Comparing The Product 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 Years Ago

[Deleted]

If you were to compare the WWE product at these intervals right now, which era gave you the most optimism/excitement coming out of a Wrestlemania? These were the champions heading out of their respective Wrestlemania's.

1 Year Ago:

WWE Heavyweight Champion: Roman Reigns
I.C. Champion: Miz
U.S Champion: Kalisto
WWE Tag Team Champions: New Day
Women's: Charlotte

5 Years Ago:

WWE Champion: CM Punk
World Heavyweight Champion: Sheamus
I.C. Champion: Big Show
U.S. Champion: Santino Marella
WWE Tag Team Champions: Primo and Epico
Divas: Beth Phoenix

10 Years Ago:

WWE Champion: John Cena
World Heavyweight Champion: Undertaker
ECW Champion: Bobby Lashley
I.C. Champion: Umaga
U.S. Champion: Chris Benoit
World Tag Team Champions: John Cena and Shawn Michaels
WWE Tag Team Champions: Kendrick and London
Women's: Melina

15 Years Ago:

WWE Champion: Triple H
I.C. Champion: Rob Van Dam
WWE Tag Team Champions: Billy and Chuck
WWE European Champion: DDP
WWE Hardcore Champion: Various Competitors
Women's: Jazz

20 Years Ago:

WWE Champion: Undertaker
I.C. Champion: Rocky Maivia
WWE Tag Team Champions: Owen and The Bulldog

[Christian Small]

On a personal level it was 5 years ago as I adored Punk and had real high hopes that they would create a new era around him and others like him, although them jobbing out Bryan the night before made me a little iffy. But it terms of actual work rate and overall booking I felt 2007 was one of the better years for WWE, it was both Cena's & Batista's best in ring and felt the actual booking was pretty solid. Although injuries would hurt that year a lot.

[RKing85]

"WWE Hardcore Champion: Various Competitors"

That made me laugh.

[Jamie G]

Interesting read that. I'd say 5 years for Punk but overall I preferred product 15-20 years ago.

[Deleted]

I'm going with 10 years ago. Just looking at the depth of the roster at the time. There were so many ways you could to with that roster. Plus the guys that were champions heading out of Wrestlemania were main event players. I wanted to see where the Cena title run would go. Undertaker with his first world title run in 5 years. And then were have talented group of guys who could be credible champions at any moment: HBK, Edge, Benoit, Batista, Orton, Khali, Mysterio and the blossming mid-card of MVP, Lashley, Umaga, Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, John Morrison, Miz, Kennedy, etc... If they just booked these talents better, 2007's television would be so much better than it turned out to be.

This roster was deep, they just didn't make the most of it.

[deezy]

Nah, every era could've been nitpicked to death at the time and it was.

Subjective tastes and nostalgia factor in this too. Most don't like the product like they did when they were kids.