Comparing WWE Main Events in the Past 7 Years

Think back to 2000, the WWE was going during the boom period called the Attitude Era. Main event was formed when it had Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, HHH, Undertaker, and later in the year Kurt Angle. The talent itself had many different people coming into the main event scene but now fast forward to 7 years later in the present time. The top stars include John Cena, Bobby Lashley, Batista, Edge, HHH, Undertaker (Part-time mainly), HBK, Randy Orton, John Morrison, CM Punk, quite a list that's seen isn't it. During the present, this is currently in the Brand Extension Era from 2002 on to now so there are slightly more Main Eventers than there were 7 years ago. To further prove that point, in 2000 WCW was still around and on its final legs.

The scene is quite different with only HHH and Undertaker still in the Main Event though in different areas. Shawn Michaels had returned to the ring in 2002 and had since been known still as a Main Event player. Though he is currently out with injury, he is still regarded as a top tier performer. The best way to compare these two eras would be like different times and that's about it. It really can't be compared too much except for maybe longer World Title reigns.

See, WWE has gone back to the era of having a champion holding it for lengthy periods of time to a degree. Not since the 1980s and even into the early 1990s with WWE has there been a champion hold it for close to a year. Though this is a different generation and have slowly become accustom to a long run as champion. In the Attitude Era, no champion would hold the belt for very long periods of time in the World Title division that is. With Raw, John Cena has had 3 reigns, each at least 6 months and up. He is the reigning champion and has been the subject of boos and cheers. John Cena being booed has been theorized that maybe some want him to lose the title. Well, he's going into Summerslam and has over a 10-month reign as the WWE Champion and the leader of the company. Since he's held it, he has only lost to two people who cashed in Money In the Bank opportunities, being Edge and Rob Van Dam. For better or for worse, John Cena is the guy that Vince McMahon is banking on to be the leader of the whole WWE. There are other people involved but right now Cena is the man of the hour.

With Smackdown, it seems to be a bit of a bad spell. Everyone who has held the World Heavyweight Title has been injured since it was moved there. From Batista to Edge, this title has seemed to have a gain a reputation of being a cursed title. The Great Khali right now is a last minute choice to get it but with his size, it is believable he could hold it. The question will remain can he be the 1^st to survive the World Heavyweight Title curse? It will be interesting to see what happens next.

ECW Title has been at one point, a top World Title in the WWE but now is more of a development title for future Main Event talent. John Morrison is the reigning champion and has himself the most heated rivalry with CM Punk. The goal with the title is to test them to see if they are Main Event worthy.There's no Attitude Era anymore, as it will never return. This is the Brand Extension Era or the Chain Gang Era; whichever is more appropriate for the time. The question remains who will be next to step up to the plate to be the Main Event, the icon, and perhaps the future legend of this industry. It will be the guy nobody will ever expect. For now, like it or not, Cena is the top guy now.