The Defining WWE Moment Of Every Year This Decade
As the 2010s come to an end, what were the key WWE events of the past ten years?
With 2019 coming to a close, members of the WWE Universe have been looking back at the last year of programming and comparing it to those before it, as is traditional in the world of professional wrestling.
Every year in WWE has its ups and downs, with creative booking some heavily-praised shows and stories - as well as some less popular ones. Superstars have been and gone, with some creating a lasting effect and others being a distant memory. Across the last ten years fans have come from across the globe to see history being made and with the creation of the WWE Network, there has never been a better time for WWE to create stars and introduce new eyes to the world of professional wrestling (though they don't necessarily manage to).
Although there are still a handful of WWE shows left in 2019, the focus will now be on the 2020 Royal Rumble and any potential defining moments that may occur in the year to come. As we leave one decade behind us and leap into the next one, it seems no better time than any to reflect on the biggest WWE occurrences of the last ten years.
10. 2010 - Shawn Michaels' Retirement
Back in 2010, the landscape of the wrestling world was very different. Cody Rhodes was still a member of WWE's roster, CM Punk was on the verge of his main event push and The Nexus had made their impact on the grand stage. The drastic change in WWE's programming over the last ten years has been evidenced through the tonal shift and growth of the PG era - the product is now curated for a much younger audience than years past.
Many departures from WWE have had a great impact on the programming, with obvious examples being Steve Austin, CM Punk and the subject of this point: Shawn Michaels. The Heartbreak Kid's retirement match against fellow legend The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI showcased the emotion that these two legends carry and highlighted the undeniable impact that they both have had on the company and the wrestling business as a whole.
HBK's emotional finale was a spectacle for many fans that had been following the business since they were young and seeing a veteran such as Michaels depart for good brought a tear to the eye from many fans across the WWE Universe.