10 Best Things About The 2002 WWE Brand Split

The return of the WWE brand split has been met with mixed reactions in the internet wrestling community. Really, we won't know for sure if it is a good or bad idea until a year from now. There are definite concerns that the current roster doesn't have enough stars to function across two brands, especially when injuries come into play. But on the more positive side, it does broaden the spotlight onto a greater number of potential stars.

When the brands previously split in 2002, the same concerns were also a factor, and history has recorded a mixed verdict on how successful it all turned out. The more popular view does tend to be that WWE screwed the brand split up, it ultimately proving something of a failure. Business certainly did suffer in the years afterwards, and before long wrestlers were moving about between brands without care.

But there were some huge positives with the 2002 brand split, benefits that don't always get recognised when looking back on the year and those which followed. There were a lot of great things going on, with some of the matches and storylines being all-time classics. The following were the best from the previous attempt.

Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, John Cena, Batista... these are just a few of the names who went from the youth ranks to the main events during the brand split era. Numerous other rookies also benefited from the divided roster, with two shows allowing fresh talent more chance to shine.

The major long term benefits are obvious when you consider how much money Lesnar, Cena, Batista, and Orton all went on to make. Being on separate shows helped them to stand out; Orton and Batista had room to develop on Raw, while Cena and Lesnar were given the spotlight on Smackdown.

After Cena gained enough momentum on Smackdown, he then transferred to Raw, where he became the biggest star of his generation.