What the HELL Happened to the WWE?

I used to watch WWE back when the Miz was just the annoying guy in the back talking to everybody, When noone could beat John Cena, and when Mickie James was the best. period. I stopped watching WWE for the NFL, and didn't watch it for a few years. I heard that the Rock came back, and for respect of him, I decided to catch up with the WWE. yet the Miz is the Champion, Mickie James, the Hardyz, the Dudleys, Trish, Brock, Kurt Angle, and many others left. What the hell happened in this timeframe? Was I away from wrestling THAT long?