10 Ups And Downs For WWE In 2014 3

3. A Part-Time Champ

One of the biggest detriments to WWE and hugest slaps to the fans’ faces this year was putting the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2014… and then having him defend it exactly once since then.

Throughout the latter half of 2013 and up through WrestleMania XXX, the major storyline was the Authority desperately trying to maintain control of the WWE Championship (which was later merged with the World Heavyweight Championship) through Randy Orton. The Viper battled Daniel Bryan, the Authority’s main foil, over the title several times, culminating in Bryan’s victory at Mania.

But after Lesnar won the title at SummerSlam and defended it at Night of Champions in September, the championship has become an afterthought. Sure, it was a huge moment when Lesnar captured the belt, but whatever mystique was built up with Lesnar destroying John Cena for the title has dissipated without a main prize to fight over for four months.

Like it or not, wrestling fans instinctively gravitate toward world title matches. They are the draw in a lot of cases, and not having such a match – especially after being conditioned due to Orton/Bryan that the world title is highly coveted – hurt the overall product this year.