Top 5 WWE Wrestler's since 2000

With the Attitude Era a thing of the past, the newly branded WWE (thanks to copyright issues) sought after a new identity, and were now saying "Get the F out!". The 2000's had an incredible amount of talent after their acquisition of WCW, and it created endless possibilities for creative to use these new faces against the already dominant ones the WWE had produced, like The Rock, Triple H and Kurt Angle. It's so tough to pick one performer. Where do you start? How do you choose? My method has a few different variables that I will be considering. Titles held, main events, crowd engagement (heels get some love too, don't worry) and overall presence. 

5. Kurt Angle
WWE Debut: 1998
 
4x WWE Champion
1x WCW United States Champion
1x WCW Champion
1x World Heavyweight Champion
1x European Champion
1x Hardcore Champion
1x Intercontinental Champion
1x WWE Tag Team Champion (w/ Chris Benoit)
2000 King of the Ring

When Angle joined the WWE in 1998, he instantly became one of the most dominant performers. His technicality in the ring was second to none, and he has the the gold to prove it. Defeating The Rock and Stone Cold for his first two WWE Championships set the tone for the rest of the locker room. Through the early part of the decade, he captured the King of the Ring and lost his hair. Who needs hair when you break ankles like him? One thing I always loved about Angle was no matter how serious and angry he seemed, he had such a comic side. Doing his spots with Edge and Christian really showed displayed those two sides. Although Angle left for TNA in 2007, he was so good he didn't need those two extra years. Definitely the best pure wrestler professional wrestling has ever seen. Oh he's good, he's damn good.

4. Randy Orton 
WWE Debut: 2002 

6x WWE Champion
3x World Heavyweight Champion
1x World Tag Team Champion (with Edge)
1x Intercontinental Champion
2009 Royal Rumble Winner

The Viper is truly magic to watch in the ring. Orton's wrestling made large strides when he joined Evolution, alongside Batista, Triple H and The Nature Boy. When Orton defeated Benoit at Summerslam '04 to become the youngest world champion, you could tell he was special. His raging desire and dominance was unmatched by anyone. He branded himself as the Legend Killer and defeated numerous Hall of Famers. Yes, they are old and can't do much now, but you wouldn't try and show up Michael Jordan in a basketball game when he's 60 or 70.His feud with John Cena propelled him to unimaginable heights, both demanding the best performance out of each other. Orton was always able to strike out of nowhere and turn any match around. It's scary to think how good he was then, and not even in his prime. His devastating RKO could be hit from anywhere at anytime, making him able to turn the momentum faster than 2 Cold Scorpio's 450 splash (I mean his rotations). When The Viper strikes, it's game over.

3. John Cena
WWE Debut: 2002


10x WWE Champion
2x World Heavyweight Champion
2x World Tag Team Champion (w/ Batista and Shawn Michaels)
2x WWE Tag Team Champion (w/ David Otunga and The Miz)
3x United States Champion
2008, 2013 Royal Rumble Winner
2012 Mr. Money in the Bank

This one is going to get a lot of heat. If you love Cena, then you're wondering why he isn't number one. If you hate him, you're wondering why he's even here. Cena is the face of the WWE now, despite not getting over with the "educated" demographic of wrestling. I'm aware only little kids and the ladies love John, but come on, cut the guy some slack. He works harder than any other superstar, and has the accolades to prove it. Back when he was rapping and the Chain Gang Soldier, he was a hit. He was also an underdog. People don't like when underdogs become favourites clearly, and John has great in-ring technique. He works with any style or size of wrestler and his mic skills are phenomenal. He's main evented the big dance numerous times and has put on great matches. I don't understand why people hate him so much. I think it is the Nickleback effect: people hate him just for the sake of hating him. Cena easily could have been in the top two, but these next two superstars are too good to be anywhere but the top.

2. Edge
WWE Debut: 1998

4x WWE Champion
7x World Heavyweight Champion 
12x World Tag Team Champion (seven w/ Christian, two w/ Chris Benoit, one w/ Randy Orton, Chris Jericho and Hulk Hogan)
2x WWE Tag Team Champion (one w/ Rey Mysterio and Chris Jericho)
5x Intercontinental Champion
1x WCW United States Champion
2001 King of the Ring
2x Money In The Bank Winner (2005, 2007)
2010 Royal Rumble Winner
WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2012)

The ultimate opportunist was just that: always cashing in when the stakes were high. Edge is easily without any contention the most decorated superstar in WWE history. He has held every title under the sun, and was a record 14-time tag team champion. FOURTEEN. After his tag team career, he showed no signs of slowing down in the singles division and easily sky rocketed to main event level. One of the smartest moves by any wrestler of all-time was cashing in his MITB at New Years Revolution 2006, after champion John Cena spent almost an hour in the Elimination Chamber. Genius struck again after he cashed his second MITB against Undertaker on Smackdown. This guy wasn't the biggest, strongest or fastest, but he was certainly the smartest. It was tough for me not to put him as number one because of my Canadian roots, but his injuries slowed him down too often and cost him lengthy title reigns. Besides, this next guy has a little red and white in him too.


1. Chris Jericho
WWE Debut: 1999

3x World Heavyweight Champion
9x Intercontinental Champion
First-ever Unpisputed Champion
2x WCW Champion
5x World Tag Team Champion (once w/ Benoit, The Rock, Christian, Edge and Big Show)
2x WWE Tag Team Champion (w/ Edge and Big Show)
1x European Champion
1x Hardcore Champion

THE AYATOLLAH OF ROCK AND ROLLA! There is no disputing the first ever Undisputed Champion of WWE in the number one spot. Chris Jericho physically drew people into the seats with just his attitude. He could go from being a complete jack-ass to the funniest guy on TV. His wrestling? That was okay I guess, (Sarcasm, just breathe). Y2J was a technician in the ring. He would work down his opponents before breaking the walls down or Lionsaulting before he nailed the 3-count. Jericho made his run from the Cruiserweight division of WCW to the Heavyweight of the WWE. He defeated The Rock and Stone Cold in the SAME NIGHT to earn his undisputed title. He is the man of 1004 holds. He is our saviour. He is one of the best wrestlers of all-time. I feel like I'm just rambling on about him, but it's hard not to. He transformed the WWE and molded the beginning of the 21st century in professional wrestling. No doubt he will be a Hall of Famer the second he hangs up those boots for the last time. With the heart of a lion, I don't think that will be for a very long time.

Honourable mentions and brief explanations, in case you were wondering:

Triple H - Obviously one of the best wrestlers of all-time, his injuries and side stories kept him not involved enough in the major storylines going on, not to mention his numerous surgeries that kept him out of action for extended periods of time.

Undertaker - His legacy is a big as it gets. Unfortunately, that doesn't really cut it. His Wrestlemania streak is the most impressive streak in all of sports and sports entertainment, but what else does he really have going for him?

Shawn Michaels - You would think Mr. Wrestlemania would be rocking a little more gold. Don't get me wrong, HBK is one of the most exciting superstars to watch. He can put on a 5-star match with Val Venis. Those years with DX and not chasing the gold really hurt him on this one.