Ten years is an eternity in the wrestling business. A decade ago, no one could have seen scores of the changes to come to things which include the creation of new stars. True, WWE still has plenty of guys as big now as they were in 2009 (Cena, Orton, Taker, HHH) but have also gained a lot of fresher faces to dominate. In many cases, they were guys whose star power was obvious and the pushes were no surprise. Kevin Owens was already a huge name in the indies so it’s little shock he got a big push in WWE as well. In many cases, the early star power was clear.
But other wrestlers have been far more surprising, getting big unexpectedly. Many were people who only debuted in the decade and little was expected of them. A few were mostly ignored back in 2009 and ended up becoming main eventers. It shows how tricky wrestling can be in how some guys never meet the huge expectations while others explode to stardom. Here are 5 WWE stars of the last decade fans saw coming and 5 who surprised to show how you can never truly tell who will make it.
10 SURPRISE: The Miz
As 2010 began, the Miz seemed to fit as a tag team champion with various partners. By the end of the year, he was WWE Champion. True, fans didn’t take to that well yet the Miz can still boast a WrestleMania main event win over John Cena. The true turn came in 2016 when (bizarrely) the Miz proved he was better as an IC champ than in the main event.
His matches and promos soon became highlights of the RAW brand and winning more respect from fans. Few guys can get a crowd going like the Miz so even if he never wins another world title, he’s been one of the surprise major stars of the last decade.
9 SAW COMING: Ronda Rousey
Even when she was dominating UFC, Ronda Rousey was being scouted by WWE. She was the perfect package: A gorgeous woman who could engage in hard-hitting matches while possessing an aura of someone you didn’t want to mess with. When her MMA career ended with defeats, Rousey joining WWE was no shock.
It was expected that she would be a huge deal and she was, winning at WrestleMania and soon gaining the RAW Women’s title. She was part of the first women’s Mania main event and was one lady everyone knew would dominate WWE as well as the octagon.
8 SURPRISE: Bray Wyatt
Find one person who saw Husky Harris in NXT and predicted he would be one of the most engaging characters in WWE. It took changing into Bray Wyatt for him to truly break out with his creepy promos and captivating persona. This led to feuds with the Undertaker and others and all culminating in winning the WWE title.
Just when it looked like he was being buried, Wyatt reinvented himself again into the Fiend to become Universal champion. Wyatt has literally transformed from a joke to a major WWE superstar.
7 SAW COMING: Seth Rollins
As Tyler Black in ROH, Seth Rollins already showed his stuff as a terrific worker who could be a master on the mic. When he joined FCW, those skills improved and it paid off as he became the first NXT champion. As part of the Shield, Rollins rose up and led to a long run as Universal champion.
Rollins has added a few more titles while bouncing back well from injuries. He’s gotten into hot water with some comments but is still one of the company’s biggest stars, a destiny most would have easily predicted from his debut.
6 SURPRISE: Daniel Bryan
Yes, Bryan Danielson had been a standout in ROH. But he was hardly the guy WWE would push to the top of the ranks. He was small, a technical worker and didn’t seem to captivate the crowds. That all changed in 2013 as Bryan got folks backing him majorly with his “YES” movement. That paid off with a WWE title run that fans loved.
Bryan then became one of wrestling’s greatest comeback stories by returning from a supposedly career-ending injury to be champion again. It’s doubtful anyone in 2010 would have said “yes” to the question of Bryan being a WWE star.
5 SAW COMING: AJ Styles
For over a decade, AJ Styles was the biggest star of TNA. With his incredible skills, it was always believed that if Styles ever joined WWE, he would rise to the top. It finally happened when he debuted at the 2016 Royal Rumble and lived up to the promise. Styles went from losing to Chris Jericho to two reigns as WWE champion.
The latter lasted a year and made Styles a bigger star than ever. Just as everyone expected, the Phenomenal One ruled in WWE to make himself one of his generation’s greatest wrestlers.
4 SURPRISE: Kofi Kingston
In the first half of the 2010s, Kofi Kingston was stuck on the mid-card with multiple tag team and IC/US title reigns but nothing really special. He, Big E and Xavier Woods were just tossed together only for the New Day to become the hottest team in the company.
Thanks to his drive (and those amazing Royal Rumble saves), Kofi was rising up more and by early 2019, got the crowd behind him. At WrestleMania 35, he won the WWE title to cap off a journey no one could have imagined for him in 2009.
3 SAW COMING: Charlotte Flair
When your dad is one of the greatest icons in wrestling history, it’s natural you get a push. But Charlotte proved she wasn’t living off Ric Flair’s name with her incredible drive and skills in the company. From her NXT days, it was clear she had something special in both ring talent and personality that set her from the pack.
Charlotte can do a technical battle or a wild brawl and work the crowds just like her dad could. She’s proven that with her multiple titles and big matches to be worthy of her family’s incredible legacy.
2 SURPRISE: Becky Lynch
If you had told anyone in early 2018 that Becky Lynch would be the most over person, male or female, in the company, you’d have been laughed at. After an embarrassing start in NXT, Lynch worked herself up to become the first SmackDown Women’s champion. But she appeared stuck in a serious rut for a time.
The heel turn was what she needed but it was standing up with a bloodied face that transformed her into “The Man.” She’s headlined WrestleMania, graced magazine covers and pushed women’s wrestling to heights no one could imagine to make herself one of the most famous females in WWE history.
1 SAW COMING: Roman Reigns
Love him or hate him, it can’t be denied how Roman Reigns was clearly meant for stardom from the beginning of his WWE career. As the Rock’s cousin, he had the support and did look impressive working with the Shield. As much as fans may have disliked his strong pushes, Roman was just the type of star Vince McMahon likes so it’s no wonder he was given so many chances.
It was the revelation that he’d been fighting leukemia for his entire career that finally got fans to accept and openly admire Roman. While he has detractors, Roman's WWE reign was inevitable.