The WWE reached main stream status during the 1980s with the debut of WWE's biggest annual event, Wrestlemania. During this era, WWE wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage, Jake "the Snake" Roberts, Ultimate Warrior, Ted Debiase and Rowdy Roddy Piper. The next era of superstars featured Bret Hart, Yokozuna, Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Razor Ramon, and The Undertaker. Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker continued through the next era where they got challenges from wrestlers like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Golddust, The Rock, Triple H, Kane, and Kurt Angle. The current generation of WWE wrestlers includes John Cena, Edge, Jeff Hardy, Batista, Rey Mysterio, Randy Orton and Chris Jericho.
WWE wrestlers are all different sizes that are categorized. The biggest wrestlers are Super Heavyweights and include the Great Khali, The Big Show, Mark Henry, Vader and WWE Hall of Fame inductee Andre the Giant. Heavyweights are large wrestlers like Batista, John Cena, Kane and Umaga. Middleweight wrestlers include Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Lightweight wrestlers are fast paced performers like Gregory Helms, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Hardy, C.M Punk and Rey Mysterio.
WWE wrestlers are split up between 3 different brands, WWE Raw, Friday Night Smackdown, and E.C.W. Raw is considered the "flagship" WWE program with live episodes every week and wrestlers like John Cena and Chris Jericho. Friday Night Smackdown is filled with a mix of newcomers and legends like M.V.P, Edge, The Undertaker, and Triple H. E.C.W is known for its extreme style and features wrestlers like Finlay, Mark Henry and Matt Striker.
A WWE wrestler's main goal is to win a WWE title. There are currently two top titles in the WWE, the WWE title and World Heavyweight Title. This title has been held by wrestlers like John Cena, Hulk Hogan, Ric Flair, Andre the Giant, Shawn Michaels, and Bret Hart. The Intercontinental and US title are for upcoming superstars like Shelton Benjamin and Gregory Helms. The Tag Team Championship and WWE Tag Team Titles are awarded to duos like the Hardy Boyz, Priceless, Legion of Doom, Nasty Boys, and Money Inc. The ECW Title is exclusive to the ECW brand and has been held by superstars like R.V.D, Mark Henry, Kane, and Matt Hardy.
WWE wrestlers are constantly performing all around the world with over 300 live shows a year. Along with the T.V tapings that wrestlers participate in, they also do "house shows" where they perform just for the arena they are at. Along with all of the live shows, wrestlers must keep in shape at the gym, and "act" by doing promos and giving scripted interviews for the television audience. The top wrestlers are almost always involved in some sort of storyline to spark feuds throughout the year. Wrestlemania is the culmination of the biggest feuds and WWE wrestlers usually put on their best matches during this pay per view.