'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A lot can change in WWE in a short period of time. The current roster looks very different to how it looked one year ago, largely due to the number of Superstars who were released in April. Even the title holders on WWE’s main roster are completely different in November 2020 compared to November 2019.
Randy Orton (WWE Champion), Roman Reigns (Universal Champion), Asuka (RAW Women’s Champion), and Sasha Banks (SmackDown Women’s Champion) hold World Championships. One year ago, those titles were held by Brock Lesnar, The Fiend Bray Wyatt, Becky Lynch, and Bayley, respectively.
Now, while rosters and title situations often change frequently, the same cannot always be said for some other aspects of WWE programming.
In this article, let’s take a look at five things in WWE that are the same in 2020 as they were in 2010.
#5 The Rock is teasing a WWE in-ring return
In 2000, The Rock was on top of the WWE world. He had established himself as a main-event Superstar and he was involved in WWE Championship rivalries from the start to the end of the year.
By 2010, The Rock had also become known outside of WWE by his real name, Dwayne Johnson. The WWE Superstar-turned-Hollywood movie star had not competed in a WWE match since 2004. However, speculation was rife that he could be on the verge of returning to the company.
Of course, The Great One did end up making an in-ring comeback in 2011. He feuded with John Cena and CM Punk over the next two years before squashing Erick Rowan at WrestleMania 32.
Now, a decade after his WWE return was speculated, it appears that The Rock could be set to lace up his boots once again.
The man himself said on his YouTube channel in September 2020 that he is open to facing his cousin, Roman Reigns, in WWE one day.
“The truth is, I would be honored not only to share the ring with Roman and to go back to the WWE. But of course, I would be honored to have him raise his hand in that one.”
Reigns is currently involved in a family-related storyline with The Usos on WWE SmackDown. The story is built around Reigns referring to himself as The Tribal Chief of the Anoa’i family.
#4 The Miz is the WWE Money in the Bank holder
The Miz became WWE’s Mr. Money in the Bank for the first time in 2010. He defeated Chris Jericho, Edge, Evan Bourne, John Morrison, Mark Henry, Randy Orton, and Ted DiBiase to claim the briefcase at the MITB pay-per-view.
It looked as though The A-Lister could become the first person to unsuccessfully cash in his contract. After all, he was still inexperienced compared to many of his fellow WWE Superstars. He also did not seem like someone who could realistically win the WWE Championship at that time.
Five months after The Miz’s MITB win, he cashed in after Randy Orton retained the WWE Championship against Wade Barrett on WWE RAW. The Viper attempted an RKO in the impromptu match but The Miz reversed it into a Skull Crushing Finale to pick up the win.
Fast forward to 2020 and The Miz is now a two-time Mr. Money in the Bank. The 2020 MITB ladder match was won by Otis, but The Miz defeated him at Hell in a Cell to claim the briefcase.
While the WrestleMania 27 main-eventer has his sights set on WWE Champion Randy Orton, he can also choose to challenge for the Universal Championship.
#3 Makeshift WWE Tag Team Champions
Shawn Michaels & Triple H began 2010 as WWE Tag Team Champions. At the end of the year, Santino Marella & Vladimir Kozlov held the gold after winning the titles from Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel.
As is often the case in WWE, 2010 also saw makeshift tag team partners win the Tag Team titles throughout the year. Cody Rhodes & Drew McIntyre held the titles for 35 days, while David Otunga & John Cena even had a one-day reign.
In recent years, WWE has booked lots of Superstars as a Tag Team Champion with someone who is not even their tag team partner. Braun Strowman’s reigns with Nicholas and Seth Rollins immediately spring to mind. Rollins’ 34-day reign with Jason Jordan also falls into the same category.
It appeared as though WWE might have moved away from that booking formula in 2020. Three real tag teams – The Viking Raiders, The New Day, and The Kabuki Warriors – started the year as Tag Team Champions.
However, while the male Tag Team titles have mostly been contested by true tag teams, the same cannot be said for the women. Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler became Women’s Tag Team Champions in August, despite the fact that they had never teamed together.
The rest of the women’s tag division is also made up of temporary or makeshift duos. Peyton Royce recently split from Billie Kay and now, with hardly any storyline explanation, she has Lacey Evans as her new tag team partner.
Mandy Rose is the same. She separated from Sonya Deville and found herself without a storyline after their feud ended. Now, out of nowhere, she is suddenly tag team partners with Dana Brooke.
#2 Daniel Bryan is targeting a secondary title in WWE
Daniel Bryan had a very hectic year in 2010. After appearing on the game show format of WWE NXT, he formed part of the eight-man Nexus faction that invaded RAW in June.
Unfortunately, Bryan broke a WWE rule by choking ring announcer Justin Roberts with a tie during the chaotic segment. As a result, he was fired by WWE.
Things turned around for Bryan in August 2010. Not only was he re-hired by WWE, but he joined Team WWE and main-evented SummerSlam in a seven-on-seven elimination match against The Nexus.
One month later, he defeated The Miz at Night of Champions to win the United States Championship for the first time in his career. He went on to defend it against The Miz, John Morrison, Ted DiBiase Jr, and Zack Ryder in 2010.
A decade on from that storyline, Bryan has been involved in a secondary title storyline once again for most of 2020. Granted, he began the year by challenging for the Universal Championship, but he has been in the Intercontinental Championship picture ever since.
Bryan has challenged for the title on two occasions in 2020 – against Sami Zayn and AJ Styles – but he lost both times. He recently said he wants to see the Intercontinental Championship defended every week on SmackDown, which is why he is aiming to regain the title.
#1 Randy Orton is the WWE Champion
In September 2010, Randy Orton defeated Chris Jericho, Edge, John Cena, Sheamus, and Wade Barrett to win the WWE Championship at Night of Champions.
The Viper defended the title against Barrett and Sheamus in the two months that followed. His WWE Championship reign then came to an end after 64 days when The Miz cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on RAW.
One decade later, The Miz became Mr. Money in the Bank again at Hell in a Cell 2020. On the same night, Orton defeated Drew McIntyre to win the WWE Championship, meaning he is now a 14-time WWE World Champion.
The WWE Championship picture now looks exactly the same in November 2020 as it did in November 2010. Orton is the man to beat on RAW, while The Miz is waiting for the right moment to cash in his contract.
It is worth noting that The Miz pinned Orton to win the WWE Championship on November 22, 2010. That date in 2020 is the day that Survivor Series takes place.
Will history repeat itself on the 10-year anniversary of The Miz’s last Money in the Bank cash-in on Orton?
Do you love to play crosswords, Wordle or other exciting games? We'd like to connect with you. Fill the form here!
