"The Lost Generation", the 6 best in that class

[Deleted]

After Cena's class and before The Shield's class there was a group of superstars in this company who were in a weird spot. Couldn't take over with Cena's class dominating, couldn't take over with The Shield's class given they didn't have their type of infrastructure.

Most people I've seen here call them "The Lost Generation."

There's 6 stars that standout from that class however who refuse to stay down. 3 who had a life when Cena's crew were stomping and now today they stomp with this new class. 3 who were picked early to become something and they became legends. All 6 stars of these stars define their generation. Their longevity and the fact they roll with the punches and continue to standout, make them memorable. Surprisingly, these 3 still haven't reached their peak yet and they have chances to elevate. The other 2 have reached the top, 1 still with the company and the other left. The last is cemented already in a great position.

Give it up to these 6.

Daniel Bryan

Bryan had an entire movement around him based on how he was being treated. The guy did it all and after all of his trials and tribulations, he's back wrestling and doing his thing. "The Dude" Daniel Bryan.

The Miz

One of the best heels this past decade. Miz has continued to evolve his character and elevate in all areas. The defining heel of his generation. Respect it.

Kofi Kingston

The guy silently racking up accomplishments and improving in all areas while remaining humble. Kofi's got it all. One of the dopest babyfaces this past decade.

Sheamus

Accolades on accolades. Dude won everything and now he's cemented in a tag team that's one of the best tag teams this generation. Sheamus has earned his respect.

Dolph Ziggler

Dolph Ziggler. You either love him or hate him. Regardless he does his thing and he gets premier spots on screen. At the end of the day he's living his best life as one of the defining guys of his class.

CM Punk

Yeah Punk wasn't in the company when The Shield were singles stars but hey, it's CM Punk. You know what he's about.

[RadcapRadsley]

2 of these guy's constantly tweak their performance and never get stale and deserve way better then they have ever gotten,one of those guys hasn't changed a thing in a decade and if not for his bumping ability would be back in catering with Zack Ryder

[carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army)]

I can't see how Punk wouldn't be in the top 3, there, however you're defining success.

[Rudy Gobert Fadeaway]

Kofi's the only one of these dudes that doesn't make me groan as soon as they're on screen rn

[CMWaters]

Sept 29, 2018 14:14:07 GMT -5 carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) said:

I can't see how Punk wouldn't be in the top 3, there, however you're defining success.

Disqualifying pre-WWE world champions?

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2018 14:14:07 GMT -5 carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) said:

I can't see how Punk wouldn't be in the top 3, there, however you're defining success.

I would have included Punk if he was still in the company. When Punk left it was before The Shield even became single stars. But Bryan needs to be included since he's still here.

Actually, I'll say "f*** it" and add in Punk and Bryan given who they are. I'll change it to 5 best. Thanks for suggesting this.

[stevec484]

Miz main evented a WrestleMania and Dolph was champion

Pretty sure they both reached their peak already. God I hope so both are unbearable

[Final Countdown Jones]

It's crazy how few guys from that whole era are still around, most of whom were sank by terrible booking and bad ideas, paired with terrible hiring practices that meant a lot of the guys churned out in that area weren't ever worth the time or effort. So many guys who fell short so soon out of developmental and washed out entirely because they just sucked. Just terrible hiring practices, and Punk coming in was a weird exception the company took forever to come around to. The mid-late '00s were such a f***ing weird time for the company and seemed to be them at their most baffling.

[MrElijah]

As much as I would love to see Kofi as World Champ, at the very least, he's going to be the Tito Santana/Arn Anderson of his generation.

And that's not a bad position at all.

[Bang Bang Bart]

Sept 29, 2018 14:10:37 GMT -5 RadcapRadsley said:

2 of these guy's constantly tweak their performance and never get stale and deserve way better then they have ever gotten,one of those guys hasn't changed a thing in a decade and if not for his bumping ability would be back in catering with Zack Ryder

To be fair, he's doing okay as part of the tag team with Drew McIntyre, even if the inevitable split is coming down the line.

[clifford]

I'd have Sheamus in there. Brought into the main event way too soon but has always been a good hand in the ring and on the mic, save for that weird period where he was forced on us as the Irish John Cena, and re invented himself as a great tag wrestler in maybe my most favourite thrown together tag team of all time.

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2018 16:47:24 GMT -5 clifford said:

I'd have Sheamus in there. Brought into the main event way too soon but has always been a good hand in the ring and on the mic, save for that weird period where he was forced on us as the Irish John Cena, and re invented himself as a great tag wrestler in maybe my most favourite thrown together tag team of all time.

Damn, great point. I might have to add in Sheamus.

I like that people are mentioning stars I've forgotten about. I really like this class of wrestlers so the more we can get the better. If we can get a reasonable 10 that makes sense? That would be dope.

[DSR]

Are we limiting our scope to dudes that have been successful in WWE? John Morrison Mundo Nitro Impact has had a good deal of success with AAA and Lucha Underground. Cody Rhodes has become a ROH World and NWA Worlds Champion and co-promoted All In. They're both far from household names but they've also flat-out refused to be "just another guy" wherever they've ended up post-WWE.

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2018 17:37:24 GMT -5 DSR said:

Are we limiting our scope to dudes that have been successful in WWE? John Morrison Mundo Nitro Impact has had a good deal of success with AAA and Lucha Underground. Cody Rhodes has become a ROH World and NWA Worlds Champion and co-promoted All In. They're both far from household names but they've also flat-out refused to be "just another guy" wherever they've ended up post-WWE.

Yeah I'm mostly talking about guys who are still in the company. I imagine if they come back they'll be in a good position too given all they've done outside the company's walls.

[fw91]

Pretty accurate list. Although I’d say Bryan is a bit closer to the Sheild’s class than the one you mentioned. I’ll give Sheamus an honorable mention too.

[chazraps]

Sept 29, 2018 14:24:33 GMT -5 stevec484 said:

Miz main evented a WrestleMania and Dolph was champion

Pretty sure they both reached their peak already. God I hope so both are unbearable

You have 311 posts. You know what that means.









#Investigate311

[06vwgti]

Sept 29, 2018 14:26:06 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

It's crazy how few guys from that whole era are still around, most of whom were sank by terrible booking and bad ideas, paired with terrible hiring practices that meant a lot of the guys churned out in that area weren't ever worth the time or effort. So many guys who fell short so soon out of developmental and washed out entirely because they just sucked. Just terrible hiring practices, and Punk coming in was a weird exception the company took forever to come around to. The mid-late '00s were such a f***ing weird time for the company and seemed to be them at their most baffling.

I recall articles from that era mentioning anti-indy mentality. WWE wanted to use OVW/FCW/ETC to groom athletes and lower experienced indy workers into a wrestler they can mold into teaching them wwe style.

Instead you got a bunch of clones that worked the same style

[Final Countdown Jones]

Sept 29, 2018 18:51:58 GMT -5 06vwgti said:

Sept 29, 2018 14:26:06 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

It's crazy how few guys from that whole era are still around, most of whom were sank by terrible booking and bad ideas, paired with terrible hiring practices that meant a lot of the guys churned out in that area weren't ever worth the time or effort. So many guys who fell short so soon out of developmental and washed out entirely because they just sucked. Just terrible hiring practices, and Punk coming in was a weird exception the company took forever to come around to. The mid-late '00s were such a f***ing weird time for the company and seemed to be them at their most baffling.

I recall articles from that era mentioning anti-indy mentality. WWE wanted to use OVW/FCW/ETC to groom athletes and lower experienced indy workers into a wrestler they can mold into teaching them wwe style.

Instead you got a bunch of clones that worked the same style

And not just that, but they sought guys who weren't actually going to turn out very good anyway. Bad trainers and bad standards. WWE hiring women out of fitness magazines comes up a fair bit nowadays and rightfully so, but their standards at that time were so fixated on finding guys who didn't have much chance at all of turning out good and giving them terrible training before shoving them out there. The number of guys who were actually good enough to have a chance were few and far between, but the kinds of people who nowadays wash out of developmental without ever making TV nowadays are the ones who were debuting on ECW and spending a few weeks doing nothing of importance before vanishing.

[Allie Kitsune]

I always think of Carlito and Masters as THE "Lost Generation" guys. Shelton too.

The ones who they wanted to make something of, and then changed their minds for whatever reason.

[06vwgti]

Sept 29, 2018 18:58:38 GMT -5 Final Countdown Jones said:

Sept 29, 2018 18:51:58 GMT -5 06vwgti said:

I recall articles from that era mentioning anti-indy mentality. WWE wanted to use OVW/FCW/ETC to groom athletes and lower experienced indy workers into a wrestler they can mold into teaching them wwe style.

Instead you got a bunch of clones that worked the same style

And not just that, but they sought guys who weren't actually going to turn out very good anyway. Bad trainers and bad standards. WWE hiring women out of fitness magazines comes up a fair bit nowadays and rightfully so, but their standards at that time were so fixated on finding guys who didn't have much chance at all of turning out good and giving them terrible training before shoving them out there. The number of guys who were actually good enough to have a chance were few and far between, but the kinds of people who nowadays wash out of developmental without ever making TV nowadays are the ones who were debuting on ECW and spending a few weeks doing nothing of importance before vanishing.

And that whole early 00s to around 2010ish, era of indies pretty much defined the current generation with its influences of the style we are seeing today. Yet so many didn't get a fair chance in WWE because of those hiring practices you talk about. I was enjoying TNA a lot more during that time period because of who they were able to sign. It's too bad TNA didn't do much.