I took a stab at looking at how much New Talent was brought up to major TV each year using a database of results from RAW, Smackdown, PPV and ECW. (If someone is on house shows, that doesn't really count as being introduced to the audience at large.) This doesn't include NXT, Main Event, Sunday Night Heat, or other B-shows. First year that people had 5+ matches (Sometimes, people debuted in the prior year, or even years earlier - but didn't have many matches that year.) 2001 New Talent: 18 people WCW: Billy Kidman, Booker T, Chris Kanyon, Chuck Palumbo, Diamond Dallas Page, Hurricane Helms, Lance Storm, Mike Awesome, Sean O'Haire, Shawn Stasiak, Stacy Keibler, Torrie Wilson ECW: Rhyno, Rob Van Dam, Spike Dudley, Tajiri Returning to WWE: Haku (WCW), Justin Credible (ECW) (Others who came aboard but aren't counted because they had less than 5 RAW/Smackdown/PPV matches: Tommy Dreamer, Maven, Jazz, Mark Jindrak, Bill DeMott, Teddy Long, Jerry Lynn, Nick Patrick, Sara Undertaker, Kronik, Buff Bagwell) 2002 New Talent: 18 people Developmental: Batista, Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Nidia, Randy Orton, Jamal & Rosey, Victoria, Rico Tough Enough: Chris Nowinski, Maven ECW: Dawn Marie, Jazz, Tommy Dreamer WCW: Chavo Guerrero Jr, Jamie Noble, Rey Mysterio Jr, Shannon Moore Others Returning to WWE: Goldust (WCW), Hulk Hogan (WCW), Kevin Nash (WCW), Mr Perfect (WCW), Ric Flair (WCW), Scott Hall (WCW) Returns from inactivity: Big Bossman, D-Lo Brown, Mark Henry (Others that came abroad with less than 5 matches and werne't counted above: Nunzio, Johnny Stamboli, Jackie Gayda, Jim Ross as a wrestler, Paul Heyman, Shaniqua, Lillian Garcia in a wrestling match, Howard Finkel in a wrestling match, David Flair) 2003 New Talent: 22 people New: Brian Kendrick, Charlie Haas, Danny Basham, Doug Basham, Gail Kim, Garrison Cade, Matt Morgan, Nathan Jones, Zach Gowen, Orlando Jordan, Rene Dupree, Rob Conway, Rodney Mack, Shelton Benjamin, Sylvian Grenier WCW: Bill DeMott, Bill Goldberg, Eric Bischoff, Johnny Stamboli, Mark Jindrak, Ultimo Dragon ECW: Nunzio Others Returing to WWE: Sable, Scott Steiner, Shawn Michaels Returns from less activity: Sho Funaki, Jerry Lawler, Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, Steph McMachon (Others that came aboard with less than 5 matches and weren't counted above: The Miz, Big Daddy V's return, Grandmaster Sexay's return, Matt Striker, Mordecai, Simon Dean, Christy Hemme, Caylen Croft & Brent Alrbright as jobbers, Gangrel's return, Jesus as a new wrestler, the lovely Hiroku, Daniel Puder, Josh matthews, Ernest Miller, playmate Carmella, Matt Cappotelli) 2004 New Talent: 11 people Returning to WWE: Chavo Guerrero Sr. WCW: Akio New: Carlito, Eugene, Gene Snitsky, Jackie Gayda, Kenzo Suzuki, Luther Reigns, Paul London, Sakoda, Tyson Tomko Others Returning from injury: Hardcore Holly, Scotty 2 Hotty Announcer: Jonathan Coachman Others with less than 5 matches: DEAN VISK 2005 New Talent: 21 people New: Heartthrobs (Antonio & Romeo), Ashley, Bobby Lashley, Candice Michelle, Chris Masters, Christy Hemme, Daivari, John Heidenreich, John Morrison, Ken Kennedy, Melina, Mickie James, Muhammad Hassan, Paul Burchill, Trevor Murdoch ECW: Super Crazy, Joey Mercury, Simon Dean WCW: Juventud Guerrera, Psychosis Others Had less than 5 matches: Chad & James Dick (Tolands), Sharmell started "wrestling" Return to WWE: Bob Orton Jr, Road Warrior Animal, Big Daddy V, Hulk Hogan, Matt Morgan, Blue Meanie returned One Off's: Kamala, Akebono, Masato Tanaka 2006 New Talent: 34 people WCW/ECW: Balls Mahoney, Kid Kash, Finlay, Dave Taylor, Sandman, Tony Mamaluke, Sabu, Big Vito New: Great Khali, Boogeyman, Brent Albright, CM Punk, Aaron Stephens (Damien Sandow), Elijah Burke, James Curtis, Jillian Hall, Spirit Squad (Kenny, Nicky, Johnny, Mikey, Mitch), Kevin Fertig, Kristal, Maria, Matt Striker, Michelle McCool, Mike Knox, Mike Mizanin, Gymini (Mike Shane & Todd Shane), MVP, Rory & Robbie McAllister, Sylvester Terkay Return to WWE: Tatanka, Jim Duggan Others: Jeff Hardy, Test, Umaga, Tommy Dreamer, Brian Kendrick, Shannon Moore, Jerry Lawler, Shane McMahon, Vince McMahon, Justin Credible (last seen 2001), Mick Foley, Dusty Rhodes Joined with less than 5 matches: Ariel, former ECW wrestler Danny Doring, former ECW wrestler ROADKILL One Off: ECW's Francine 2007 New Talent: 15 people TNA: Marcus Cor Von New: Beth Phoenix, Cody Rhodes, Curt Hawkins, Domino, Hornswoggle, JTG, Kelly Kelly, Layla, Luke Gallows, Ray Gordy, Santino Marella, Shad Gaspard, Sim Snuka, Zack Ryder Returning: Chuck Palumbo, Stevie Richards (last seen on major TV in 2003), Jonathan Coachman Others with less than 5 matches: Little Boogeyman, Runjin Singh "wrestled" instead of wrote, Wes Adams (became ref, screwed up, got fired), One Offs: Kevin Federline, John Cena's Dad, Christian York, IRS 2008 New Talent: 18 people Armando Estrada, Bam Neely, Bella Twins, Cherry, Colin Delaney, Evan Bourne, Jack Swagger, Katie Lea, Kofi Kingston, Manu, Maryse, Natalya Neidhart, Primo Colon, Ricky Ortiz, Ryan Braddock, Ted Dibiase Jr, Vladimir Kozlov New People with less than 5 matches: DJ Gabriel, Scotty Goldman (Colt Cabana), Braden Walker (Chris Harris), Lena, Tony DeVito (as Macho Libre) Returning: Chris Jericho, Ron Killings (last seen 2001), D-Lo Brown (last seen 2003), Tony Atlas (laughing madman), One offs: Honky Tonk Man, NIKOLAI VOLKOFF, Jimmy Kimmell's Cousin Sal, Barry Windham 2009 New Talent: 11 people New Talent: Alicia Fox, David Hart Smith, Drew McIntyre, Eric Escobar, Eve, Ezekiel Jackson, Rosa Mendes, Sheamus, Tyson Kidd, Vance Archer, Yoshi Tatsu Returning: Christian, Dolph Ziggler (no more Nicky!), Hurricane Helms, Chris Masters, Goldust, Gail Kim, Shane McMahon, The Boogeyman, Ricky Steamboat was back in action Others with less than 5 matches: , KIZARNY One Offs: Maria Menounos 2010 New Talent: 19 people New Talent: Alberto Del Rio, Alex Riley, Caylen Croft, Daniel Bryan, Darren Young, David Otunga, Heath Slater, Jey Uso & Jimmy Uso, Justin Gabriel, Kaval, Michael McGillicutty, Michael Tarver, Ryback, Tamina, Tiffany, Trent Barreta, Tyler Reks, Wade Barrett Returning to WWE: Bret Hart, Curt Hawkins New People with less than 5 matches: Husky Harris Became Active Wrestler: Vickie Guerrero Others with less than 5 matches: Serena, Lucky Cannon One Offs: MIKE TYSON, VIRGIL 2011 New Talent: 8 people New: AJ, Brodus Clay, Epico, Hunico, Jinder Mahal, Kaitlyn, Mason Ryan, Sin Cara Became Active Wrestler: Michael Cole Returning: Jerry Lawler 2012 New Talent: 4 people New: Aksana, Antonio Cesaro, Ricardo Rodriguez, Titus O'Neil Returning: Chris Jericho, Tensai, Primo, Damien Sandow, The Ryback, Hornswoggle, Darren Young, Curt Hawkins, Yoshi Tatsu, Tyler Reks Others that joined with less than 5 matches: Camacho, Brad Maddox, Derrick Bateman, Maxine Became Active: John Laurinatis One Off's: Pyscho Sid, Vader 2013 New People: 8ish New: The Shield, Fandango Other new people that will likely have 5+ matches this year: Naomi, Cameron, Big E Langston, Zeb Coulter, maybe Bo Dallas. Also Returning to WWE TV: Billy Gunn & Road Dogg What drove some of this? 2001 So, you have ECW/WCW folding sending a flood of younger, experienced talent into WWE's hands. Then you have some development territories shifts which results in some interruptions. When there is brand extensions (splitting Smackdown/RAW, adding ECW), there's room for more wrestlers. Also, you have change from Jim Ross to Laurinatis which drastically changed the sort of people that were brought into WWE.• March 2001: WCW closes down and quickly WWF purchases the company for around $7 million • April 2001: Extreme Championship Wrestling collapses under financial burdens; WWF eventually purchases the assets in 2003 • June 2001: WWF ends relationship with MCW (Memphis Championship Wrestling) and reassigns the developmental wrestlers to Ohio’s HWA 2002 • March 2002: WWF embarks on “brand extension” separating the roster into RAW and Smackdown! wrestlers for their two flagship television programs • July 2002: WWF ceases relationship with Cincinnati’s HWA (Heartland Wrestling Association) and moves remaining developmental talent to OVW 2004 • June 2004: John Laurinaitis assumes mantel of WWE's Vice President, Talent Relations (taking over for Jim Ross) 2005 • Sept 2005: New WWE Developmental Territory Deep South Wrestling is established in GA 2006 • June 2006: WWE revives the ECW brand as a new weekly show on Sci Fi • August 2006: Kurt Angle is granted a release from WWE; debuts with TNA in October ‘06 2007 • April 2007: WWE ends the two-year relationship with developmental territory DSW in McDonough, GA • May 2007: WWE promotes Stephanie McMahon Levesque to Executive Vice President, Talent and Creative Writing (overseeing creative writing process for all TV and PPVs while and managing the talent relations department.) • June 2007: WWE establishes Florida Championship Wrestling (later NXT Wrestling) in Tampa as a developmental territory 2008 • Feb 2008: WWE ends the eight-year relationship with developmental territory OVW in Louisville, KY and moves the remaining developmental talent to FCW in Tampa 2010 • Feb 2010: “Series Finale” ECW television show ends signaling the eclipse of the ECW brand; the TV show on Sci Fi is replaced with NXT which the network broadcasts until Sept |
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