10 Ups And Downs For WWE In 2014

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of time. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.”

When looking for a way to sum up WWE’s 2014, one has to look no further than A Tale of Two Cities: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of time. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.”

In many ways, it’s nearly a tragedy how 2014 unfolded for WWE – not because this was the worst year for pro wrestling in history, but because of the potential that went unrealized. The year began with two red-hot trios of newcomers lighting up Raw and Smackdown, a bearded superstar gaining near-unprecedented momentum and a supporting cast of stalwarts who could always rise to the occasion. Fans also saw (and still see) enormous untapped potential in a developmental system that could be the strongest in more than a decade.

Despite that embarrassment of riches, WWE ended the year not on the cusp of a new boom of exciting programming that could expand the fanbase, but struggling to stop hemorrhaging television viewers and subscribers to the WWE Network. Even with a talented roster of wrestlers capable of putting on an entertaining show every week, WWE booking/writing continues to frustrate many longtime fans.

Still, there is plenty to cheer and jeer for WWE in 2014. Let’s take a look at the good, the bad and the downright awful.