From the infamous Attitude Era to Ruthless Aggression, the greatest showmen in sports entertainment have been voted for by the WWE Universe on ranker.
Ranker is a popular destination for crowdsourced rankings. In this instance, fans all around the world have been voting for their favourite WWE Superstars.
There is a vast criterion for voting for your favourite wrestler; championship reigns, promos, in-ring performances - these must all be taken into consideration.
The 2000’s represented a great time for WWE, as it produced some of the most world-renowned stars we think of today.
After an extensive vote, here are the top 30 WWE superstars of the 2000’s.
30. Big Show
The seven-foot giant is a legend in the wrestling industry. Boasting two WWE title reigns, Big Show has successfully transitioned through eras of wrestling seamlessly.
29. Roman Reigns
The “Big Dog” divides opinion amongst the WWE Universe, but it’s difficult to argue with his accomplishments. A triple crown champion, WrestleMania main eventer, Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank winner, Reigns has done it all and still has years left at the top, so his inclusion on this list could be somewhat premature.
28. Christian
Captain Charisma comes in at 28. Perhaps best known for being one half of one of the greatest tag teams in WWE history with partner Edge, Christian totally reeks of awesomeness.
27. Seth Rollins
Rollins burst onto the scene as a member of The Shield alongside Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose. Like Reigns, he also has a stellar record in WWE and will be around for years to come, making his inclusion controversial. What cannot be disputed, however, is the Monday Night Messiah’s talent. Rollins is a truly outstanding ring technician.
26. Matt Hardy
Matt Hardy, like his brother Jeff, are cult heroes amongst the WWE fanbase. Their legendary feud with Edge and Christian is justification alone for both Hardy Boyz being on this list.
25. Chris Benoit
Despite the controversy around his death, the Rabid Wolverine is ranked number 25. A series of breath-taking matches against the likes of Eddie Guerrero and Randy Orton will live long in the memory of WWE fans.
24. Brock Lesnar
Here comes the pain! Lesnar is quite frankly a freak of nature. His first title reign came at just 25 years of age; an indicator of how highly he was rated by the higher ups in the WWE. The former UFC heavyweight champion can still be seen taking his opponents to suplex city till this day.
23. Ric Flair
The Nature Boy is without question one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Stylin’ and profilin’ since the 1970’s, it’s testament to his timelessness that he makes a list based on the 2000’s - Woooo!!!
22. Kane
The Devil’s Favourite Demon is another legend of the sport. Standing at seven feet tall, Kane is an imposing and deceptively agile athlete, who has Chokeslammed his way through different eras.
21. CM Punk
Despite being best remembered for his infamous ‘Pipe Bomb’ promo, CM Punk was also involved in his fair share of great matches. Such was his following, his unsuccessful UFC run still won’t taint his reputation in the eyes of his supporters.
20. Lita
At 20 is one of the original WWE divas. Lita was involved in some of the most controversial storylines in WWE. Her feud with Trish Stratus is arguably the best between two female wrestlers in WWE history.
19. Daniel Bryan
Yes! Yes! Yes! At number 19 it’s the world’s toughest vegan Daniel Bryan. Bryan is an outstanding technical wrestler and a real fan favourite.
18. Booker T
Can you dig it, sucka? The five-time WCW Champion was as entertaining in the ring as he was outside of it. His supermarket segment with Steve Austin is still hilarious viewing, whilst his feud with Triple H in 2007 remains shrouded in controversy.
17. Rob Van Dam
There are fewer superstars more fun to watch in full flow than RVD. An innovator in the ring, his martial art-like style was revolutionary, meaning his spot in the rankings is fully deserved. His judgement leaves a lot to be desired, though.
16. Trish Stratus
Trish, like her counterpart Lita, is an original top diva in WWE. With seven WWE Women’s title reigns, her inclusion on this list more than justified.
15. Kurt Angle
Responsible for some of the greatest wrestling matches in the 2000’s, Kurt Angle comes in at number 15.
14. Bill Goldberg
Whether dispatching his opponents with the mighty Spear or the fearsome Jackhammer, Goldberg was one of the most dominant wrestlers of all time. Perhaps not the best technically, Goldberg was always capable of putting on good matches through sheer intensity.
13. Rey Mysterio
The master of the 619 is another superstar with cult hero status. Mysterio’s high octane style won admirers around the world, and his 2006 Royal Rumble win remains one of the most emotional occasions in WWE history.
12. Chris Jericho
You just made the list! Y2J’s ability to constantly reinvent himself sees him placed at a highly respectable 12th. The Ayatollah of Rock n’ Rolla has legendary matches against the likes of Shawn Michaels and Edge on his resume, whilst he also holds the record for most Intercontinental title reigns with nine.
11. Eddie Guerrero
The late great Eddie Guerrero was simply adored by WWE fans. Before his untimely passing in 2005, Eddie was well on his way to becoming the top star in sports entertainment. A comfort to us all is WWE title win against Brock Lesnar at No Way Out in 2004 - a truly priceless moment.
10. Jeff Hardy
The Enigma is the first superstar in the top 10. His legendary Swanton Bomb finishing move has put away many a contender. Despite his personal battles with addictions, Hardy is still loved and respected for his unique style and happy-go-lucky personality.
9. Batista
The Animal got his big breakthrough as the muscle in the Triple H-led faction Evolution. After eventually turning on him, Batista went on to have a highly respectable singles career, including two Royal Rumble wins and four WWE title reigns.
8. Shawn Michaels
Most wrestlers we know and respect cite Shawn Michaels as their inspiration. A truly phenomenal athlete, the “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels overcame a career threatening back injury to cement his place as one of the greatest of all time.
7. Triple H
Triple H comes in just above his long-time best friend Shawn Michaels at seven. During his time as “The Game”, Triple H put on legendary matches against the likes of Cactus Jack and The Rock, all whilst being the smug heel that you just loved to hate.
6. Edge
The Rated ‘R’ Superstar has recently come back to in-ring competition. But during the early-to-mid 2000’s, Edge was the most decorated WWE Superstar on the roster. Almost always champion, Edge certainly lived up to his ultimate opportunist gimmick.
5. Randy Orton
Perhaps the man with the most popular finishing move, and the youngest ever WWE champion, it’s third generational star Randy Orton at five. Orton always managed to remain relevant, and his run as the Legend Killer will go down in WWE folklore.
4. The Rock
The most electrifying man in sports entertainment, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is ranked at number four. Whenever this man had a microphone to his lips, viewers everywhere were on the edge of their seats. The Rock is an all-time great, no doubt about it.
3. Undertaker
The Phenom terrified his opponents for decades. Despite losing his WrestleMania unbeaten streak at the hands Brock Lesnar, Undertaker is still regarded as the greatest performer at the show of all shows. After recently announcing his retirement, The Deadman leaves as an impossible act to follow.
2. John Cena
The man who changed the face of the WWE. Cena sold out arenas all around the world, whether being booed or cheered, Cena sparked an unprecedented reaction amongst the WWE fanbase. It would take a whole other article to list his achievements, but the Dr. of Thuganomics is a true WWE great.
1.‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin
The biggest draw in WWE history, The Rattlesnake Stone Cold Steve Austin’s controversial, anti-establishment, baddass approach won the hearts of WWE fans far and wide. When you think of wrestling, you think of Steve Austin. And that’s the bottom line, because Stone Cold said so!