10 Exact Moments That Turned WWE Wrestlers Into Superstars

What is a superstar? Dictionary.com defines it as “a person, as a performer or athlete, who enjoys wide recognition, is esteemed for exceptional talent, and is eagerly sought after for his or her services.” Vince McMahon would like you to believe it is anyone who wrestles for the WWE. But I don’t know how many people would consider Darren Young, Curt Hawkins or Jack Swagger a superstar. They are just guys. They are not Superstars.

So what makes a wrestler a Superstar? What does one do to be portrayed in such a light? How does this honor get bestowed upon them? For some, it just simply happens. People like John Cena never truly had a single defining moment. Sure he had his first WWE Championship win at Wrestlemania in a below average match against JBL, but it's not like that made him a Superstar. He was just the top guy and we all knew it.

But for some of the lucky few who deserve the elusive title of Superstar, you can pinpoint it to nearly the exact moment when we realized their true potential. The moment when we realized that they truly are what Vince McMahon wishes all of his wrestlers could be: A Superstar. Here are 10 wrestlers who we can find the true moment when they finally became a superstar.

The most recent entree and probably the most controversial on this list. As of this writing, AJ Styles has not even completed his “rookie year” with the WWE. Only being in the company for 10 Months. But in no way was AJ Styles not immediately a superstar on this show and immediately got the superstar treatment in the months following the match.

AJ got a thunderous ovation in his old stomping grounds of Orlando, nearly blowing the roof off the sold out Amway Center. He then proceeded to last a whopping 28 minutes and 58 seconds in the match, the 3rd longest behind Dean Ambrose and Chris Jericho (we won’t count Roman Reigns considering he wasn’t there for half the match.)

Proceeding the match he was placed in a feud with Chris Jericho, which produced some excellent matches. Although losing his first Wrestlemania match, he then went on put on back to back classics with Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship. Although not winning the belt, he helped secure his status that he could have great matches with anyone.

He then was inserted into the dream feud against John Cena. The two faces of the two biggest North American wrestling promotions. He got 2 pins over John Cena then went on to win the WWE Championship from Dean Ambrose at No Mercy.