As the calendar is almost set to turn to 2015, it's a time to reflect on some of the greatest moments in the WWE in 2014.
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2014 was a memorable year for the WWE with the launch of a new network, some surprising twists and returns, memorable matches and lots more taking place inside and outside the squared circle.
Here are the Top 10 moments that took place in the WWE in 2014:
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10) WWE Universe Rejects 'The Animal': The WWE had grand plans for Batista when he returned to the company as he was booked to win the Royal Rumble Match in January, but after he did that the wheels fell off. The WWE Universe turned on "The Animal" and a potential Orton vs. Batista match at WrestleMania XXX, causing the WWE to change its course for the biggest show of the year (more on that later). The WWE opted to not give Batista the WWE Championship and he eventually left for good in June.
9) An Evolution Revolution: One good thing that came out of Batista's return was the brief reformation of Evolution, with Batista, Triple H and Randy Orton joining forces. What resulted, was a series of great matches with The Shield at Extreme Rules and Payback.
8) ROCKing the House: The Rock made a shocking return to WWE television on Monday Night RAW on Oct. 6 when he came out to interrupt the mighty Russian Rusev and his manager Lana. "The Great One" offered a verbal beat down to both of them that only he is capable of doing before knocking Rusev out of the ring and celebrating with the people.
7) Hogan Homecoming: After years spent away from the WWE, Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan returned to the company and has made part-time appearances ever since. Hogan made a comeback to the WWE during WrestleMania XXX when he partook in a memorable opening segment with fellow Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and WWE legend The Rock. Hogan also made the memorable gaffe of referring to the Superdome in New Orleans as the Silverdome, which was where he beat Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III. "The Hulkster" most recently hosted the Christmas episode of RAW and the following SmackDown.
6) The Fall of The Shield: Since their arrival at Survivor Series 2012, The Shield was an unstoppable force in the WWE, but that all changed on the June 2 edition of Monday Night RAW. Triple H warned The Shield about a possible "Plan B" and Seth Rollins shocked the world when he took a steel chair and attacked his stablemates Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, ending the run of The Shield as a trio. Now, Rollins is "Mr. Money in the Bank," Reigns is expected to be booked as the next top star and Ambrose is cast off on his own as a solid singles star.
5) YES!leMania and a Great Return: After months of being creatively stifled like CM Punk was in 2011, the WWE could ignore its fans no more as Daniel Bryan finally broke through the glass ceiling and won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXX. While the WWE had originally planned an Orton-Batista main event, the fans souring on "The Animal" mixed with a groundswell of support for Bryan led to the company changing its plans. Bryan defeated Triple H in the opening match of the "Show of Shows" and went on to defeat Orton and Batista in a Triple Threat Match in the main event to leave New Orleans as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion in a moment that will go down in WrestleMania lore. While his subsequent neck injury derailed his reign, Bryan also had an amazing moment on the last RAW when he announced he will return to the ring at the 2015 Royal Rumble.
4) 21-1: While it wasn't the best moment of the year, there is no doubt that the most shocking thing to happen in the WWE ring in 2014 was The Undertaker losing his WrestleMania undefeated streak to Brock Lesnar. 'Taker had taken on names such as Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Jake "The Snake' Roberts, Diesel, Sid, Kane, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Batista, Edge and CM Punk and beaten them all to build up The Streak at the “Show of Shows,” but Lesnar took it away. Lesnar hit ‘Taker with an F-5 and when the ref hit the mat for the three count, it left the WWE Universe in shock. For the first time ever, The Undertaker had lost at WrestleMania.
3) An Ultimate Induction: It was surreal to see WWE legend The Ultimate Warrior get inducted into the Hall of Fame on April 5 after years of hostility and bad blood between the WWE and the former World Champion. Luckily enough, the WWE and The Warrior were able to mend fences and the Warrior was inducted into the Hall of Fame on the eve of WrestleMania XXX. The Warrior then made his first appearances at WrestleMania and Monday Night RAW in 18 years over the course of the next two nights. The Warrior made a bone-chilling promo on RAW about how every man breathes his last breath and he would unfortunately pass away less than 24 hours later after a cardiac episode. While the Warrior passed away and everything surrounding his death was sad and tragic, he had a fitting final weekend of his life and his legacy in wrestling will never be erased.
2) A Stinging Debut: After years of rumors followed by months and months of more speculation, Steve "Sting" Borden finally set foot in a WWE ring for the first time in his career. With The Authority's power hanging in the balance and the Team Cena vs. Team Authority match dwindled down to Dolph Ziggler for the good guys and Seth Rollins for the heel team, Triple H got involved. After "The Game" tried to screw Ziggler over, Sting came out and the two engaged in an epic stare down which ended with the former WCW and TNA Icon laying Triple H out with the Scorpion Death Drop and placing Ziggler on top of Rollins for the pin fall win. The events likely set up a WrestleMania 31 bout between Sting and Triple H which will mark Sting's first match in a WWE ring and possibly the last of his career.
1) The Saga of CM Punk: The most interesting thing to happen in the WWE in 2014 didn't take place within the ropes of the squared circle. CM Punk walked out on the company following the Royal Rumble in January, leading many people to speculate what was happening. Punk remained silent while the WWE attempted to move on without him, mentioning him minimally throughout the rest of the year as speculation continued behind his departure. Punk then finally broke his silence nearly 10 months after leaving when he appeared on Colt Cabana's Art of Wrestling podcast and told the tale of everything that happened to him in a must-listen edition of the show. Punk revealed that he was fed up with the way the WWE was handling his head injury and that he was burned out and still mad about being "creatively stifled" in 2011. Vince McMahon appeared on the WWE Network and apologized for Punk receiving his termination papers from the WWE on his wedding day to Diva AJ Lee, but he said he hoped the two would work together someday. Punk then shocked the world again by showing up in UFC and announcing that he will fight for them sometime in 2015 while his working relationship with the WWE was over forever.
It was a crazy and exciting year for wrestling fans as a lot happened inside and outside the squared circle in 2014 and things are likely to get even crazier and more exciting in 2015.
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