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The 411 Wrestling Top 5: The Top 5 News Stories of 2014

December 19, 2014 | Posted by Larry Csonka

The 411 Wrestling Top 5: Hello everyone and welcome to 411 Wrestling’s Top 5 List. We take a topic each week and all the writers here on 411 wrestling will have the ability to participate and give us their Top 5 on said topic. So, onto this week’s topic…

Week 293 – The Top 5 News Stories of 2014

What were the biggest wrestling related news stories of 2014?

Scott Rutherford
5. TNA Leaves Spike But Still On Life Support – Conventional wisdom was that TNA would die if they ever left Spike and Spike would never dump TNA because they were a top rating show and the perfect lead in for Bellator. WRONG. TNA defies all odds and not only makes it another year but has managed to successfully jump to another network. Now granted, they have less money and will not reach as many homes but there’s been a positive reaction to the move to Destination America. Destination seems hell bent on making Impact their flagship show and are open to additional programming as well. Add to that recent reports of discussions with Netflix for streaming rights and things look to be stepping in the right direction. Fingers crossed this works out for all parties.

4. WWE Leaps Into The Future For Only $9.99 – Even though the network has been performing below par in terms of subscriptions, the WWE’s leap into the digital world is very significant. While some were disappointed with the lack of structure in terms of what and when content is added, just for the value of getting all the PPV’s plus WrestleMania for the cost of a McDonalds meal this Network has been worth it too fans. The thing is, this type of undertaking has not really been done on this scale and been such a large part of a companies revenue stream. This is the way of the future and hopefully the WWE can survive this temporary dip because I think it will come out stronger on the other side.

3. People Power Books WWE Main Event – We were going to get Batista vs. Randy Orton as our WrestleMania 30 and we were going to like it. Well, that was the attitude of Vince McMahon. He also couldn’t understand why the fans were so enthralled with the relatively diminutive Daniel Bryan who didn’t have the look, the muscles, the height and the blessing of Vince himself to get over and become the #1 babyface of the company. Cue the Royal Rumble and when fans cottoned onto the fact that Daniel Bryan wasn’t going to be in the Rumble let alone get to the WM main event…well let’s just say that we sorta took over. It proves that the fans can make a difference and we don’t just have to like who the WWE is telling us to like. Daniel Bryan got his main event. He got his WWE World Championship. We got our guy.

2. NJPW Does U.S. PPV and On Demand – NJPW has always had a large underground following in the U.S. Lately there has been a tremendous buzz about the promotion thanks to a stellar few years of matches that redefine awesome and a pair of stellar G1 tournaments. Cue Jeff Jarrett, recently separated from his last pet project TNA and his forming of the GFW. Jeff set his sites on bringing NJPW to the U.S and a more mainstream audience and managed to get them U.S PPV coverage. They also have Jim Ross on commentary! Then NJPW announce their own network and much like the WWE model, you’re getting all the PPV’s for a tick over $8 a month. Considering how lack luster the WWE is right now, the worlds second largest wrestling promotion may have a great shot at stealing some thunder.

1. C.M Punk – Millions of words have been used on Phillip Brooks and his decision to walk, then get fired from the WWE, his podcast interview and now signing with UFC. I’m sure everyone already has an opinion and I’m sure by this point nothing I say will change any ones mind. Needless to say, and with little dispute, this is the biggest news story in wrestling (and likely UFC) this year. Nothing else even comes close.

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Justin Watry
5. CM Punk Everything – No explanation needed.

4. TNA Is Still TNA – The more thing change the more they stay the same. Throughout the year, the warning signs were there, just as they were with the end of 2013. No more on the road full time. No more live shows. Close to a dozen ‘name’ talent left, all likely on bigger than normal contracts. Television ratings were going down, already down from their usual numbers – which were no longer even the top rated show on FREAKIN’ Spike TV. A number of programs beat them on the network…thus when it came time for a big decision to be made, Spike looked at all the clear evidence and moved on. TNA was no longer worth it. They DID find a new home (which I said all along) and landed on a nearly non-existent Destination America station that I had never even heard of before. Oh, and their ‘flagship’ show is immediately thrown to Friday nights to wither away. Step down followed by an even bigger step down. “Hey, they are still alive!” When that is the only positive for a company, you would think major changes would take place, but I guess not…they are still alive!!!!!

3. WWE Network Launches – I have been skeptical of the WWE Network even launching for years now. I have definitely been one of its biggest critics being a long-term success, much less making a profit short-term. As always, you can Google all my past column discussing this. Even so, the WWE Network did launch and at $9.99 is an absolutely ridiculous good deal. Even if you ONLY watch the monthly pay-per-views, you are getting more than your money’s worth. Add in Legends House, the excellent documentaries put out there by WWE, the ECW/WCW specials, the muse-see Vince McMahon/Stone Cold Steve Austin interview, and the great NXT program too! I do not know about you, but I will take the WWE Network for 10 bucks over forking over 50 bucks per month without the entire past library! Just amazing when you compare recent years to what you would have to spend to nowadays prices. No doubt, the WWE Network has some way to go before becoming a monetary success (if it ever happens). However, the value and content you get will be remembered in 2014.

2. Daniel Bryan Gets His Moment – Tempted to go with number one here. I also wanted to give a shout out to the VERY under rated return of Batista, the rise of The Shield, Brock Lesnar becoming WWE World Champion, and oh you know, The Streak ending at WrestleMania XXX!!!! Yeah, remember that? That is why I am terrible at making lists and openly admit so. With that said, Daniel Bryan got his moment defeating Triple H, Randy Orton, and Batista at the biggest event of the year. About as perfect as it gets in wrestling. Despite the road his journey took in the build up (and yes, most of it was scripted folks), the payoff was correct. Just a shame how bad luck seemed to bite him so many times after the big victory. Hopefully, he will be back better than ever in 2015. Yes! Yes! Yes!

1. IT’S STING!!! – I am not even that big of a Sting fan. Still, his name has been in the rumor mill for over a decade. Some younger fans may not remember this, but he was all but confirmed to be heading to WWE in 2003. Over a decade ago! Since then, it has been a constant laughing stock of ‘exclusives’ and ‘inside news’ bites on his career. WCW? TNA? WWE? Just a random mess of stories and reports. To his credit, Sting has pretty much stayed out of it publicly, rarely even offered a comment, and then kept doing his own thing while everyone else got wrapped into it all. That all changed in 2013 when it was obvious to anybody paying attention he was done with TNA Impact Wrestling. Just done. He stuck around and *put over* EC3 (not really) in early 2014 and finally started working with WWE. Never going to the big bad evil corporation, it was time. It was time. After many teases during the year, the unthinkable happened: Sting was in a WWE ring at Survivor Series. Awesome moment and surely will set up a memorable WrestleMania 31 moment for him in 2015 that his legacy deserves.

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Caliber Winfield
5. TNA Leaves Spike, Gets TV Deal On Local Access Television – I like TNA. A lot. Honestly, if you gave me a choice between iMPACT or Raw, I’d take iMPACT any day. Of course the company isn’t what it was when I became a fan in 2006, which was arguably it’s prime, creatively, but they still do a lot of good. Unfortunately for them, they have some of the worst company management in business history. Management so bad it caused it’s founder, Jeff Jarrett, to leave and start yet ANOTHER wrestling promotion. Management so bad that they felt having Vince Russo was honestly more important than anything, including a healthy relationship with Spike TV. Due to their need to try and secret squirrel the relationship with Russo, a person Spike TV did not want around, they lost their prime TV deal, and weren’t send cascading down into deep, deep cable.

4. Quick Like A Cat, Cool Like That – The greatest wrestler to never wrestle for the WWE finally made his in ring debut at Survivor Series. Serving as the incarnation of justice, just as he had in WCW, Sting showed up to make sure the Authority was sent packing. Really, no matter what he did, be it in a major or minor angle, Sting finally signing on that dotted line was news we’d been waiting to hear for almost 15 years and everyone was going to mark out for it. All that’s left now is to see what happens at WrestleMania, and trust it’ll be worth the long wait. That said, what are we at 411 going to do during WrestleMania rumor season now that Sting has actually signed? Mmm, I did hear RVD is down for perhaps a two-shot deal…

3. He Broke The Freaking Streak – Brock Lesnar ending The Streak was such a big deal that it was reported on the facebook news ticker. I haven’t even seen UFC news reported there [well, just once, coming up]. This was literally something 20 years in the making, and something no one really thought would happen, especially this year. The proof of that is made even more evident when you watch the match, and the energy is literally sucked out of the arena. Ever since WM 23, the Streak became more than just a win or a loss, it became about the show-stealing, match-of-the-year-contender ordeal. They became huge, 5-star spectacles that seemed to get better year after year. So when ‘Taker lost, following a very lackluster match and an under-whelming building up, fans could simply not believe that THIS was the end of the Streak.

2. WWE Network – Remember when the spooky ghost attacked Randy in the Red Cross computer room? That was every wrestling fan when the content was announced for the Network. While getting all the current PPVs as part of the Network was a sweet deal, it was access to the entire archive that the WWE owns that got is excited. Every PPV? Every Raw? Nitro? Smackdown? Superstars? Great original shows such as Rivalries, and The Monday Night Wars? Abso-f’ning-lutely. It was the hardcore fan’s biggest dream, and was becoming a reality at a more than reasonable price. Naturally, some fans complain about it, but that’s the nature of the beast. They won’t be satisfied until 1989 Ric Flair & Steamboat walk into their house and wrestle for them in their living room. Even then, they’ll probably still complain no one wiped their feet.

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1. CM Punk Proves He’s A Self-Marketing Genius – Explanation needed. I don’t care for the cat, but I have to hand it to him. After he caused a massive uproar via breaking his silence on Colt’s podcast, CM Punk became not only the hottest thing in wrestling, but one of the hottest things in pop culture. All of his notoriety not wasted for a minute, Punk proved to be a brilliant tactician. Using all the eyes & news outlets on him to announce his signing with the UFC, he instantly became one of the most talked about personalities in sports, which no doubt padded his contract & signing bonus. There’s a lot of talk about what will happen when he gets in the octagon, and I can safely assume they’ll throw him a few free-ones before he really starts to earn his money.


Wyatt Beougher
5. Brock Lesnar Has the Best Kayfabe Year in Memory – Lesnar’s year started out innocuously enough, destroying Big Show with a chair at Royal Rumble en route to a victory in a match that contained roughly three wrestling moves. It was only after that when it became truly noteworthy, as Lesnar went on to snap the Undertaker’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania XXX, forced his way into the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture, and squashed John Cena at the WWE’s second biggest live event of the year. Sure, the rest of Lesnar’s 2014 hasn’t been as memorable, but those accomplishments alone (as well as not losing the belt back to Cena the following month) are worth a spot on this list.

4. Daniel Bryan Forces the WWE to Rewrite WrestleMania – I was in the crowd that heavily booed Rey Mysterio and Batista at the Royal Rumble for not being Daniel Bryan, but even I didn’t expect that we would be simply the first domino to fall into place and cause the WWE to change their plans for their biggest show of the year. A part of it had to do with my number one news story, of course, but Bryan’s popularity with live audiences and merchandise buyers caused the WWE to not only give him a strong win over Triple H to open the main card at WrestleMania, but to go on and defeat the other two active members of Evolution in the main event, capturing the WWE World Heavyweight championship in one of the most feel-good moments WrestleMania has produced in quite some time. Bryan and the Yes Movement would rank higher on this list if not for the serious injury that wiped away nearly 2/3rds of his 2014 and ended an improbably wonderful run for a guy who was too small and too bland to ever succeed in the WWE.

3. TNA Dies; Resurrected on Destination America – Back in late July, TMZ broke the news that SpikeTV was going to “cancel” TNA (in reality, they had opted not to renew TNA’s television deal when it would expire in October). Everyone and their brother wrote about it or commented about it on the internet, with many declaring it to be the death of TNA. Months of speculation about the promotion’s future ensued, finally culminating in the announcement that TNA would be joining the fledgling Destination America network in January. Always remember, though – Watry called it.

2. NXT Signs Top Domestic/International Talent; Gains Broader Recognition – I honestly do not know if there were bigger signings on the American wrestling scene than KENTA, Prince Devitt, and Kevin Steen this year, and as of NXT’s Takeover: “R”Evolution live special, all three men have debuted and made their presence felt, joining with Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville as the NXT Five. Even more than that, though, with increased promotion on the WWE Network and talent appearing on main roster shows, NXT is finally being recognized as the best wrestling show on television today.

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1. CM Punk – Pick your story, as Punk literally could have filled three of the five spots between walking out on the WWE back in January, his wedding to AJ Lee (and the unending speculation that she is also done with the WWE/carrying his children/being punished for his actions), his pair of appearances on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast, and signing with the UFC to be a mixed martial artist. There isn’t another wrestler, promoter, or promotion who was more talked about over the course of 2014 than Phil Brooks.


Kevin P
5. TNA Continues to Survive: TNA has never been the competition for WWE that it strives to be, but things looked more bleak than ever earlier this year. Spike TV pulled out of their deal and TNA was a company with no TV deal. It seemed very possible that TNA would end up dying but a last minute deal with Destination America has allowed the company to live to fight another day. Granted, this channel is available in less homes than Spike but it’s something. I get the channel and, while I haven’t watched much TNA since 2011 or so, I will be sure to check them out on Destination America.

4. The Streak Ends: The moment at WrestleMania XXX that everyone will remember is probably not Daniel Bryan’s title win, Cesaro carrying Big Show or the Austin/Hogan/Rock open. Those are memorable, yes, but nothing tops Brock Lesnar ending the Undertaker’s undefeated streak. Going in, I remember saying that I wasn’t really looking forward to the match because I knew the outcome. The match was rather dull but after three F5s, Brock got the three that nobody expected. With the disappointing build for the match, the lackluster match itself and the fact that Brock is a part-timer, this didn’t seem real. The energy was sucked out of the Silverdome, with only Daniel Bryan’s title chase being able to pull them out of their funk. It is something that I never thought I’d see, but it happened.

3. Yes! Yes! Yes! : The main event of WrestleMania is usually something special and that was no different this year. According to reports, the WWE’s original plan was Batista vs. Randy Orton. While, that match may have gone off without a hitch in the Mania mid-card, the fans wanted Daniel Bryan and would accept nobody else. Whether CM Punk leaving helped the decision or not, the fans were heard and got not one, but two Bryan matches at WrestleMania XXX. In the opener, he beat Triple H to get into the main event in what was potentially the match of the year. Then, in the main event, he went to finish his sweep of Evolution by beating Orton and Batista to win the WWE World Heavyweight Title. It was a magic moment and one that was purely driven by the WWE being forced to listen to what the people want. Injuries cut Bryan’s run short, but this was still great.

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2. The WWE Network: In late February the WWE launched the WWE Network, which was a risky move for sure. Not only were going to be giving away their video library in an on-demand streaming service, but they also gave each Pay-Per-View away. For just $9.99! This led to some issues, and was part of Punk’s issues with the company, as he didn’t know how pay would be handled. While the Network has struggled, the actual format is pretty great and it is indeed the future of WWE television. It was a major move that will change the landscape of how we watch WWE, and with The World launching recently, pro wrestling in general forever.

1. CM Punk: I just decided to bunch everything involving CM Punk into one spot. First, at the start of the year, Punk was the talk of the wrestling world when he walked out of the WWE less than 24 hours after the Royal Rumble. Various stories broke concerning why he left and what exactly happened, but things were unclear. That is until Thanksgiving when Punk appeared on Colt Cabana’s Art of Wrestling podcast to give some answers. Punk’s story was something that people wanted to hear so badly that it busted the server of Colt’s podcast. The guy made Sting’s WWE appearance obsolete! Lastly, he made even more major waves by announcing his signing with UFC. Regardless of how much time he actually spent wrestling this year, he was the biggest story.


YOUR TURN KNOW IT ALLS

List your Top Five for this week’s topic in the comment section using the following format:

5. CHOICE: Explanation
4. CHOICE: Explanation
3. CHOICE: Explanation
2. CHOICE: Explanation
1. CHOICE: Explanation