With the seventh season of WWE coming to a close, we look at ten (not top ten) of the most influential and iconic wrestlers of the last 7 seasons.
CM Punk
Who better to kick us off than the voice of the voiceless himself, CM Punk? For a few years, after his epic pipebomb in 2011, CM Punk was soon lost in the fray. He tried to claim a spot at the top for a while. After repeated failed attempts (WrestleMania III) at getting a World Title shot, he finally broke out in early Season 4 after an impressive feud with Goldust. CM Punk finally burst into the upper mid-card, and even got a few main event matches with Big Show. Punk found himself in a team with Chris Coleman in the middle of the NWO invasion, and soon, Punk cemented his potetional as a main event player after he defeated Triple H at WrestleMania IV. In Season Five, Punk had arguably the best Intercontinental Championship reign (besides Seth Rollins) and he set a new standard for future intercontinental champions. At WrestleMania V, he pulled off another huge win, overcoming the BEAST, Brock Lesnar. The next year, Punk stoned his legacy when he won the Royal Rumble match and dethroned World Champion Ryan Nathen at WrestleMania VI. CM Punk is literally the gold standard for success and "the rise" to the top.
Matthew Ehlert
Matthew Ehlert was destined for greatness from the start. After debuting as Jack Swagger's right-hand, Matthew forged his own path after kicking off an impressive win-streak and capturing the IC Title at WrestleMania III. In Season 4, he climbed the ranks of the mid-card before he won the Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania IV. In Season Five, he successfully cashed in the briefcase only to suffer a tragic family loss, being forced to take time off. Destiny can be postponed but never stopped. Matthew came back in a furry, a hunt for the WWE Championship. He mowed his way through Triple H at WM V, fought the New Corp, and eventually faced his worst enemy, his own son. Matthew overcame all the odds to finally capture the WWE Championship at WrestleMania VI. A three year journey came to an iconic close, going full circle. However, in the midst of the battle with Exodus, we would never see Matthew Ehlert again. A hero, missing in action. However, he's planted his history in the WWE and has inspired millions around the world.
Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler has become a household name in all his years as a WWE wrestler. He became the first to hold the IC and US Championships at the same time, did it AGAIN at WrestleMania IV, and was the longest reigning United States Champion in WWE history. He has a flurry of five star matches under his belt, and big victories to go with them. He's defeated the likes of Batista, Alan Snyder, Dean Ambrose, Rush, and most recently, Shawn Michaels, effectively crowning himself the new Mr. WrestleMania. Dolph Ziggler is no stranger to the main event. At WrestleMania II, he took on Alan inside a Hell in a Cell. But more notably, at WrestleMania VI, he competed in a huge triple threat match with Matthew Ehlert and AJ Styles. Now, more than ever, the WWE Title is in Ziggler's sights. He's reaching for the crown, his throne is so close that he can taste it. After a huge win over Shawn Michaels, Ziggler has to be in the competition for a world title. In every arena Ziggler steps in, the fans are rooting for him, the crowd is behind him, even when they're split. There's no stopping the show.
Paul Star
Paul Star captivated audiences around the world with his over-the-top style of wrestling and character. He's slayed John Cena, Alan Snyder, Brock Lesnar, Zack Poe. Almost anyone who has gotten in Paul Star's path has been knocked down. At WrestleMania VI, in the main event, Paul Star shocked the world in his most deathly act yet, dropping John Cena hundreds of feet above the ground and making Cena say... "I Quit".
Big Show
Big Show knocking out the entire RAW roster is still the greatest feat of strength in WWE history, and it hasn't been repeated or topped. Big Show dominated the scene after an explosive comeback in Season IV, and since then has been a dominant and unstoppable force in the WWE. Only few have beaten Big Show in the last few years, but the Giant is never asleep for long.
John Cena
John Cena. No words needed.
Hayden Saxby / Storms
Talk about a roller-coaster ride of a career. From his debut, Hayden was seen as main-event material. And he's built an impressive resume since his debut in 2012. Within months of his first WWE run he has gone up and beaten wrestlers on Alan Snyder's caliber, even Snyder himself. Hayden has had multiple world title runs, and an impressive win record under his belt. At WrestleMania V, he slayed the Giant Big Show. And at WrestleMania VII, Hayden pulled off one of the greatest upsets in WWE history when he pinned his cousin, Anthony Chandler, 1, 2, 3. At just the ripe age of 21, Hayden had already made his legacy in the WWE, and has become an icon.
Ryan Nathen
Because you knew he was going to be on this list. First Australian-born Royal Rumble winner, won the match in his Royal Rumble match debut, first Australian-born World Heavyweight Champion... Ryan Nathen is truly an iconic, in less than 2 years he's taken down legends and claimed THE WORLD. A 2 year undefeated streak may be gone, but Ryan STILL hasn't been pinned in a WWE ring. Who will be the first... if anyone?
Anthony Chandler
The leader of a revolution, the man who took down Exodus, the highest power of the WWE. Anthony Chandler, from his beginnings, had a target on his back. Truthfully, he made a name for himself the moment he stepped into WWE! In Season 3, he led his stable to capturing all 3 World Titles, main evented WrestleMania, and captivated audiences whether they loved him or hated him. In Season IV, although he didn't get much in the way of victories, Anthony put on iconic matches. It wasn't until the end of season five when Anthony came back to the forefront, once again finding himself leading a rebellion against Alan Snyder. Alan Snyder's dangerous regime, the New Corp, was leading WWE to it's own demise. Despite what Alan believed, he was killing his own company. Anthony saw this, he tried to stop it, but he was beaten by the sheer numbers game of Alan's forces. After a crushing defeat, Anthony disappeared from the public eye for months... until he came back, changed and scarred by Paul Star, being an agent of Exodus. It took his own cousin, Omega, to snap him back to reality. Finally, in Season Six, Anthony knew what he had to do. He fought against the single greatest hostile takeover in WWE history, the reign of Exodus. And at Revolution in 2016, Anthony Chandler killed Paul Star and destroyed Exodus. Wherever you go, Anthony Chandler is in the wrestling discussion. Anthony Chandler is already an icon among his peers, a future Hall of Famer.
Alan Snyder
Because he's the greatest of all time, period. Objectively, no one has done what Alan has done in the WWE, no one has matched his accomplishments. You know them, I know them, so there's no question as to why we should end this with Alan Snyder. The man who ended the Undertaker's streak, a record-tying Royal Rumble winner, the first and only active WWE wrestler to hold titles from NJPW, the first man to hold the IWGP Heavyweight and WWE Championships at the same time. The list goes on, and on, and on. In basketball, there's Michael Jordan. In boxing, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson. In football, Tom Brady. In wrestling, it's Alan Snyder.
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