The Hurricane joined WWE in 2001 as part of the WCW acquisition. After a short stint competing as Gregory Helms, he transformed into the quasi-superhero that would go on to win the company's European, Hardcore, Cruiserweight and Tag Team Championship during the decade. Wassupwidat?

Chavo Guerrero joined WWE in 2001 as part of the WCW acquisition. He found success by both teaming and feuding with his uncle Eddie Guerrero as Los Guerreros. Over the next decade, he captured the WWE Tag Team Titles twice, the Cruiserweight Title four times and was even champion of the ECW brand.

While WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry began with the WWF in the 1990s, he commanded a much heavier presence during the 2000s. During stints in Raw, SmackDown and ECW, The World's Strongest Man feuded with the likes of The Undertaker and Batista, and captured the ECW title in 2008.

Shelton Benjamin began competing on WWE's main roster in 2002 as part of Team Angle with Charlie Haas. In 2004, he was drafted to Raw as a singles wrestler and defeated Triple H in his first major match on the brand. Benjamin excelled at Money In The Bank matches and held several championship belts.

Montel Vontavious Porter (or MVP) debuted on WWE's main roster in 2006, where he was portrayed as the hottest free agent in wrestling. Beginning with the SmackDown brand, MVP soon won the United States Title and held the WWE Tag Team Championship simultaneously with Matt Hardy.

NXT General Manager William Regal returned to the WWF in 2000 (after a brief stint two years earlier). In addition to being one of the company's top heels, winning the Hardcore European, Intercontinental and Tag Team Titles, Regal was also a King of the Ring and served as both WWF and WCW Commissioner.

Bobby Lashley debuted on WWE's main roster in 2005 and quickly captured the United States Championship, feuding with most of the top heels on SmackDown. After moving to ECW in 2006, Lashley represented U.S. President Donald Trump in the "Battle Of The Billionaires" at WrestleMania XXIII.

The Big Show debuted in the WWF in 1999 and began the 2000s as WWF Champion. Big Show would hold several championships over the decade, including the World, United States, Hardcore and Tag Team Championship. He'd also headline WrestleMania 2000 and WrestleMania XXIV.

Much like his partner Scott Hall, WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash returned to WWE in 2002 as part of the nWo invasion. However, Nash stayed around much longer than Hall, feuding with World Champion Triple H in 2003 over several PPVs and having a rivalry with Chris Jericho that saw Nash cut his hair.

While Shane McMahon had been part of the WWF since The Attitude Era, he came into his own in the 2000s. In 2001, Shane O'Mac "bought" WCW during a rivalry with his father Vince McMahon. Before leaving the company in 2009, McMahon feuded with Kurt Angle, Eric Bischoff, Kane and D-Generation X.

WWE Hall of Famer returned to the company in late 2001, revealing himself to be a co-owner with Vince McMahon. Flair soon returned to the ring but also became the manager of Evolution's Triple H, Randy Orton and Batista and had his retirement match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV.

Rob Van Dam joined the WWF in 2001 as part of the InVasion storyline. He quickly became Hardcore Champion and one of the more innovative competitors on the roster. In 2006, RVD cashed in his Money In The Bank briefcase at ECW One Night Stand, becoming the first dual WWE and ECW Champion in history.

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T joined the WWF in 2001 as part of the InVasion storyline while still holding the dormant WCW World Championship. Booker became a prominent part of Raw and SmackDown angles for many years following that, including his run as World Champion (as King Booker) in 2006.

Matt Hardy began the 2000s as a tag team with his brother Jeff Hardy, contending for the WWF Tag Team Championship at the 2000 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 2000. They'd capture the gold several times, with Matt breaking out on his own as Matt Hardy V1 and later becoming ECW Champion.

Kane debuted in the WWF in 1997 but continued to gain momentum in the 2000s. The Big Red Machine formed an alliance (and feuded with) his brother The Undertaker, he battled the likes of Shane McMahon, Mark Henry, Chris Jericho, Matt Hardy and Snitsky, as well as becoming ECW Champion in 2008.

Rey Mysterio debuted in WWE in 2002 and quickly became on the company's most popular stars. Over the next decade, he captured the Cruiserweight and Tag Team Championship numerous times on both Raw and SmackDown. Mysterio famously captured the World Championship at WrestleMania XXII.

Although it's controversial to declare in hindsight, Chris Benoit was one of WWE's most prominent stars in the early to mid 2000s. After jumping ship from WCW, Benoit captured almost all of the promotion's major championship belts, including the World Championship in the main event of WrestleMania XX.

WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin was named the Top WWF Star of the 1990s, although he still some gas in the tank during the following decade. Austin won his final WWF Championship in 2001 during a heel run and, after retiring from the ring in 2003, became an authority figure and guest referee.

While John Bradshaw Layfield has been with the company since 1995, it wasn't until his JBL character in 2004 that he became one of WWE's most memorable villains. Layfield became the longest-reigning World Champion in 10 years and after retiring, he became a heel commentator on SmackDown.

Chris Jericho debuted in the WWF in 1999 and became the first ever Undisputed Champion at the end of 2001, headlining at WrestleMania X-8. Y2J had a prominent role in Y2K, including legendary feuds with the likes of Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Chris Benoit and John Cena.

While The Undertaker was arguably more prominent in the 1990s, he was still a top star in the decade following. Returning to the WWF in 2000 as The American Bad Ass, Undertaker regained the WWE Championship in 2002 and went on to cement his record-breaking streak of major wins over many WrestleManias.

Randy Orton debuted with WWE in 2002 and quickly became part of Evolution. By SummerSlam 2004, Orton became the youngest world champion in WWE history, his first of thirteen World Championships. In the years after Evolution disbanded, Orton turned heel again and created Legacy in 2008.

While WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels excelled during the 1990s, his comeback in 2002 was one of the biggest stories of the entire decade. Beyond winning championships and reuniting D-Generation X, Michaels had Matches Of The Year with The Undertaker, Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, John Cena and others.

The Rock began the 2000s by winning that year's Royal Rumble and going on to headline the next four WrestleManias against the likes of Triple H, The Big Show, Mick Foley, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan. And while The Rock becoming a Hollywood star, he frequently returned back to WWE.

WWE Hall of Famer Triple H joined the WWF in 1995, though he captured the company's World Championship only three days into the 2000s by defeating The Big Show. Throughout the decade, The Game would feud with The Undertaker, Mick Foley, The Rock, Chris Jericho, Shawn Michaels, Kane, Randy Orton and many others.

Carlito debuted in WWE in 2004 as Carlito Caribbean Cool on SmackDown and, in his first night on the show, defeated John Cena to win the United States Championship. The next year he was drafted to Raw and, in his first night on the show, defeated Shelton Benjamin for the Intercontinental Title. 

Although WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley lost a retirement match to Triple H in early 2000, he remained a vital part of the roster for most of the decade. In addition to headlining WrestleMania 2000, The Hardcore Legend also played Commissioner and feuded with the likes of Randy Orton, Edge and Ric Flair.

Though WWE Hall of Famer Scott Hall gained his most fame as Razor Ramon and with the nWo during the 1990s, The Bad Guy had a brief run after returning to WWE in 2002. Working with nWo co-founders Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan, Hall battled Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XVIII before leaving again.

When Michael Cole joined the WWF in 1997, he was mostly known as a backstage interviewer and backup commentator until he became the lead announcer on SmackDown. This led to Cole becoming lead announcer on Raw beginning in 2008 and "The Voice Of WWE" moniker he maintains to this day.

Too Cool (Scotty 2 Hotty and Grandmaster Sexay) began in the WWF in 1998, but really came into their own years later. Often teaming up with Rikishi, Too Cool captured the Tag Team Championship in May 2000. About three years later, a new version of Too Cool (Scotty and Rikishi) saw success on SmackDown.

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross continued his successful run of being one of the company's top announcers for much of the 2000s. From 2002 to 2008, he was the exclusive lead commentator on Monday Night Raw. JR also participated in in-ring angles with Triple H, Stone Cold Steve Austin and the McMahon family.

Although he would go on to bigger success in the decade following, CM Punk debuted on WWE's ECW brand in 2006 and soon captured the group's championship. Among Punk's other early accolades were Money In The Bank wins at WrestleManias XXIV and XXV, leading to World Championship runs.

WWE Hall of Famer Rikishi began 2000 by breaking away from Too Cool and becoming the heel who ran over Stone Cold Steve Austin with his car. After feuding with Austin, The Rock, The Undertaker and Kane, Rikishi retured as a babyface in 2001 and eventually held WWE Tag Team gold with Scotty 2 Hotty.

Tazz debuted at the first WWE PPV of the decade, the 2000 Royal Rumble, winning over the previously-undefeated Kurt Angle. The Human Suplex Machine feuded with Jerry The King Lawler and others before retiring from the ring in 2001 and becoming the color commentator on SmackDown and on ECW.

WWE Hall of Famer Lita debuted in the WWF in 2000 as the manager of Essa Rios. She began an alliance with Matt and Jeff Hardy that would become a huge part of that era, and she also captured the Women's Championship. Later on, she switched allegiances to a partnership with Edge before retiring in 2006.

Christian began the 2000s as a partner with Edge, winning his first of nine WWE tag team championships at WrestleMania 2000. After turning on Edge in 2001, at last, he was on his own... which led him to alliances with Trish Stratus, Tyson Tomko and Chris Jericho. He also captured the ECW Title in 2009.

While WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan is better known for his work in the 1980s and 1990s, the power of Hulkamania continued on into the 2000s. The Hulkster returned to the company in 2002 as part of the nWo and headlined WrestleMania X8 against The Rock before regaining the WWF World Championship that year.

WWE Hall of Famer Bill Goldberg was in WWE for less than one year between 2003 and 2004, and yet he had a tremendous impact on the company. Shortly after debuting, Goldberg feuded with The Rock and eventually held the World Championship before leaving the company following WrestleMania XX.

Stephanie McMahon captured the WWF Women's Championship in May 2000, leading to a rivalry with Lita. Over the next decade, McMahon would be featured in angles with and against her husband Triple H, have rivalries with Chris Jericho and Vince McMahon, and become the first GM of SmackDown.

Former WCW head Eric Bischoff shocked the world in 2002 when he showed up on WWE programming as the Raw General Manager. Over the next three years, Bischoff would become a tremendous on-screen villain, making lives miserable for the likes of Stephanie McMahon, Stone Cold Steve Austin and John Cena.

One of the few names on all three of our decade lists, Vince McMahon was still a popular on-screen character in the 2000s. The Chairman continued his role as an evil authority figure, feuding with Stone Cold Steve Austin, D-Generation X and his entire family. Vinnie Mac also captured the ECW Championship in 2007.

WWE Hall of Famers The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) began the decade by winning their first of eight WWE Tag Team Championships. They feuded extensively with Edge & Christian, The Hardy Boyz, Spike Dudley, The Undertaker, Billy & Chuck before leaving in 2005.

WWE Hall of Famer Trish Stratus began with the company in 2000 and became one of the most accomplished women in WWE history. She captured the WWE Women's Championship a record seven times, was named "Diva of the Decade" and broke new ground for womens wrestling before retiring in 2006.

Along with his brother Matt, Jeff Hardy began the decade as a prominent tag team. However, Jeff became the more successful singles wrestler among The Hardy Boyz (at least until recently), becoming WWE Champion in 2008 and having memorable rivalries with The Undertaker, Triple H and CM Punk.

WWE Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero joined the WWF in 2000 as one of The Radicalz. He quickly came into his own as one of the company's prominent workhorses. In 2004, Latino Heat upset Brock Lesnar to win the WWE Championship. Sadly in November of 2005, Guerrero tragically passed away.

WWE Hall of Famer Edge began the 2000s as a partner with Christian. By late 2001, he broke out on his own and began rivalries with the likes of Kurt Angle and Booker T before turning heel in late 2004. The Rated R Superstar won Money In The Bank in 2005, leading to winning his first of eleven World Titles.

WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle joined the WWF in 1999 but didn't capture his first (non-Olympic) gold until February 2000. He would go on to capture six World Championships as well as King of the Ring and headlining WrestleMania XIX before leaving the company for more than a decade in 2006.

Brock Lesnar joined WWE in March 2002 and by August, he was King of the Ring and WWE Champion. Lesnar headlined WrestleMania XIX against Kurt Angle and became one of the industry's biggest overnight success stories, leaving the promotion at WrestleMania XX after losing to Bill Goldberg.

Batista debuted in WWE in 2002 as the bodyguard of D-Von Dudley. While headlining WrestleMania XXI in 2005, The Animal would capture his first of six World Championships. During the decade, Batista had rivalries with Triple H, King Booker, Edge, Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton.

Joining the promotion in 2002, John Cena adopted a hip hop gimmick that would lead him to his first World Championship (of a record-tying sixteen) at WrestleMania XXI. In addition to headlining a half-dozen WrestleManias in the 2000s, Cena feuded extensively with Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, Batista, Randy Orton and virtually all of the decade's top stars.