The "AAA" abbreviation has been used since the mid-1990s and had previously stood for the promotion's original name Asistencia Asesoría y Administración.
In April, the promotion ceased going by its full name and began to solely refer to itself as WWE, becoming an orphaned initialism, though the full name is still the legal name for the company. WWE divided its roster into two storyline divisions, Raw and SmackDown, referred to as brands, where wrestlers exclusively performed on their respective weekly television programs until August, when the brand split ended.
Alberto Del Rio chose to challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship. Largest Royal Rumble match, which traditionally has 30 participants, until the 50-man Greatest Royal Rumble match in 2018.
The decision to fire Cena was overturned by new Chief Operating Officer Triple H and because CM Punk (kayfabe) left the WWE with the championship after winning it. This match received a 5 Star rating from Dave Meltzer, the first WWE match since 1997 to do so.
Defeated Brodus Clay in the final to win season 4. Due to winning the season, Curtis earned himself and his Pro, R-Truth, a WWE Tag Team Championship match, but after R-Truth turned heel, Curtis teamed up with Michael McGillicutty and finally received the championship match on the October 11, 2012 episode of NXT, but they were defeated by champions Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan and Kane).
Defeated The Miz in the tournament final to win the vacant WWE Championship; CM Punk had won the title the week before at Money in the Bank, but left WWE with the title, thus WWE set up a tournament to crown a new champion.
Prior to the end of the first WWE brand extension in August, Raw and SmackDown each had a world championship and a secondary championship, while the women's championship and male tag team championship were shared across the two brands.
CM Punk (kayfabe) left the WWE the day after with the championship. He returned on the July 25 episode of Raw; his reign was deemed to continue through this period.
Defeated John Cena in a match to determine the undisputed WWE Champion. This is considered a continuation of Punk's first reign, lasting a total of 28 days. Triple H was the special guest referee.
Edge was stripped of the title by SmackDown General Manager Vickie Guerrero as a result of using the spear (which had been banned) in a previous match.
Defeated Randy Orton by disqualification after being hit with a low-blow. The stipulations of the match allowed the title to change hands via disqualification.
On the November 25 episode of SmackDown, Daniel Bryan cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and pinned Henry. However, SmackDown General Manager Theodore Long revealed that Henry was not medically cleared to compete and voided the match. Henry remained champion and the briefcase was returned to Bryan.
Edge was forced to retire due to a neck injury; however, in 2020, he was cleared to compete again and returned at that year's Royal Rumble in the namesake match
Krissy Vaine (September 2000 – 2011) (returned to wrestling in 2019)
Maryse (July 10, 2006 – October 28, 2011) (as a professional wrestler) (returned to WWE in April 2016 to become her husband's manager/valet and has had a couple of one-off tag team matches teaming with her husband, including one at WrestleMania 33)
