Breaking Down the Best and Worst of the WWE for Week of March 10

WWE rewarded fans for their patience this week.

After seeing the people's hero, Daniel Bryan, suffer unending setbacks for months, the audience then got to witness him seize back power in an awe-inspiring way. His takeover of Raw highlighted a week that delivered great decisions, dramatic matches and an improved WrestleMania XXX card.

Hulk Hogan added an intriguing bout to that event, Bryan forced his way into at least one big match and AJ Lee and Natalya reminded us just how talented they both are.

The week's worst moments were few compared to the best ones. The company is mishandling the Sheamus and Christian rivalry and entering into another one that has little chance to excite.

From 30 men fighting over a trophy to a surprisingly satisfying episode of WWE Superstars, the following is a look at the highs and lows of the week in WWE.

Best: Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal

Short of moving the Money in the Bank Ladder match back to WrestleMania, the creation of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal is the best way to add several unused Superstars to the pay-per-view card.

Hulk Hogan announced the addition of this match on Monday's Raw. He played up Andre's legacy and informed fans that the winner of the 30-man contest would receive a trophy with the big man's likeness.

The move allows Superstars not in line for championship shots something new to strive for. 

It's an easy way to have an NXT prospect to debut, provides a place to have midcard rivals continue their feuds and a way to showcase the winner. Should this become an annual tradition, it can be a resume-booster like the Money in the Bank match and the Royal Rumble, though, to a lesser degree.

Worst: Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio Again

Dolph Ziggler's Aaron Paul-assisted win from last week's Raw was apparently not a single-serving story. WWE looks to be entering Ziggler into a rivalry with Alberto Del Rio once more.

On Friday's SmackDown, Del Rio paid "The Show Off" back by distracting him during his match against Christian. 

That smells like the beginnings of another narrative featuring two men who spent much of 2013 locked in a feud. While those two certainly have good chemistry in the ring together, there can't be much energy left to squeeze out of their rivalry.

Fans aren't going to want to see them clash several more times, especially now that the stakes will be lower without the world title involved.

Some feuds, like John Cena vs. CM Punk, beg to be revisited, but this isn't one of them. This is a case of trying to start a fire with a lighter that has no fluid left.

Best: Occupy Raw

The wait for Daniel Bryan to get his WrestleMania opportunity is over.

WWE made fans long for it, but the payoff was made sweeter by the suspense. Bryan took control of the ring area on Monday's Raw with the help of a horde of chanting fans. The protest led to Triple H accepting Bryan's challenge and adding the stipulation that a win in that bout will put Bryan in the the WWE title match at WrestleMania XXX.

The scene was one of the most powerful things Raw has ever produced.

Playing into the anti-authority angle in a unique way, WWE funneled fans' real-life frustrations into a cathartic moment where Bryan fought injustice and angered his evil boss. Rather than just copy Steve Austin's approach to fighting the establishment, the company had Bryan do things in a way more fitting of his personality.

Suddenly, the WrestleMania main event is far more intriguing.

The show as a whole got a major boost after Triple H gave in to Bryan. The stakes are now high for their matchup, and the stipulation allows for Bryan the chance to capture an iconic moment to end that pay-per-view.

The emotion churned up in that unexpected segment gives Bryan the best moment of 2014 so far to go along with the best match (Bryan vs. Bray Wyatt at Royal Rumble).

Worst: Arc of Sheamus vs. Christian Feud

A feud ceases to become a feud when it's as one-sided as Sheamus vs. Christian has been.

The two foes have been tangling since right before Elimination Chamber when they both sought momentum for the WWE title bout. Their chemistry has been outstanding and their matches have been excellent.

There is little reason to invest, though.

On Monday's Raw, Christian fell to Sheamus again. He couldn't find a way to gain a win against his rival, but did find a new way to suffer a Brogue Kick—Sheamus' boot bursting through a bass drum before it collided with his mug.

Sheamus has basically trampled Christian throughout this story. "Captain Charisma" has no wins against him and a few attacks where he briefly grabbed the upper hand.

If WWE is planning on having a WrestleMania bout between these two, fans have already seen the climax. Their intense Street Fight should have been the final chapter. It's hard to get much more intense than that in the PG Era unless they move their hatred to inside the Hell in a Cell.

Regardless if this is headed for a WrestleMania showdown or not, it's hard to buy Christian as a threat to Sheamus.

He doesn't even have a fluky win or a no-contest to boast about. He's been the battered, outclassed fighter with little chance to redeem himself, and that is not the kind of narrative that engages.

Best: AJ Lee vs. Natalya on Main Event

Just when the Divas division appeared to be flatlining, AJ Lee and Natalya put on a match swollen with drama. 

On Tuesday's Main Event, the champ preceded her latest title defense by saying that she was bored, that no one deserved a shot against her, least of Natalya, whom she had already defeated several times already.

Natalya entered the ring powered by hunger and focus. The challenger used her grappling skills to dominate much of the match, seemingly en route to ending AJ's lengthy reign.

She had AJ in the Sharpshooter and the champ wore pain on her face as she reached for the ropes. It took an assist from Tamina Snuka, who pushed the bottom rope closer to her, to escape the hold and fend off a loss. That moment alone made this one of the better matches of the week.

Again, WWE fans saw what the top Divas can accomplish when the female wrestlers are given enough time to tell a real story. Rather than toss them in meaningless tag matches every week or feature Eva Marie over more talented wrestlers like Emma, this is the kind of theater that WWE should have the Divas division strive for.

AJ may soon be without her title, but before she gives it away to a new champion, she made sure to add a career highlight.

Best: Excellence in Brief Matches on WWE Superstars

Thursday's episode of WWE Superstars proved that wrestlers don't need 30 minutes to put on a standout match.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Fandango and Alberto Del Rio vs. Sin Cara were both brief bursts of entertainment, showing off each man's best attributes. Neither bout will compete for Match of the Year honors. Still, WWE's least-hyped show satisfied.

Del Rio and Sin Cara's clash opened with a frantic pace.

Eventually, Del Rio's viciousness earned him the edge. He stomped the air out Sin Cara's momentum, cocky and defiant toward the crowd as he did so.

Sin Cara made an exciting comeback that ended with a missed senton and a superkick cracking against his face. 

Ziggler and Fandango followed with another enjoyable outing. When Fandango had Ziggler on the ground, he pushed him, taunting him and daring him to get up.

The Show Off did just that, snapping Fandango's head back with the Zig Zag for a quick win.

Fans can usually bypass WWE Superstars each week as it so often features the bottom-feeders of the roster and ho-hum matches. This week was one of its better editions, with four wrestlers who looked to impress regardless of how dim the spotlight was.