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The decade of 2011-2020 was a great time for professional wrestling. Even the pandemic that began last year couldn't interfere with the popularity of the sport. During this time, many WWE icons led the way, and many new main event stars also stepped into the spotlight. Even on a broader scale, WWE found a lot of success while a new rival promotion entered the fray.
Competitors like Kenny Omega and Kofi Kingston rose to new heights. On the other hand, WWE legends like Batista and The Undertaker retired from the sport. Popular WWE faces like John Cena and Triple H started the decade atop the industry, but they gradually faded into the background. Meanwhile, stars like AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar were consistently featured throughout this period.
Many talented performers wrestled throughout this period, but only a few of them could be viewed as the top wrestlers of the decade.
Several competitors had an astounding decade, but they couldn't quite make it onto this list.
Honorable Mentions: Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Kofi Kingston, Brock Lesnar, Kevin Owens, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Samoa Joe
With that being said, here's a look at the top five stars who earned a place in this prestigious group. (Note: this list focused wrestlers who have competed in WWE and AEW.)
#5. Cody Rhodes (WWE and AEW)
Cody Rhodes has become one of the most recognizable names in the industry. He has successfully competed all over the world. Of course, by the end of the decade, he revolutionized professional wrestling as one of the founders of All Elite Wrestling. Clearly, "the son of the son of a plumber" had a transformative decade.
His decade started in WWE, where he had great reign as a tag team champion alongside his brother, Goldust. But Rhodes ultimately left WWE, and he became a world champion in Ring of Honor. He also became one of the top stars in New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
By the end of the decade, Rhodes was making history with AEW. From the start, Rhodes has been one of the company's icons. He has had amazing matches with Dustin Rhodes, MJF and other remarkable competitors. "The American Nightmare" is renowned for his in-ring abilities and his remarkable promo skills. There's no doubt that Rhodes deserves a place on this list.
#4. John Cena (WWE)
John Cena is arguably the most famous name in the wrestling industry. He has been the face of WWE, as he carried the company on his back throughout his career.
Cena has become a part-time WWE star due to his career in Hollywood. But he has still earned a place on this list. His decade started with a memorable rivalry with the Nexus. Cena's feud with CM Punk remains one of the best storylines in recent memory. Plus, Cena faced The Rock at WWE WrestleMania two years in a row. He also had a remarkable WWE WrestleMania match with Bray Wyatt.
In recent years, Cena had excellent rivalries with the likes of AJ Styles and Kevin Owens. His promos with Roman Reigns and AJ Styles were instant classics. Cena also delivered a fantastic promo against The Undertaker, and he convinced "The Phenom" to return to the ring for a WWE WrestleMania dream match.
Throughout the decade, Cena also had multiple reigns as the WWE Champion. He has clearly done it all, and he's a first-ballot WWE Hall of Famer.
#3. The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose/Jon Moxley) (WWE and AEW)
The three members of the legendary WWE stable, The Shield, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose (or Jon Moxley) share the third spot on this list. These three stars have led the industry throughout the second half of the decade.
Reigns has competed in four WWE WrestleMania main events. He became a Grand Slam Champion, and he won the Royal Rumble match. He also competed in memorable matches against stars like John Cena, Drew McIntyre, and Triple H. Recently, his heel run on WWE SmackDown has been the best storyline on WWE programming.
Rollins joined the list of Grand Slam Champions, and he became the only star who simultaneously held the WWE Championship and the WWE United States Championship. Additionally, his Money in The Bank cash-in at WWE WrestleMania 31 remains one of the most unforgettable WrestleMania moments of all time.
Ambrose became a Grand Slam Champion before Rollins and Reigns accomplished the feat. He had some exciting rivalries against his stablemates, and his feuds with AJ Styles and Chris Jericho were also incredible. He left the WWE in 2019 to sign with AEW. Moxley has already won the AEW World Championship, and he has been one of the company's top stars throughout his time there.
All three members of The Shield deserve to be on this list, as they have become some of the biggest stars in the wrestling industry.
#2. Chris Jericho (WWE and AEW)
Former WWE Champion Chris Jericho is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. He's a living legend, and he has achieved almost everything a wrestler could dream of. Jericho wrestled in various promotions throughout this decade, and he has been successful across the globe.
At the beginning of the decade, Jericho was still one of the top performers in WWE. He held the WWE United States Championship twice, and he delighted the fans with his memorable List of Jericho. Plus, his rivalry is Kevin Owens is unforgettable.
In the last few years of the decade, Jericho left WWE, and he wrestled in NJPW. There, he had some world-class bouts against Kenny Omega and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Later, he signed with All Elite Wrestling when the company was formed. He led AEW in its infancy as the company's first world champion.
Though Jericho is fifty years old, he's still one of the best performers in the world. His promo segments are unrivalled, and he's untouchable on the microphone. Jericho is a legend, and he continues to amaze fans on a nightly basis.
#1. AJ Styles (IMPACT Wrestling and WWE)
In the last decade, WWE star AJ Styles has competed in almost every major wrestling promotion. He in-ring skills are incredible, and he's called "The Phenomenal One" for a reason.
AJ Styles started the decade in TNA (i.e. IMPACT Wrestling), where he was the TNA Champion. He had amazing matches against the likes of Christopher Daniels, Kurt Angle, and Matt Hardy. Then, AJ Styles went to NJPW, and he reached a new level with the Bullet Club.
Styles made his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in 2016. He quickly became "The Face That Runs The Place." Styles is a two-time WWE Champion, and it's fair to say that he's been the company's MVP. He has delivered some great matches against John Cena, Dean Ambrose and Finn Balor.
Styles always elevates the company he works for. He continues to add to his impressive career, as his Boneyard Match at WWE WrestleMania will go down in history. "The Phenomenal One" excels at every aspect of wrestling, so he's arguably the greatest competitor of the decade.
