10. Randy Orton
Orton has had a bumpy road to the top, mainly because of his own design. Breaking the Wellness Program, shitting in Divas' bags and having legit anger issues will do that to you. That being said, Orton has done well for himself this decade, both as a babyface (albeit shortly) and mostly as a heel with his Legend Killer shtick, which helped get him over big time. He was a huge part of Evolution, especially its break up as Triple H booted him out of the group for winning the World Championship. I honestly think Orton needs a face turn. He doesn't work as a heel anymore now that the Legend Killer act has run its course. He's got nothing left except for a finisher more suited for a top face, which Orton has shown flashes of being able to perform as.
After the jump...9. Booker T
He was one of the only reasons to watch WCW towards the end of the run. He was one of the only guys from that company to segue into something more than humiliation in the WWF/E after WCW's purchase and assimilation. He got over huge as both a face and a heel, formed one of the most over tag team duos in the company with Goldust and now currently is one of the only reasons anyone should watch TNA. Yeah, I think Booker T has had a hell of a run this decade, don't you?
8. Dave Batista
Batista didn't get started in wrestling until later in life, but he's making the most of his days in the ring. After the dissolution of Evolution, Batista's chase of Triple H and subsequent title victory at WrestleMania was one of the most well-booked and brilliant angles of the decade. Since then Batista's been a fixture around the title and a draw for the company. Some will say that all Batista ever seems to do is hover around the title, and justifiably so, since the only time I ever remember him not being in a title program outside of being hurt was when he pseudo-feuded with HBK last year as a segue into the awesome Jericho/Michaels feud. Criticisms about his mic skills or quality of work aside, Batista is defintely a top ten wrestler for this decade.
7. Eddie Guerrero
Eddie left us way too soon in the middle of his cementing as an all-timer. While WCW could never really figure him out, the WWF/E took the charismatic Latino Heat and let him shine to the tune of a World Championship and a WrestleMania moment that has since been tarnished thanks to one Chris Benoit. Still, the impact felt by Eddie this decade is very, very real. Is he ranked too high out of sentimentality? Maybe, maybe not. I know I miss him and think that the WWE is a colder place without him, but his credentials are strong enough for him to warrant a spot in the top ten, I think.
6. Edge
Out of the tag boom in the early part of the decade comes Edge. He was definitely pushed the hardest out of all six competitors, and he got a good return for what they put into him. Injuries aside, Edge proved that he could carry the top of the card as a franchise heel and carry a top title the way a Champion should. Nine World/WWE Championships, the first ever Money in the Bank title and several memorable moments on WWE TV this decade later lands Edge just outside the top five... and really, you could make a case that he belongs in that top five as well.
The List So Far
6. Edge
7. Eddie Guerrero
8. Dave Batista
9. Booker T
10. Randy Orton
11. Shawn Michaels
12. CM Punk
13. Jeff Hardy
14. The Rock
15. Bryan Danielson
16. Brock Lesnar
17. Jeff Jarrett
18. Rey Mysterio, Jr.
19. "Lightning" Mike Quackenbush
20. Chris Benoit
21. Samoa Joe
22. The Big Show
23. Sting
24. Rob Van Dam
25. Ric Flair
Tomorrow, we begin with the individual entries as we crack the top 5 with a multiple time former WWE Champion.
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