🎬 2000 – THE BEGINNING
- Signs a developmental contract with WWF.
- Wrestles in Ultimate Pro Wrestling (UPW) as “The Prototype.”
🚪 2002 – MAIN ROSTER DEBUT
- June 27: Answers Kurt Angle’s open challenge on SmackDown.
- Launches “Ruthless Aggression” era.
🏆 2004 – FIRST TITLE WIN
- March 14: Wins United States Championship at WrestleMania XX (vs. Big Show).
👑 2005 – FIRST WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
- April 3: Beats JBL at WrestleMania 21 to win WWE Championship.
- Moves to Raw, becomes WWE’s top star.
🔥 2006–2007 – DEFINING RIVALRIES
- Iconic feuds with Edge, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels.
- Competes in headline matches across TLC, Last Man Standing, and WrestleMania.
💥 2008 – INJURY COMEBACK
- January 27: Surprise return at Royal Rumble, wins the match.
- Overcomes torn pectoral injury months ahead of schedule.
🎤 2011 – SUMMER OF PUNK
- July 17: Loses WWE Title to CM Punk at Money in the Bank in Chicago.
- Match becomes one of the most acclaimed bouts of the modern era.
⚡ 2012–2013 – THE ROCK RIVALRY
- WrestleMania XXVIII (2012): Loses to The Rock in “Once in a Lifetime.”
- WrestleMania 29 (2013): Wins WWE Title in the rematch, full redemption arc.
🇺🇸 2015 – U.S. OPEN CHALLENGE ERA
- Weekly title defenses elevate rising stars like Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.
- Widely praised for match quality and work rate.
🏅 2017 – 16-TIME WORLD CHAMPION
- January 29: Defeats AJ Styles at Royal Rumble to tie Ric Flair’s record.
🏟️ 2021 – BIG MATCH RETURN
- August 21: Challenges Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2021.
- Loses clean in passing-the-torch moment.
🎭 2023 – WRESTLEMANIA 39
- April 2: Opens WrestleMania vs. Austin Theory.
- Match helps cement Theory’s status as rising star.
📽️ 2024–2025 – LEGACY STATUS
- Focus shifts to acting (Peacemaker, Fast & Furious).
- Makes rare WWE appearances.
- Hall of Fame buzz continues to grow.
🏆 CAREER ACCOLADES
- 16× World Champion
- 5× United States Champion
- 4× Tag Team Champion
- 2× Royal Rumble Winner (2008, 2013)
- Mr. Money in the Bank (2012)
- 650+ Make-A-Wish grants (World record holder)
- Multiple-time Slammy and PWI Award Winner
