass (released)
Shelton Benjamin
Molly Holly (released)
Eugene (released)
Hassan (released/retired)
Christy Hemme (TNA)
The Boogey Man (released)
Mickie James
Mark Henry
Candice Michelle (released)
Ken Kennedy (TNA)
C.M. Punk
Finlay
The Great Khali
MVP
Sabu (released)
Sandman (released)
Tommy Dreamer (retired)
Elijah Burke (TNA)
Kevin Thorn (released)
Marcus Cor Von (left)
Matt Striker (commentator)
Bobby Lashley (left)
Umaga (deceased)
Melina
Ashley (released)
John Morrison
Beth Phoenix
Maria (released)
Kofi Kingston
Santino Marella

That's 87 performers that are no longer employed for whatever reason and only 29 still active (5 of which have left or been released before being rehired).

So in your opinion, which guys featured on the most recent WrestleMania(s) will still be around in 10 years? Or even 2-3 years? And which will be a footnote in WWE/WrestleMania history?
McLegend
03-31-2010, 08:33 PM
I guess Cena and Orton.

Really though I don't think anyone will be around in 10 years. I think long careers are thing of the past. Especially if you make a lot of money like Cena and Orton.
The Franchise
03-31-2010, 08:35 PM
Cena, Orton, Edge, Jericho, Punk, Christian. These are really the top guys in the entire industry once Taker and Triple H are done.
The Franchise
03-31-2010, 08:37 PM
I'm not going to lie, none of those guys other than Cena feel like they are remotely close to the level of Taker, HHH, Austin, Rock etc. The stars of today don't seem as 'big' as the ones of the past. Maybe because wrestling itself isn't as big?
Sycophant
03-31-2010, 08:37 PM
Steve Blackman doesn't retire...he reloads
CSL
03-31-2010, 08:39 PM
Once Taker and Trips (who I think will be on TV until the day he dies or gets divorced) are done? Jericho is nearly 40, Edge will be there in a few years, ditto Christian, Cena's about 32/33. New stars need creating soon otherwise these guys practically won't be able to retire.
CSL
03-31-2010, 08:40 PM
lol just saw some furniture rent-a-gimmick ad with Hogan during the UFC show
The Franchise
03-31-2010, 08:41 PM
I think Cena and Orton are going to be around for a looooong time.
thedamndest
03-31-2010, 08:43 PM
The only guy on the roster from Wrestlemania VI at Wrestlemania 2000 was The Big Bossman. Everyone else was either retired, in WCW, and HBK was injured.
Evil Vito
03-31-2010, 09:20 PM
<font color=goldenrod>Every time I think about WM16 it sinks in how much it sucks that Taker was injured that year. That one year without a match just feels like a blemish on an otherwise perfect streak.</font>
TheAdamEvansFan
03-31-2010, 09:41 PM
The Ladder Match from Wrestlemania.. Most of them are strong and future elites of the WWE, except for Kane, which was an odd person to be in this match. Also, let's not forget that one AWESOME dude.. Prefer to not mention his name.
HBPunk
03-31-2010, 09:58 PM
The Ladder Match from Wrestlemania.. Most of them are strong and future elites of the WWE, except for Kane, which was an odd person to be in this match. Also, let's not forget that one AWESOME dude.. Prefer to not mention his name.

Jesus, here's more assclownery, ok ill bite. . . go on mention it?
Xero
03-31-2010, 10:02 PM
Adam Evans.
XL
04-01-2010, 11:59 AM
The Ladder Match from Wrestlemania.. Most of them are strong and future elites of the WWE, except for Kane, which was an odd person to be in this match. Also, let's not forget that one AWESOME dude.. Prefer to not mention his name.
I can't see Evan Bourne being around in a few years time unless they start to do something with him. I don't even think the likes of Jack Swagger are that safe. There are guys that have been pushed to the moon (or almost) and been gone a few years later.
XCaliber
04-01-2010, 06:37 PM
There's not many I can see going for the long haul but i'd say Orton, Cena, Jericho, Kane, and even the injury prone Edge but with a limited schedule of course.
south776
04-01-2010, 11:23 PM
I'm not going to lie, none of those guys other than Cena feel like they are remotely close to the level of Taker, HHH, Austin, Rock etc. The stars of today don't seem as 'big' as the ones of the past. Maybe because wrestling itself isn't as big?

Sometimes I wonder if this is just because we dont see things through the same eyes we did when we were all younger. Maybe it just felt like they were so much bigger stars because we were still wide eyed about wrestling as a whole.

But I do agree. It doesnt feel like anyone today is on that level for whatever reason.

Or maybe the internet just killed wrestling...
Favre4Ever
04-01-2010, 11:27 PM
This list made me sad. :(
Joesgonnakillyou
04-02-2010, 11:23 AM
I can't see Evan Bourne being around in a few years time unless they start to do something with him.

Evan Bourne is always made to look at least credible, and I think they're waiting for Rey to retire and then Bourne will be the plucky underdog type character. I think he'll stick around.

This sort of things are really hard to predict but I imagine Swagger and Sheamus will be around for a while. Just not as high up the card as they are now. Kofi will be around but higher up the card.