The Brighter Side: The Top 5 WWE Signings/Call-Ups of 2010

We always hear about the large number of releases the WWE made in 2010, possibly even more so than we do the massive signings and main roster call-ups. Throughout the year, dozens of names left the WWE and quite a few came in too. While it's a massive shame people like Shelton Benjamin, Mickie James and Serena had their contracts terminated, we still have to celebrate the talent the WWE signed to replace them.

From main roster call-ups to massive signings, the WWE did a pretty decent job of scouting talent last year.

This slideshow is a ranking of the top five wrestlers the WWE signed and/or brought up to the main roster in 2010 that I feel could make a massive contribution to the company. (Or already have in some cases.)

Honorable Mentions

Before I get started, I just wanted to mention a few other names I believe the WWE were wise in signing/bringing up to the main roster in 2010:

Alex Koslov/Peter Orlov

Alex Koslov, as he was known on the North American/Mexican Indy circuits, is now wrestling down at FCW as Peter Orlov. During August of last year, Orlov wrestled a squash match against Alberto Del Rio and then signed a developmental deal.

Orlov is a very talented wrestler with an exciting move set. His high-flying mixed in with his mat work makes him a must watch in the ring and he has the experience (AAA, TNA and the CMML mostly) that makes him more main roster ready than most at FCW. I hope he gets called up soon and gets the right push. 

Justin Gabriel

The high-flyer from Cape Town, Justin Gabriel certainly made an impact in 2010. Despite only being one of the background guys of Nexus, he got the most high-profile matches of any of the Nexus (excluding Wade Barrett) which shows how much faith the WWE has in his wrestling ability. He has a great move-set which ranges from high-flying to mat working, so please, leave the one-trick-pony comments at the door.

NXT was great for Gabriel, as it got him and his 450 Splash over with the "WWE Universe" and him having to work as a heel as a part of Nexus shows he can play both sides well. His finishing move is one of the most definable in the WWE today and once The Corre ends, the only way is up for Justin Gabriel.

Consequences Creed/Xavier Wood

One man's trash is another man's treasure, as is evident in the case of Xavier Wood AKA Consequences Creed. He was released from his TNA contract in March of 2010 and signed with the WWE in July. He was sent to FCW, where he won the FCW Tag Team Championships with Wes Brisco.

Creed was a popular character in TNA, so it will be interesting to see where the WWE goes with him if and when he gets the call-up. He is an entertaining guy, so hopefully, he gets a decent chance.

5. Tyler Black/Seth Rollins

The Indy star strikes again!

August of 2010 saw the WWE sign another popular Indy wrestler in the form of Tyler Black. At the time, Black was the ROH World Champion and was one of the names cited as the future of pro-wrestling. TNA, ROH and WWE all wanted him to work for them, but Black chose the latter and debuted at FCW within weeks.

With the popularity of Daniel Bryan, it made a lot of sense for WWE to sign yet another popular Indy star, especially one as young as Tyler Black. Despite only being 24, Black is an incredible talent in the ring and has a lot to offer the WWE. With his young age, I could see the WWE attempt to prime him as the Next Big Thing and take the credit for it. Hey, if they bring him up before the end of May and throw the WWE or World Heavyweight Championship on him, he could rival Randy Orton as the youngest World Champion ever.

Wishful thinking, I know.

Don't let the "Seth Rollins" moniker fool you, unless the WWE massively drop the ball, Tyler Black could be a huge star. He has a great look, is decently sized and is young. The good thing about his age is that even if the WWE mis-use, under-utilize him to begin with, it doesn't have to mean the end as he still has several years ahead of him.

I hope he is called up to the main roster before the end of the year as it would be great to watch him become a huge part of the "Youth Movement".

4. Wade Barrett

This time last year, Wade Barrett was a commentator for FCW.

Now, Wade Barrett is one of the biggest heels in the company and has been the leader of two monster factions and a Number One Contender for the WWE Championship.

During the first season of NXT, Barrett was clearly distinguished as a step above the other rookies for his charisma and incredible mic skills. His only rival was Daniel Bryan, who was "eliminated" fairly quickly.

As leader of the Nexus, Barrett quickly erased all doubt anybody had about whether he was really ready to be a main-eventer so quickly with his natural heel demeanour and constantly great mic work. Despite only being a "rookie", Barrett put most of the roster to shame with his promos and this kept him cemented as a main-eventer. 

He also proved he could back it up in the ring and moves surprisingly well for someone his size.

Now, Barrett is on Smackdown and is headed to the Elimination Chamber to fight for the gold once again. Will he succeed? Who knows, but even if he doesn't, the Mancunian Superstar is going nowhere. 

Barrett being called up to main roster provided a breath of fresh air on an otherwise stuffy Raw and he did a great job of proving the WWE's "Youth Movement" as an incredible way of introducing new stars. Which is what Wade Barrett is and most likely always will be:

A star.

3. Awesome/Amazing Kong

Awesome Kong jumping ship from TNA to the WWE was one of the biggest stories in the world of wrestling of 2010. 

Kong is one of the few women to have been signed by the WWE recently that have actual wrestling experience, let alone years, and is almost double the size of every single woman currently on the roster.

Her debut has been teased for weeks and could happen any day now. Expect the Diva Division to change drastically when it does, because the Awesome Kong is one of those women you cannot ignore.

I for one cannot wait for her debut and I am very interested in what the WWE does with Kong in the future. She could teach the less experienced girls a lot in the ring and would be a great addition to a drastic division.

Then again, there is the TNA-WWE debate that has most people concerned the WWE will not use Kong to her full potential like Christian and Gail Kim, but you never know. Let's just wait and see.

2. Alberto Del Rio

...But you already knew that!

Alberto Del Rio was signed during the Summer of 2009 and after months of promos airing on Smackdown, he debuted in August of last year and received an instant push to the top. 

He took out Rey Mysterio, captained a Survior Series team, competed for the World Heavyweight Championship and won the 2011 Royal Rumble within months of his debut.

Del Rio also has that cross-over appeal due to him being an extremely popular wrestler in Mexico, where he wrestled as the masked Dos Caras Jr. 

By the looks of things, Alberto Del Rio is here to stay and he has the charisma, mic ability and wrestling skill to warrant such a big push.

Despite only being on Smackdown for a matter of months, Del Rio has already made his presence known. But hey, you probably already knew that too.

1. Daniel Bryan

What a year Daniel Bryan had.

From Indy superstar to NXT rookie to Nexus rebel to pink-slipped to United States Champion, the argubly best wrestler in the world sure as hell made his name known in the WWE.

Bryan signed his contract in August of 2009 and was called up in February of 2010 as a part of NXT. His signing and main roster call-up was perhaps the most high profile of the year, only truly rivalled by Awesome Kong's and Alberto Del Rio's.

Daniel Bryan's number one placing on this list is not due to the amount of success he has had as a WWE Superstar (if so, Alberto Del Rio would be at the top) but due to how big his signing and call-up actually is/was.

Bryan is one of the most popular Indy wrestlers in the world, if not THE most popular. Also, the only North American Indy star as big as him to be employed by the WWE in recent years is CM Punk. Bryan's signing is a huge deal because the WWE rarely acknowledges the Indy stars loved by the Internet and usually prefers their own homegrown talent. The fact that the WWE picked him up and re-signed him following Tie-Gate shows they recognize how popular this guy is and how impossible his talent is to pass on.

Daniel Bryan is going places in the WWE and as the current United States Champion, the best wrestler in the world is ready to head to the top.

Conclusion

Thanks for the read! Are there any names you feel I left out? Any ones that should not be on this list? Leave a comment, let me know.