Breaking Down the Best and Worst of the WWE for Week of April 7

WWE's victories were plentiful during a week that gave us WrestleMania 30, a peek at the company's future and moments worth savoring.

Daniel Bryan's two wins in New Orleans highlights a red-hot stretch for the sports entertainment giant. Jake Roberts' time in front of the mic, WWE's two elite trios and a forward-minded Raw delivered the week's other high points. 

Unfortunately, it was a week made somber by WWE losing one of its own.

The uncouth manner in which some members of the media addressed that was unsettling. It made clear how WWE is often viewed from the outside, as a portion of the population only acknowledges what happens in the ring when it is something that can be sensationalized. 

It's those folks who don't appreciate the spectacle, magic and theater that is pro wrestling, all of which WWE nailed at WrestleMania.

Best: Jake Roberts' Hall of Fame Speech

The 2014 Hall of Fame class was assured some great speeches. Having Mr. T and the always free-thinking, sometimes controversial Ultimate Warrior in front of live mics had fans ready for a memorable night. 

It was Jake Roberts who left the deepest impression, though.

His speech was uncomfortably honest at times and brimmed with passion throughout. He talked about regretting not spending more time with his family, his drug use and the magnetic pull that the wrestling ring had on him.

Like his promos during his career, he was the puppet master, and everyone listening was tied to his strings.

Roberts all but opened up his chest on stage, allowing us to see the darkness, love and thoughtfulness that resides inside him. 

Worst: The Streak Is No More

Undertaker is now 21-1 at WrestleMania 30 after Brock Lesnar pinned him inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. 

It was a result that stunned fans like few moments in wrestling history have. The debate over whether the streak should have ended and if Lesnar was the right person to pin Undertaker at WrestleMania rages on and will for some time.

However one stands on those issues, every fan can agree that not having the streak around anymore is a loss.

Undertaker's annual defense of the growing streak was one of WrestleMania's marquee matchups. It was a story that stretched all the way back to many fans' earliest memories of WWE, one that was engrossing to see continue each year.

No longer will we see Undertaker emerge from hibernation during WrestleMania season to deliver classic bouts with uniquely high stakes. In fact, the finality of his loss to Lesnar feels like it may be Undertaker's last match ever. 

The end of the streak is a reminder of the difficulty of goodbyes.

Best: Daniel Bryan's WrestleMania Triumphs

Credit: WWE.com

The story fans had been glued to for months finally had its happy ending. And it did not disappoint.

Daniel Bryan's suffering-lined journey ended at WrestleMania 30 with him celebrating with a thunderous crowd.

He first defeated Triple H in a compelling, violent match. The COO cracked Bryan's arm against the announce table, and Bryan still rose. A knee to the chin earned the bearded warrior a three-count, but he left the match bandaged, beat up and even more of an underdog in his next match.

Randy Orton vs. Batista vs. Bryan was fantastic.

WWE wisely teased both Orton and Batista winning several times. Triple H stormed down to the ring and tried to cheat Bryan again, having fans flash back to SummerSlam, to Hell in a Cell and all the times last year Bryan's dreams turned to dust in his hands.

Bryan won. He raised two championships above his head, confetti falling on him, "Yes!" chants echoing.

His victory was one of the most emotionally satisfying moments in WrestleMania history. Bryan had finally arrived. WWE now had a new king, his coronation an unforgettable one.

Worst: Paige's Title Win Not Given Enough Time

WWE whiffed on a moment that could have been so much greater.

AJ Lee bested 13 other Divas at WrestleMania to remain champion. In her mind at least, there was no one worthy left to challenge her. That was NXT Diva Paige's cue to enter.

The two women's interaction quickly became contentious, and AJ offered an impromptu title match. Paige won, emotion gushing out of her as she held onto the Divas Championship.

The issue, though, is that the match lasted just a few blinks of the eye. There was no time for suspense to build. It didn't have nearly the power that Santino Marella upsetting Umaga did in 2007.

Hopefully, this isn't a sign that WWE will give AJ and Paige the two-minute match treatment going forward. Given ample time, this could be an all-time great rivalry.

Best: Raw Ushers in New Era

Monday's Raw delivered a clear message—WWE is committed to building new stars.

The show featured Paige's debut, Alexander Rusev earning his first victory on Raw and Cesaro aligning himself with Paul Heyman. WWE also aired vignettes for both Adam Rose and Bo Dallas.

Daniel Bryan, the company's new kingpin, opened and closed the show.

The old guard was still around, but it wasn't hogging the spotlight. John Cena, Triple H and Randy Orton had to share the stage.

While WWE has often relied too heavily on nostalgia acts and part-timers, it showed that it takes its rising stars seriously. So many promising talents getting a shot makes it easy to get excited about the future.

It's a future that begins now.

Worst: Media Coverage of Ultimate Warrior's Death

The Ultimate Warrior died on Tuesday. It took no time at all for a handful of media personalities to pounce on his passing.

Too much of the coverage of his death was callous and predatory.

Nancy Grace had Diamond Dallas Page on her show to discuss Warrior's sudden passing. A graphic scrolled on the screen listing wrestlers who have died young as she tossed out the word "steroid" several times.

Never mind that putting Owen Hart, who fell to his death in a tragic accident, on this list implies that his death was somehow drug-related—it's the tone of the piece as a whole that was most troubling.

Grace seemed to be on attack mode for the entire segment. There has been no autopsy and no official cause of death yet, but she had no issue blaming steroids for his death and trying to paint pro wrestling as a den of drugs.

ESPN's Colin Cowherd riled fans up as well.

Of Warrior's death, Cowherd said on his radio show, via TMZ.com, "The story behind the story is drugs, painkiller, HGH, it's the roll of the dice that pro wrestling dudes with limited options not good enough to play pro sports."

He used the present tense to describe a situation that has vastly improved in the last few years. At no point did he mention WWE's Wellness Policy. 

He also didn't show any compassion in speaking about this. That comes as no surprise to WWE fans, as back in 2005, Cowherd shared some rather insensitive comments when Eddie Guerrero died, per WrestleView.com.

The truth is, WWE does have a dark past.

It has certainly addressed it recently, but the number of former wrestlers is far too long. That aspect of the business seems to be the only thing some media outlets want to report on.

Cowherd often talks about wrestling not being a sport. Then why is it being discussed on a sports show?

If WWE is worthy of being on the show when someone dies, then it should also be part of his show for other reasons.

As Jim Ross pointed out on his blog, "Pro wresting/sports entertainment is given little credit by the mainstream news media and, as we have seen, seemingly the only time the genre is mentioned is when there is a tragedy."

Best: The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family Round III

After two previous enthralling collisions, The Shield and The Wyatt Family met again. Their battle on Tuesday's Main Event was the best non-WrestleMania showing of the week.

WWE has done such a great job in building these teams as destructive forces that when they stared each other down before the bell, the audience's heart rate had already quickened. 

Dean Ambrose knocked Erick Rowan's mask off. Seth Rollins held onto Rowan's arm like a crab clamping down his pincers. Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Rowan dominated Ambrose, seemingly enjoying thrashing him in their corner.

A chaotic ending led to The Shield earning a victory in a series that deserves at least a few more entries.

While there is a danger of overdoing this rivalry, the quality of their bouts so far has to tempt WWE to come back to it again and again.