Most important wrestler to debut post-2000?

[Xero]

"Important" to the business.

Can be WWE only or otherwise.

[Destor]

Thats a really great question and will require a lot of thought.

[sulzerdrone]

I hate to say it, and you'll hate to hear it, but I gotta be honest. The most important wrestler to debut so far this millenium is that fart knocker John Cena. His fugly mug is the new face of pro wrestling.

[James Steele]

John Cena &t Brock Lesnar

Oddly enough, Brock Lesnar's run as a WWE superstar will end up helping UFC and MMA rise to even higher levels.

[What Would Kevin Do?]

I'll have to put more thought into this, but while thinking about this, I had a thought.

IF, and it's a huge if, Vince McMahon put faith in him, and did it right (which won't happen), it could be CM Punk.

This isn't me being a Punk mark. It's because he's straight edge, and vocal about it. If they pushed him, and did it right, and let him be a good spokesperson, he could help get rid of the image that wrestling is a huge steroid infested business (even if it is.) The guy is a damn good positive role model, and if Vince did it right and used him to show that you don't need to be a huge roid infested guy to make it in wrestling, then maybe it'd help the business in general.

Probably not though. It's pretty much just wishful thinking on my part though.

[Theo Dious]

Cena. Orton is second by quite a few car lengths.

[mike adamle]

He's a former WEDF... WWE Champion: John Cena. Or if you wanna be technical you could say the Christian Shawn Michaels debuted in 2002, I'd say he's been slightly big, no homo.

[sulzerdrone]

Orton will be Roddy Piper to Cena's Hogan.

[Theo Dious]

Orton will be Ted DiBiase to Cena's Hogan.

Fixed. Leave Rodney the Piper out of this.

[sulzerdrone]

But I loves Rodney the Piper... :(

[Mr. Nerfect]

Randy Orton is not really important. I'd have to answer with either John Cena or, truthfully, Brock Lesnar. The guy was meant to be the star that carried the WWE into a new era based on actual wrestling. Not even Triple H in full political mode could de-road the guy. Lesnar debuted, and within a year he was headlining WrestleMania.

Then, when he left, a vacuum appeared which the WWE decided to plug with John Cena. The WWE deciding that Lesnar was going to be "the guy" for the company led to them taking "a guy," and that's a pretty defining moment. Lesnar has also made the successful leap to MMA and UFC, which is making him more of a key figure within the sporting world, I am sure.

Lesnar's departure also left the WWE unsure about pushing younger talent so quick. This was also supported by Bobby Lashley leaving the company. The few Attitude era main event stars still with the company now have ammunition when they say "I don't want to job to this guy." Men who could be main eventing today, like MVP and CM Punk, find themselves often trivially jobbed out, to test their "loyalty" to the business.

Lesnar left his mark.

[James Steele]

I like it Noid...I LIKE IT!

[Rammsteinmad]

Gotta say it, John Cena. :(

[Volare]

Lesnar...cause I'm from Minnesota dammit!


I'm tryin to see if my dad still has any of his amature matches from the University of Minnesota.

[Dark-Slicer Diago]

I'd go with Lesnar, he is plain better to watch.

[#1-norm-fan]

While Santina has changed women's wrestling forever, I''d say Cena wins this one.

[The Gold Standard]

John Cena, just because all he has done with making money and bringing in new young fans to watch WWE

[Mooияakeя™]

The business of wrestling? as in when everyone says "I love this business", or business as in Vince's pockets?

[Gertner]

Cena, since he's the face of the WWE.

[Xero]

The business of wrestling? as in when everyone says "I love this business", or business as in Vince's pockets?

Define "business" is what this comes down to. ;)

[Nark Order]

Randy Orton is not really important. I'd have to answer with either John Cena or, truthfully, Brock Lesnar. The guy was meant to be the star that carried the WWE into a new era based on actual wrestling. Not even Triple H in full political mode could de-road the guy. Lesnar debuted, and within a year he was headlining WrestleMania.

Then, when he left, a vacuum appeared which the WWE decided to plug with John Cena. The WWE deciding that Lesnar was going to be "the guy" for the company led to them taking "a guy," and that's a pretty defining moment. Lesnar has also made the successful leap to MMA and UFC, which is making him more of a key figure within the sporting world, I am sure.

Lesnar's departure also left the WWE unsure about pushing younger talent so quick. This was also supported by Bobby Lashley leaving the company. The few Attitude era main event stars still with the company now have ammunition when they say "I don't want to job to this guy." Men who could be main eventing today, like MVP and CM Punk, find themselves often trivially jobbed out, to test their "loyalty" to the business.

Lesnar left his mark.

Well done, my friend.

[screech]

Two that come to my mind are Cena and Lesnar.

Cena because he appeals to the current target demographic. Lesnar because he left such a gaping hole, and seemingly changed the mindset of WWE, when he bounced.

[.44 Magdalene]

My testicles shrank several sizes just thinking about typing this, but I have to agree with Noid.

[Droford]

I thought someone might mention Batista, who I thought of before Lesnar and Lashley.

[Mooияakeя™]

Define "business" is what this comes down to. ;)

Vince's pockets - John Cena (even his movies break even, right?)
Wrestling world - Lesnar. I think Noid pretty much has it hammered down.

[The One]

I'm not real sure how anyone's answer could be anything other than John Cena.

Saying Lesnar is like saying Goldberg was the most important debut of the 90's...his tenure was short, made a big splash, but ultimately left the company worse for ware. John Cena is very much the reason WWE still turns profits. One way or another, Vince had his company on the market, and he was going to push kid/family friendly programming. He saw Cena, a good looking guy who could become the second coming of Hogan, and pushed him accordingly. WWE was on the way down before Cena even debuted, John has done a great job of being WWE's poster boy, and carrying the weight of the company on his back.

TOVO Fact: Tovo hates Crocs.

[Krimzon7]

Randy Orton is not really important. I'd have to answer with either John Cena or, truthfully, Brock Lesnar. The guy was meant to be the star that carried the WWE into a new era based on actual wrestling. Not even Triple H in full political mode could de-road the guy. Lesnar debuted, and within a year he was headlining WrestleMania.

Then, when he left, a vacuum appeared which the WWE decided to plug with John Cena. The WWE deciding that Lesnar was going to be "the guy" for the company led to them taking "a guy," and that's a pretty defining moment. Lesnar has also made the successful leap to MMA and UFC, which is making him more of a key figure within the sporting world, I am sure.

Lesnar's departure also left the WWE unsure about pushing younger talent so quick. This was also supported by Bobby Lashley leaving the company. The few Attitude era main event stars still with the company now have ammunition when they say "I don't want to job to this guy." Men who could be main eventing today, like MVP and CM Punk, find themselves often trivially jobbed out, to test their "loyalty" to the business.

Lesnar left his mark.
eloquent, and very repworthy. Good Stuff.

[The Taint]

Aurora Levesque

[Ironballs]

Randy Orton is not really important. I'd have to answer with either John Cena or, truthfully, Brock Lesnar. The guy was meant to be the star that carried the WWE into a new era based on actual wrestling. Not even Triple H in full political mode could de-road the guy. Lesnar debuted, and within a year he was headlining WrestleMania.

Then, when he left, a vacuum appeared which the WWE decided to plug with John Cena. The WWE deciding that Lesnar was going to be "the guy" for the company led to them taking "a guy," and that's a pretty defining moment. Lesnar has also made the successful leap to MMA and UFC, which is making him more of a key figure within the sporting world, I am sure.

Lesnar's departure also left the WWE unsure about pushing younger talent so quick. This was also supported by Bobby Lashley leaving the company. The few Attitude era main event stars still with the company now have ammunition when they say "I don't want to job to this guy." Men who could be main eventing today, like MVP and CM Punk, find themselves often trivially jobbed out, to test their "loyalty" to the business.

Lesnar left his mark.

:y:

[FourFifty]

Aurora Levesque

[Mr. Nerfect]

*Changes answer to Aurora Levesque.*

[FourFifty]

In all honesty, saying Aurora is kinda like going a back in time and saying that small little coffee shop called "Starbucks" is going to be big.

[James Steele]

Aurora is going to finish what Chyna started!

[Mr. Nerfect]

A sex change?

[James Steele]

No, 1st female Undisputed WWE World Heavyweight Champion of the World

[Mr. Nerfect]

Chyna was female?

[Xero]

At some time during its life.

[Mooияakeя™]

SERIOUSLY, never mind nsfw, this isn't safe at all.

Veterans only: http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/sports/chyna/chyna-clit-sm.jpg

[Mr. JL]

As much as I hate to say it, it has to be John Cena.

[James Steele]

NOT THE MANCLIT MOONRAKER! NOT THE MANCLIT!!!!!1

[Mercury Bullet]

It pains me to say it, but its definitely Cena.

[Mr. Nerfect]

SERIOUSLY, never mind nsfw, this isn't safe at all.

Veterans only: http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/sports/chyna/chyna-clit-sm.jpg

We were talking about Chyna, not Sean Waltman. :rant:

[DarKCentaur]

I bet Aurora winds up in jail at the age of 16. YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Do you think Macho Man will bang her?

[V]

kinda sad that its been 9 years and only 3 - 5 names are coming up

i mean how many names would come up if you asked about 1990 - 1999 :(

[Mr. Nerfect]

kinda sad that its been 9 years and only 3 - 5 names are coming up

i mean how many names would come up if you asked about 1990 - 1999 :(

Actually, thinking about it, who was the most important wrestler to debut between 1990 and 2000? A lot of those guys are still writing their legacies. You'd think The Rock would take the cake, but you also have guys like Goldberg, who did business for a while, and sort of created the "big, rushed push" a lot of guys get that set the pace for molds like Brock Lesnar and John Cena later on. There are also guys still writing their legacies, like Kurt Angle, Edge and Chris Jericho.

But then you go back to the 80's and get names like Stone Cold Steve Austin making it easier again. Then the 70's again get interesting. Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair and Bret Hart all debuted in the 70's.

It's quite interesting to look at those names listed with their debuts, and then really think about when they peaked as major performers. It wasn't until the following decade in most of their cases. Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Randy Orton or whomever really got a quick path to the World Title.

[Outsider]

I don't think we can saw who the most important is yet. There are a few young guys starting to come through now who could have a far bigger impact on the industry in the future who aren't being used to 100% of their potential yet.

Don't get me wrong, there is a very serious chance that the WWE could drop the ball with them, as it so often does, but with people like CM Punk, MVP and John Morrison all being far closer to that total package of talent and charmisma than Cena and Orton, you have to think that their future could be far brighter.

If used right, and if they started the main event at around the same time the industry moves into an upswing (which it will..........eventually), they could potentially be massive stars.

-EDIT-

And actually, I would say people like Soama Joe, AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels have already had a massive impact on the industry already this decade.

A few years ago there was only one international company. Now there is two and with ROH showing an intent to one day get there.

This is in no small part due to their wrestlers who have never been of any importanance in the WWE. But by building the foundations of the industry beneath the WWE, they have made it possible for, at least in the future, the WWE to have to enter a period of competition before. And that will be far more important than one individual superstar ever can be.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don't think we can saw who the most important is yet. There are a few young guys starting to come through now who could have a far bigger impact on the industry in the future who aren't being used to 100% of their potential yet.

Don't get me wrong, there is a very serious chance that the WWE could drop the ball with them, as it so often does, but with people like CM Punk, MVP and John Morrison all being far closer to that total package of talent and charmisma than Cena and Orton, you have to think that their future could be far brighter.

If used right, and if they started the main event at around the same time the industry moves into an upswing (which it will..........eventually), they could potentially be massive stars.

-EDIT-

And actually, I would say people like Soama Joe, AJ Styles and Christopher Daniels have already had a massive impact on the industry already this decade.

A few years ago there was only one international company. Now there is two and with ROH showing an intent to one day get there.

This is in no small part due to their wrestlers who have never been of any importanance in the WWE. But by building the foundations of the industry beneath the WWE, they have made it possible for, at least in the future, the WWE to have to enter a period of competition before. And that will be far more important than one individual superstar ever can be.

Nice post. Someone like Samoa Joe gains weight in the argument when you really look at what he's done for both TNA and ROH. Sure, Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles were both part of ROH, too, but I don't think too many people would argue with you if you said that Samoa Joe's dominant run in ROH was the defining moment in ROH becoming a rising entity.

Plus, you're very right. For example, if this deal with Pepsi is inked, and they do decide to use CM Punk as the Pepsi Boy, then it that will be a level of mainstream recognition that John Cena may not have even reached. If you give some of these guys a few years, they might actually rise to the surface the same way that many important guys did in the past.

[DAMN iNATOR]

From WWE's (shitty) perspective, Cena since they pretty much percieve him as the new Rock, to which I say bullshit. This is also why he draws so much heat, is because he buys that hype that Vince & co. feed him about being the next "Great One", and so they let him win 99% of all his matches to make the 12 and under, and middle aged moms happy that they can have someone to cheer for.:nono:

[Mr. Nerfect]

I have to admit, The Miz's promo on Cena made me mark out. If The Miz gets a smark gimmick, then he will be my new favourite character.

[Lock Jaw]

The answer is Kenzo Suzuki.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Because he loved America!

[NeanderCarl]

Someone like Samoa Joe gains weight in the argument

Unfortunate wording, there.

[Lock Jaw]

Someone like Samoe Joe gains weight brushing his teeth.

[KYR]

How has no one mentioned Mr. America yet?

I mean, this guy was gonna be the new Hogan.

[Xero]

You're not supposed to brush your teeth with bacon.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I've got to admit, TNA is making me lose desire in seeing Samoa Joe even used correctly. If I were Joe, when my TNA contract were up, I'd bail to either ROH or the WWE. Fucking hell, go to Japan if you need to.

It's so sad, Umaga started off as almost WWE's cartoon answer to Samoa Joe, and now Joe actually seems like an Umaga rip-off. Joe also doesn't have the performing skills to play a psychotic bad-ass. He's just a bad-ass who loves killing bitches in the ring. There's a natural confidence about him that just doesn't shine through a brooding character.

Way to fuck up Joe, TNA.

[St. Jimmy]

AJ Styles sucks cock. Loads and loads of sweaty cock.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'd put him a little ahead of Evan Bourne, really. He's someone that TNA could legit get behind and use as a face for their company. I mean, I'd make sure he shared with with someone, but he's probably the closest thing TNA has to Rey Mysterio, (as much as people make fun of him) and that is more to TNA's style.

Personally, I think the company should be heavily based around Samoa Joe, AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, Matt Morgan and Kurt Angle.

[Destor]

I had this massive thing written and the fucked up and deleted it. My thoughts are lost for ever. :(

[RP]

Mike Stima

[Mr. Nerfect]

I had this massive thing written and the fucked up and deleted it. My thoughts are lost for ever. :(

Who was your answer?