The WWE product has seen plenty of changes over the past 10 or so years. Some were for the better, and some wound up being for the worst.
The Ruthless Aggression Era ended a long time ago. Triple H, John Cena, The Undertaker, Kane and Big Show are no longer the main faces in WWE. The times have changed drastically, with new superstars leading the way.
We're now less than two months away from the start of the 2020s decade. When looking back on the 2010s decade for professional wrestling, we'll remember these 10 all-time great storylines that changed the business for the best.
10 10. The Chris Jericho-Kevin Owens Friendship
Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens joined forces in the summer of 2016, working as a tag team and eventually becoming "best friends." Owens was also in the midst of a massive main event push after winning the Universal Champion, and Jericho did a superb job in building him up over time.
And of course, Y2J had introduced "The List of Jericho," which became one of the most beloved segments of 2016 and 2017.
The two would assist the other in successfully defending their respective championships. This set the stage for an epic feud between the two, when Owens turned on Jericho during their Festival of Friendship. Y2J selflessly helped put Owens over, losing to him at WrestleMania 33.
9 9. Sami Zayn Redeems Himself
Zayn quickly became one of the top fan favorites in NXT, dazzling with his remarkable energy and elite in-ring skills. Neville barely held off Zayn at NXT TakeOver: Fatal 4-Way to defend his NXT Championship.
A crushed Zayn promised that he'd embark on a "road to redemption," and he conquered numerous opponents - setting the stage for an epic title match against Neville at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution. The stipulation carried that if Zayn had lost, his career would be done.
Finally, Zayn was able to defeat Neville to win the NXT Championship. His redemption story had been completed once and for all. It provides wrestling fans with the ultimate feel-good story, and it put Zayn on the path to a special career.
8 8. Brock Lesnar Becomes "The Beast Incarnate"
Lesnar returned to WWE in 2012 after retiring from the UFC, and he's been an instrumental part in reshaping the business here through the 2010s.
Paul Heyman began managing Lesnar, building him up as a "conqueror" and unstoppable destroyer. Lesnar made history when he became the first person to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, pulling off the shocking pinfall victory at WrestleMania XXX.
Lesnar has maintained the dominant "Beast Incarnate" gimmick, having easily defeated numerous big-named opponents like Big Show, Roman Reigns, AJ Styles, Seth Rollins, Daniel Bryan, and Goldberg. Love or hate Lesnar in the spotlight, you can't deny he's been a giant money draw for the company.
7 7. Becky Lynch Becomes "The Man"
Becky Lynch was supposed to turn heel when she attacked Charlotte Flair at Summerslam 2018, but it only led to rising popularity for the "Irish Lass Kicker." WWE had no choice but to go with the flow and turn Lynch face, and she adopted "The Man" moniker.
Lynch won the women's Royal Rumble and made history at WrestleMania 35, taking part in the show's first-ever women's main event. She defeated Ronda Rousey (her first loss in WWE) and Charlotte Flair to become the new Raw and SmackDown Women's Champion.
Lynch remains the face of the women's division, and perhaps the biggest face in WWE right now. And it's all thanks to the fans, who simply wouldn't let her turn heel.
6 6. The New Day
In Nov. 2014, the WWE tag team division changed for the better when Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E revealed their new stable called "The New Day."
We're in an era where few dominant, popular and relevant tag teams exist. But thankfully, The New Day gave fans something fresh and exciting: A tag team that we could all get behind and cheer for on a nightly basis.
Five years after New Day debuted, and they remain as popular as ever. It's no wonder WWE hasn't broken them apart yet. They remain the company's top tag team and stable to this day. In all, they've won two Raw and four SmackDown Tag Team Championships together.
5 5. John Cena vs. CM Punk
In 2011, CM Punk and John Cena embarked on a feud that would dominate the PG Era. Though the latter was already an established main event star, the storyline with Cena would truly take his career to new heights.
CM Punk defeated Cena in the main event of the 2011 Money in the Bank pay-per-view, which received extremely high praise from fans. They put on quite the clinic at SummerSlam as well, where CM Punk emerged victorious.
And then there was the whole "Pipe Bomb" promo, which was one of the defining moments in CM Punk's illustrious WWE career. On a side note, credit to Cena for willingly putting Punk over, because these two put together a rivalry for the ages.
4 4. The End Of Shawn Michaels' Career
A year after losing to Undertaker in an all-time thriller at WrestleMania XXV, Shawn Michaels demanded one more chance to conquer "The Streak." The Phenom obliged, with The Showstopper having to put his career on the line.
One year after an epic showdown on the Grandest Stage of Them All, Michaels and Undertaker put on another clinical performance at WrestleMania XXVI in Phoenix. There were a couple of times where it looked like Michaels would win and thus continue his wrestling career, but Undertaker couldn't be brought down.
Finally, at his mercy, Michaels stared down the Undertaker and slapped him across the face - sending one last message. Finally, The Deadman hit Michaels with the Tombstone Piledriver to move his streak to 18-0, while the latter's historic career came to an emotional end.
3 3. Daniel Bryan's Feud With The Authority
Daniel Bryan began his rise as the new top babyface in 2013, but Triple H and "The Authority" wouldn't have any of it. The Game infamously proclaimed Bryan as a "B+" superstar.
Bryan went on a mission against Triple H, Randy Orton, and WWE's villainous bosses. At SummerSlam 2013, Triple H attacked Bryan after a successful title defense vs. John Cena. This helped Randy Orton cash in his Money in the Bank contract to become the new WWE Champion. Bryan's wife, Brie, entered the storyline and clashed with Stephanie McMahon, who also became obsessed with stopping the "YES!" movement.
Finally, Bryan reached the mountaintop when he defeated Triple H at WrestleMania XXX - thus entering the triple threat main event match that featured Batista and Randy Orton. Bryan was able to get Batista to submit to the Yes Lock to become the new World Heavyweight Champion - thus finally taking down The Authority.
2 2.The Arrival & Rise Of The Shield
The Shield debuted at the 2012 Survivor Series pay-per-view, and few knew it at the time, but this would mark the beginning of three incredible stories in WWE. Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose became the new dominant stable in WWE, and they got over with the fans in short time.
After they broke up in 2014, all three superstars embarked on main event singles runs. Though Ambrose (now Jon Moxley) is no longer with the company, Reigns and Rollins have successfully taken over as two of the premier faces of WWE.
The Shield also reunited briefly in 2017 and 2018, breaking up for good once Ambrose left the company.
1 1. The Divas Revolution
In the summer of 2015, Stephanie McMahon vowed that a "Women's Revolution" in WWE. This is where she welcomed Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Charlotte Flair.
Four years later, and the Women's Revolution had changed everything.
One year later, WWE underwent a roster split, and the Raw and SmackDown Women's Championships were introduced. This led to the likes of Lynch, Banks, Charlotte and Bayley all becoming top main event superstars in the WWE.
Now, just look at all the history that has been made. Banks and Charlotte competed in the first women's Hell in a Cell match in 2016. WWE had its first women's Royal Rumble in 2018. Lynch, Charlotte, and Rousey took part in the first women's WrestleMania main event.
The women's division in WWE has soared since Stephanie introduced the Women's Revolution, and it's only going to get stronger from here. The path has been paved for more female superstars to take over the wrestling business, the way Lynch, Banks, Charlotte, and others have.