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Heyman
05-02-2016, 10:11 AM
QUESTION - Who was the 2nd biggest superstar (debuted post Wrestlemania 18) behind John Cena

I think it goes without saying that Cena has been the biggest superstar in the WWE post Wrestlemania 18. Which wrestler that debuted in the WWE post Wrestlemania 18 was the 2nd biggest superstar? Dave Batista? Randy Orton? CM Punk? Daniel Bryan? Brock Lesnar? Roman Reigns? (lol) Other names?

Batista was definitely up there with Cena around 2005ish, and is now establishing himself outside of wrestling. Daniel Bryan was arguably the most popular superstar post Wrestlemania 18.....even if his stay at the top was short lived due to injury. Brock Lesnar's track record and success inside and outside the WWE speaks for itself. Very few people have the resume, track record, and name value of Brock Lesnar. CM Punk is another guy that has some mainstream popularity outside of wrestling, and he also has the longest WWE title reign in the modern era. His 'pipe bombs' really got him to the next level.

Orton's won the World/WWE title numerous times, and the guy was insanely over before Summerslam 2004. Even before his squash job to Triple H at Wrestlemania 2009, Orton and Legacy were insanely over and Orton was arguably the best heel since Wrestlemania 18 during that time period.

Who do you think is/was the undisputed #2 behind John Cena post Wrestlemania 18? (wrestlers that debuted post Wrestlemania 18).

For me, Daniel Bryan is close, but Brock is the clear cut guy. Brock just has an 'aura' about him due to his UFC success and larger than life personna. Lesnar ended Taker's Wrestlemania streak, and will likely be in and around the main-event scene for a few more years......even if he will ultimately be used to put over someone like Reigns.
Big Vic
05-02-2016, 10:24 AM
Brock because you could argue him as #1.
Simple Fan
05-02-2016, 10:41 AM
Randy Orton. Has pretty much been the #2 guy for as long as Cena has been #1. Could return right now and be a legitimate champion. Had 12 Wrestlemanias in a row until this year. Also rank him above Brock for never leaving the company.
DAMN iNATOR
05-02-2016, 12:02 PM
Was Orton. And also, Orton debuted about a month BEFORE Cena...April 25, 2002, IIRC.
Emperor Smeat
05-02-2016, 03:53 PM
Lesnar because arguably had he never left, the Cena era probably never happens.

Cena himself was more of a 4th choice for that era considering at the time the WWE was moving more towards Orton and then Batista as the choices to replace Lesnar for mega stardom.
Wishbone
05-02-2016, 04:26 PM
If we're going by current draw power then Brock Lesnar, but he wouldn't have that without his UFC run that turned him into the current monster he gets portrayed as. Had he stuck around all these years they would have fucked him up like they have everyone else.

A good argument could also be made for Batista now that he's had his Guardians of the Galaxy fame too. The dude is becoming a true crossover success. Of course his lack of appeal in the actual wrestling product sorta hurts that.
Damian Rey 2.0
05-02-2016, 04:45 PM
Hollywood heel Batista would be tremendous.
Nicky Fives
05-03-2016, 03:50 PM
Brock by far if you judge it by how well known these people are in the mainstream

i.e. my g/f knows who Cena & Brock are, but has no idea about the others....
Shisen Kopf
05-03-2016, 07:38 PM
Did someone say Rasslemania 18??
Shisen Kopf
05-03-2016, 07:39 PM
The one in Toronto on St pats 2002?
Shisen Kopf
05-03-2016, 07:39 PM
Hmmmm.....
Big Vic
05-04-2016, 03:21 PM
Hey I was at that one!
Evil Vito
05-04-2016, 04:12 PM
I initially voted Orton under the idea that he was the biggest star who had anywhere near the same amount of longevity in the company as Cena. There was a reason WWE creamed their pants at the very idea of Cena/Orton and therefore had them wrestle a billion times despite them not having a whole lot of chemistry. It's actually a shock to me that Cena/Orton never ended up being a Mania main event, I would have bet the house on it happening eventually back in 2005 or so.

But if you mean just biggest name as in whole people would pay the most money to see right now, then yeah - Brock. So I feel like an idiot for voting before thinking it through lol.
Ruien
05-04-2016, 07:59 PM
I initially voted Orton under the idea that he was the biggest star who had anywhere near the same amount of longevity in the company as Cena. There was a reason WWE creamed their pants at the very idea of Cena/Orton and therefore had them wrestle a billion times despite them not having a whole lot of chemistry. It's actually a shock to me that Cena/Orton never ended up being a Mania main event, I would have bet the house on it happening eventually back in 2005 or so.

But if you mean just biggest name as in whole people would pay the most money to see right now, then yeah - Brock. So I feel like an idiot for voting before thinking it through lol.

I actually thought the same thing before switching my vote.
#1-norm-fan
05-04-2016, 08:54 PM
I third that. My exact thought process. Orton is the most perpetually over guy over the past decade outside of Cena. But since coming back Lesnar is on another level.
Mr. Nerfect
05-06-2016, 08:03 PM
It's definitely Brock -- both pre and post UFC.