WWE Year in Review: Superstar Highlights, Analysis and 2015 Projections

Familiar names held WWE's championships, but new names sat on the marquee in 2014.

The spotlight hit Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins, Rusev and Roman Reigns as the company searched for its next megastar. That search will continue in 2015 as that crop of emerging talent battles on the mountaintop with established names like Randy Orton and John Cena. 

It was a year of transition into a new generation, one that saw Reigns break a long-standing record and Rusev snag the United States Championship in the name of Mother Russia.

The following is a look at the highs and lows for each Superstar this past year, as well as what lies ahead in 2015. Wrestlers who are no longer with the company and didn't spend more than a few moments in the ring aren't included.

That means that CM Punk, Undertaker, Christian, Alberto Del Rio and Darren Young are left out of the discussion. That also goes for the Divas, who will be covered elsewhere.

With one eye on the future and one on the recent past, let's begin with the man who hails from Musha Cay, Bahamas: Adam Rose.

Adam Rose

Best Matches

vs. Tyson Kidd—NXT, July 31

with Sami Zayn vs. Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel—NXT, Aug. 7

Biggest Moments

Debuts as Adam Rose on May 6 edition of NXT.

Debuts on May 26 edition of Raw.

Attacks The Bunny on Dec. 22.

How 2014 Went

Rose transformed from the darker Leo Kruger character into a party-happy, lollipop-sucking babyface. The move netted him a spot on the main roster after years of sitting in the developmental system, but its one-dimensional nature held him back.

The gimmick failed to catch on. A lack of feuds and short matches didn't help.

His pal The Bunny overshadowed him, making him the biggest bust of the 2014 rookie class.

What 2015 Holds

A feud with The Bunny and a more vicious persona will play to Rose's strengths more. The Kruger character was a better fit, and a heel version of Rose is closer to that.

Destroying his rabbit pal will garner him some heat, but WWE isn't going to know what to do with him afterward. 

The company has shown little confidence in him, giving him only minimal ring time. Following the reveal of The Bunny, that's only going to get worse.

Bad News Barrett

Best Matches

vs. Dolph Ziggler—Raw, April 14

vs. Sheamus—Raw, April 21

vs. Big E—Extreme Rules

vs. Sheamus—Raw, June 9

vs. Dolph Ziggler—Raw, June 23

Biggest Moments

Wins Intercontinental Championship at Extreme Rules.

Attacks Rob Van Dam on May 19.

How 2014 Went

A shoulder injury halted Bad News Barrett's surging momentum. Armed with a tweaked gimmick, he experienced a resurgence.

He delivered a number of memorable brawls, snatched up the IC title and looked well on his way to having one of the more memorable reigns in that title's recent history.

A crash into the barricade and subsequent shoulder surgery, as announced on WWE.com, put a stop to that. He watched on as the belt changed hands six times in his absence.

What 2015 Holds

Ziggler being champion is great news for Barrett. Those two have a great chemistry together, and WWE will be tempted to have the Englishman seek the title nobody beat him for.

There's a natural story there, one that will benefit both men. Expect he and The Showoff to have an entertaining midcard feud and for Barrett to win back his belt.

Should he have as much as success in the ring as he did last time as champ, look for WWE to slide him to an upper midcard spot. 

Big Show

Best Matches

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series

Biggest Moments

Suffers beatdown from Brock Lesnar at Royal Rumble.

Gives emotional speech after Rusev attacks American serviceman.

Turns on John Cena at Survivor Series.

How 2014 Went

Big Show served as a launchpad several times over.

WWE needed a way to build up Lesnar and turned to Big Show. The Beast Incarnate throttled the big man en route to taking on The Undertaker.

Big Show then became one of Rusev's many victims, serving as the biggest trophy (other than the United States Championship) hanging on Rusev's wall to date.

A heel turn put him at odds with both Cena and Roman Reigns. The latter is using him to gain momentum for what many expect to be a run at the WWE title.

The World's Largest Athlete had few standout matches, didn't stick with a feud for long and made his annual turn. 

What 2015 Holds

Expect more of the same for Big Show in 2015. Cena is going to need someone to dominate before his showdown with Lesnar, and Reigns still needs more of a rub.

Count on Big Show turning babyface again. He can't seem to stay one side for long. That will allow him to aid WWE's efforts to elevate Bray Wyatt before WrestleMania. 

Bo Dallas

Best Matches

vs. Adrian Neville—NXT Arrival

vs. Adrian Neville—NXT, March 27 

Biggest Moments

Re-debuts on May 23.

Challenges Dolph Ziggler for Intercontinental Championship on Oct. 7.

How 2014 Went

Dallas got a second go-round on the main roster. His 2013 run was completely forgettable. This time around was less so.

WWE watered down the character he played on NXT, but it was still far more interesting than who he played during his first stint on the main roster.

His winning streak ended with little fanfare. Dallas then strove to be a pest of a heel, which worked to a degree despite no sustained feuds.

As noted on WWE.com, Dallas suffered a foot injury in November. That ended a year that featured no must-see matches other than his NXT work.

What 2015 Holds

Dallas will struggle to stay relevant. WWE didn't get behind him as it did other up-and-comers like Rusev and Luke Harper.

He will experience a brief run in the midcard spotlight early on but fade soon after. There are just too many new faces that the company prefers for him to be much more than what Curtis Axel was in 2014.

Count on a number of matchups on Superstars.

Bray Wyatt

Best Matches

vs. Daniel Bryan—Royal Rumble

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Elimination Chamber

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Raw, March 3

vs. John Cena—WrestleMania 

vs. John Cena—Payback

vs. Dean Ambrose—TLC

Biggest Moments

Begins feud with John Cena by attacking him at the Royal Rumble.

Surprises John Cena with youth choir on April 28.

Attacks Dean Ambrose to close out Hell in a Cell.

How 2014 Went

The Eater of Worlds existed on a tier below WWE's biggest emerging stars. While officials were consistent in showcasing Ambrose and Seth Rollins, they had a more stop-and-start approach with Bray Wyatt.

The Wyatt Family collided with The Shield, actually knocking off that super trio a few times. 

His subsequent feud with Cena saw him get plenty of spotlight. Wins were harder to come by, though. Losing to WWE's top dog hurt his momentum, and the company seemed unsure of what to do with him afterward.

After letting Erick Rowan and Luke Harper out of the family, Wyatt reemerged at Hell in a Cell, kicking off a feud with Ambrose that has been heavy on spots and gimmicks. 

His biggest wins were cheap and required asterisks, but he did float around the main event for much of the year.

What 2015 Holds

Victories are coming for Wyatt. To build him up for a WrestleMania showdown with Undertaker or Sting, WWE is going to have him run through men like a turned Big Show and a returning Sheamus. 

The year promises to be a big one for The Man of 1,000 Truths. Rollins spent 2014 becoming a top heel. With Brock Lesnar not likely to be around much and Randy Orton sure to be a babyface, it's Wyatt who will soar up the villain hierarchy.

He's an early favorite to walk away with the Money in the Bank briefcase come July. 

Brock Lesnar

Best Matches

vs. John Cena—SummerSlam

vs. John Cena—Night of Champions

Biggest Moments

Ends The Undertaker's undefeated streak at WrestleMania.

Wins WWE World Heavyweight Championship in dominant fashion at SummerSlam.

How 2014 Went

WWE's special attraction provided the two biggest shockers of the year. At WrestleMania, he became the first man to knock off Undertaker at that event. Months later, he dethroned Cena by manhandling him.

Lesnar then became the least-seen world champion in modern history. He wrestled infrequently, never once showed up to SmackDown and appeared on WWE TV as a whole less then Florida Georgia Line following Night of Champions.

He was imposing and memorable, but his schedule was frustrating.  

What 2015 Holds

The Beast Incarnate has a showdown with Cena scheduled for the Royal Rumble. Count on him keeping the title in order to maximize his loss by saving it for WrestleMania.

That will be his chance to pass the proverbial torch to Roman Reigns before heading for UFC.

As Mike Johnson reported for PWInsider, UFC President Dana White noted that Lesnar wants to fight again and is healthy enough to do so. That's no confirmation of him leaving the squared circle for the Octagon again, but as competitive as Lesnar is, one has to imagine he wants another chance in there.

This time with no diverticulitis holding him back.

Cesaro

Best Matches

vs. John Cena—Feb. 17

vs. Sami Zayn—NXT Arrival

vs. Sheamus—Main Event, May 13

vs. Sheamus—Night of Champions

vs. Dolph Ziggler and Tyson Kidd—SmackDown, Nov. 14

Biggest Moments

Wins first-ever Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Joins Paul Heyman.

How 2014 Went

If one were to chart Cesaro's 2014, it would look like an upside down V. It begins with an upward line and then there's a drastic downturn right after WrestleMania.

Early in the year, he looked on the verge of entering the main event scene with big matches against Cena and Randy Orton. After winning the first annual WrestleMania Battle Royal, WWE fumbled its handling of him. His popularity begged for a babyface turn, but the company paired him with Heyman instead.

That partnership did nothing for him, especially with how much Heyman talked about Brock Lesnar rather than him.

Cesaro then fell into the role Dolph Ziggler usually occupies—the guy who loses to all the midcard champs. He missed several big events, winning just one pay-per-view match all year.

As 2014 drew to a close, he and Kidd formed a tag team that looks increasingly promising.

What 2015 Holds

He and Kidd will catch fire as a pair. The lack of depth in the tag team division along with those men's in-ring ability will garner them momentum aplenty.

Look for them to snag the tag titles at some point during the year.

His fanbase will get more vocal as 2015 goes on. Eventually, The King of Swing will turn babyface and start a Daniel Bryan-like surge in popularity.

Despite perceived issues about his lack of charisma, he's just too fun to watch in the ring not to be a big star.  

Curtis Axel

Best Matches

vs. Ryback, Alberto Del Rio and Dean Ambrose—SmackDown, May 2

Biggest Moments

Ends partnership with Ryback.

How 2014 Went

Curtis Axel's memories of being intercontinental champ and aligned with Paul Heyman are now distant. His upward movement in 2013 preceded a disappointing 2014.

He spent much of the year as Ryback's tag team partner. They occupied the low rung of the division for the most part.

When Ryback underwent surgery, WWE decided to keep Axel out of the spotlight in his absence. The Big Guy returned with renewed momentum; Axel remained in obscurity.

He had no singles matches on pay-per-view, no significant feuds and very little TV time in the second half of the year.

What 2015 Holds

Axel recently showed up at NXT asking William Regal for a chance to prove himself down there. This will lead to a similar recharge of his career that Tyson Kidd experienced in 2014.

His mat skills and more ring time than he's used to getting will lead to him having a number of quality matches against men like Finn Balor, Hideo Itami and Sami Zayn. 

Look for him to appear on at least one of the NXT live specials and add to his greatest hits collection in the process.

Damien Sandow/Mizdow

Best Matches

with The Miz vs. Los Matadores, The Usos and Goldust and Stardust—Survivor Series

with The Miz vs. The Usos—Raw, Dec. 29

Biggest Moments

Becomes The Miz's stunt double.

Poses as Sheamus on Miz TV.

Wins Tag Team Championship at Survivor Series.

How 2014 Went

WWE gave Damien Sandow what could have been a throwaway gimmick, and he used it to resuscitate his career.

Sandow spent a lot of the year as WWE's costume-changing punching bag. He donned a new silly outfit each week, and guys like Mark Henry and Dolph Ziggler embarrassed him.

A spot as The Miz's stunt double changed everything. Suddenly, Sandow was Mizdow, the most entertaining man on the roster. His mirroring shtick had fans roaring to see him enter the ring and netted him his first championship.

What 2015 Holds

Sandow's biggest feud to date is on its way. He will break up with The Miz, building on the tension they have had at times and setting up a huge showdown worthy of WrestleMania.

Following that, he has to make the difficult transition from comedy character to serious contender. Sandow has the skills to pull that off.

Expect him to be in the mix for the Money in the Bank briefcase and win his first singles championship. The IC title is a good fit for him at this stage of his career.

Daniel Bryan

Best Matches

vs. Bray Wyatt—Royal Rumble

vs. Triple H—WrestleMania

vs. Randy Orton and Batista—WrestleMania

Biggest Moments

Breaks away from The Wyatt Family on Jan. 13.

Occupies Raw on March 10.

Wins WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania.

Teases retirement only to declare that he's ready to compete again on Dec. 29.

How 2014 Went

The opening to Charles Dickens' Tale of Two Cities is apropos for Daniel Bryan's 2014. It was indeed both the best and worst times for him.

After being WWE's hottest act and walking away as world champ at WrestleMania, things began to fall apart. Neck injuries forced him to undergo surgery, per WWE.com.

He then had to give up the belt and step away from the ring. Each estimate of his return turned out to be false when he continued to suffer setbacks during his recovery.

He appeared in street clothes a few times, a sight we got used to seeing. 

What 2015 Holds

Bryan returns just in time for the Royal Rumble. His popularity is going to make WWE think long and hard about who should emerge from that 30-man match the winner.

Roman Reigns is still the favorite to get that spot. There have to be concerns about whether Bryan is healthy enough to be a cornerstone of the company.

Expect WWE to have Bryan take on upper midcarders while the fans demand that he return to his spot atop the card.

With The Authority back in power, the safe bet is that officials run a retread of his feud with that group. The best part of that will be his battles with Seth Rollins, which will result in outstanding matches.

Dean Ambrose

Best Matches

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Elimination Chamber

The Shield vs. Evolution—Extreme Rules

Money in the Bank Ladder Match

vs. Randy Orton—Raw, July 7

vs. Seth Rollins—Raw, Aug. 18

vs. Seth Rollins—Hell in a Cell

vs. Bray Wyatt—TLC

Biggest Moments

Becomes longest-reigning United States champ since title became WWE entity.

Defeats John Cena in No Holds Barred Contract-on-a-Pole match.

Main events Payback, Hell in a Cell and TLC.

Wins Breakout Star of the Year Slammy Award.

How 2014 Went

Dean Ambrose improved his stock more than anyone not named Rollins in 2014. Both former members of The Shield began the year as part of a dominant faction and ended as headliners and cornerstones of the company.

With The Shield, Ambrose contributed to some of the best matches of the first half of the year. On his own, he evolved into a compelling antihero.

WWE put him at the top of the card a number of times. He and Rollins had the feud of the year, a rage-tinged battle of former allies.

He won no championships and fell during pay-per-views quite often but became one of the hottest babyfaces on the roster. 

What 2015 Holds

WWE is higher on Roman Reigns right now, but Ambrose will prove himself to be more consistent and reliable. That will lead to more high-profile feuds for The Lunatic Fringe, including a revisiting of his rivalry with Rollins and a face-against-face battle with John Cena.

Reigns, Wyatt, Sting and others will get more spotlight during WrestleMania season. Count on Ambrose sliding onto center stage later in the year, though.

Dolph Ziggler

Best Matches

vs. Batista—SmackDown, May 23

vs. Bad News Barrett—Raw, June 23

vs. Tyson Kidd and Cesaro—Smackdown, Nov. 14

vs. Cesaro—Hell in a Cell

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series 

vs. Luke Harper—TLC

Biggest Moments

Wins Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam.

Wins Intercontinental Championship on Sept. 22.

Makes huge comeback in Survivor Series match.

Accepts Slammy Award for Match of the Year.

Wins Intercontinental Championship at TLC.

How 2014 Went

Dolph Ziggler stole the show again and again. He put on a number of great matches on both TV and pay-per-view.

After being ignored on the midcard for much of the year, he made the IC title scene his home. Brief reigns hurt his momentum, but he produced high-quality action in the ring as both challenger and champion.

He was the hero of the Survivor Series main event, even with Sting's debut being the headline story. He heads into the new year edging toward top-tier status.

What 2015 Holds

Ziggler fans aren't going to be satisfied with how high The Showoff climbs in 2015. Despite being one of the company's best showmen, he doesn't get the love that Reigns, Rollins and others get.

After Survivor Series, the spotlight pointed more at John Cena than him. Ziggler went back to being IC champ rather than moving up the card.

Look for him to be just at the edge of the main event but for men like Reigns to keep him out of it. More great matches are set to come, just not at the end of pay-per-views.

Erick Rowan

Best Matches

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Elimination Chamber

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Raw, March 3

The Wyatt Family vs. The Usos—Money in the Bank

The Wyatt Family vs. The Usos—Battleground

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series 

Biggest Moments

Joins Team Cena during contract signing on Nov. 17.

How 2014 Went

The year began with Erick Rowan standing in the background behind Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper. It ended with him on his own, WWE adding surprising elements to his gimmick.

He was a successful throwback bruiser in great tag matches throughout the year. The Wyatt Family's feuds with The Shield and The Usos allowed him to play to his strengths, namely hitting people hard.

Wyatt freed Rowan, and WWE began to present him as an eccentric genius who made wine and played classical guitar in between slugfests. A few losses to Big Show then showed that the company is not quite ready to elevate him.

What 2015 Holds

Rowan is going to struggle for TV time. Wyatt and Harper are better overall performers and will get bigger opportunities. Rowan, meanwhile, is destined to fall to Rusev, a turned Sheamus and other wrestlers WWE has higher hopes for.

Bet on him amassing a losing pay-per-view record and sitting on the sidelines far more often than his former Wyatt Family brethren.

Fandango

Best Matches

None

Biggest Moments

Debuts new look at Survivor Series.

How 2014 Went

The Fandango experiment hasn't worked. WWE tried to get the dancer gimmick over, but it never caught on. 

Fandango switched dance partners several times. Layla and Summer Rae overshadowed him, their bickering being a bigger story than what he was up to. 

WWE hit the reset button by making him more of a Spanish dancer and pairing him with Rosa Mendes. The slightly grittier version of his character hasn't been any more memorable.

What 2015 Holds

With NXT's best on their way to the main roster, WWE is going to need to make room. That's bad news for the struggling Fandango.

He won't make it to the end of the year without receiving well wishes on his future endeavors from the company. 

Goldust and Stardust

Best Matches

Cody Rhodes vs. Jack Swagger—Superstars, May 22

vs. The Wyatt Family—SmackDown, Aug. 22

vs. The Usos—Night of Champions

vs. The Usos—Hell in a Cell

Biggest Moments

Rhodes debuts as Stardust on June 16.

The brothers win the Tag Team Championship at Night of Champions.

How 2014 Went

Goldust and Rhodes followed a red-hot run in 2013 with a tepid year.

The brothers' struggles led to Rhodes transforming into Stardust. It was a refreshing change, one that catapulted them to the tag titles. That's when the pair's momentum faded.

Their feud with The Usos became uninteresting fast. A Newlywed Game-like segment highlighted just how little effort WWE was putting into that story.

The duo then fell victim to a thin tag division, having to face comedy acts like Los Matadores and the unimpressive new trio, The New Day. The announcers treated Stardust as a joke rather than a bizarre-but-dangerous threat.

What 2015 Holds

The long-awaited showdown with his brother is coming. Goldust has recently inadvertently cost the team wins. That smells of foreshadowing of a split.

The lifespan of the current team is done. It's time to let Goldust put Rhodes over. That's a WrestleMania match waiting to happen.

Afterward, it's back to the midcard for Goldust while Rhodes surges upward without the Stardust act.

Jack Swagger

Best Matches

vs Cody Rhodes—Superstars, May 22

Money in the Bank Ladder Match

vs. Rusev—SummerSlam

Biggest Moments

Turns babyface on June 30.

How 2014 Went

The Real Americans hovered around the tag team title picture early in the year. Their breakup led to a disappointing feud between the former allies.

Jack Swagger surprisingly turned babyface to square off against Rusev. The move had Swagger more popular than he has been in a long time.

National pride powered fans' support of his battle with Rusev. They put on a number of intense bouts, the American losing just about every time.

Brief feuds with Adam Rose and Bo Dallas went nowhere. The rivalry with Rusev suited him best, but the big man moved on from him, leaving Swagger in limbo.

What 2015 Holds

The feud with Rusev elevated the Russian more than it did Swagger. While the U.S. champ moves up the ladder next year, Swagger is destined to hang around near the bottom of the card.

Look for him to get a lot of matches on Main Event and SmackDown, putting over the heels on the rise. He will look good in physical action against Bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins and the like but will end up on the losing end of those battles more often than not. 

John Cena

Best Matches

vs. Cesaro—Raw, Feb. 17

vs. Bray Wyatt—WrestleMania

vs. Bray Wyatt—Payback

vs. Brock Lesnar—SummerSlam

vs. Brock Lesnar—Night of Champions

vs. Seth Rollins—Raw, Oct. 27

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series 

Biggest Moments

Wins WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank.

Loses in one-sided affair to Lesnar at SummerSlam.

How 2014 Went

Cena never strayed far from the title scene. His feud with Wyatt dragged him away from it for a few months, their rivalry centered around psychology and not championships.

That story dragged in spots, but it produced an instant classic at Payback and elevated Wyatt despite how often he lost.

Cena then moved back to the title hunt, winning the gold Daniel Bryan had to vacate due to injury. The fan favorite soon became Lesnar's prey, stunning the world with how little resistance he put up against the beast.

He spent the rest of the year feuding with The Authority and Rollins in particular. As much as WWE highlighted new stars in 2014, it still showed its reluctance to let Cena lose. After dominating the Wyatt feud, he did the same against Rollins.

What 2015 Holds

Cena is promised one last title shot against Lesnar at the Royal Rumble. Following that, he's likely going to collide with emerging stars the way he did so often in 2014.

That's good and bad news for Rusev, who seems a plausible foe for him. Going up against a star like Cena certainly adds to one's name, but as we saw with Rollins, Wyatt and a long list of men before that, Rusev isn't likely to get many wins.

If the "Roman Reigns as world champ" experiment fails, expect WWE to come running back to Cena, placing the belt around him once more.

Justin Gabriel

Best Matches

vs. Sami Zayn—NXT, July 3 

vs. Kofi Kingston—Superstars, Sept. 25

vs. Dean Ambrose—Main Event, Nov. 11

Biggest Moments

Attacks Zayn on July 3.

How 2014 Went

Gabriel had an unremarkable year. He made few appearances on TV and was even less present on pay-per-views.

Some of his best work was away from the spotlight, on Superstars and NXT. WWE briefly paired him with Tyson Kidd again but quickly had Kidd's relationship with Natalya be more of a focus.

What 2015 Holds

Not much will change for Gabriel moving forward. The company clearly doesn't hold him in high regard. It has given Ryback chance after chance to get over and pushed guys like Fandango much harder.

Count on Gabriel hanging around the bottom of the card.

His best hope would be for WWE to toss him into a tag team. The division isn't deep. Gabriel and an ally could easily make a mark there.

Kane

Best Matches

vs. Daniel Bryan—Extreme Rules

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Ladder match—Money in the Bank

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series 

Biggest Moments

Attacks Daniel Bryan on April 21.

Goes through flaming table at Extreme Rules.

Helps Seth Rollins win the Money in the Bank match.

How 2014 Went

Kane morphed from corporate thug to masked demon and back again.

In providing the muscle for The Authority, he was WWE's resident doormat for the top stars. He served to elevate Bryan early in the year, being his first victim once he won the WWE title. He also fell to The Shield, Roman Reigns, Ryback and Cena to further all those Superstars' careers.

At times, he was Rollins' lackey, taking orders from the upstart. Once The Authority fell out of power at Survivor Series, he lost direction, briefly playing a comic role as "Concessions Kane" and "Merchandise Kane."

With The Authority's return, his job duties are far more clear.

What 2015 Holds

It's back to being Director of Operations for Kane. The Authority regaining power will have the big man taking out all of their enemies, from Bryan to Dolph Ziggler.

Look for him to feud with The Showoff as the story of Ziggler's resistance to The Authority continues.

Battles with a returning Randy Orton are in order as well. Kane was a big part of the beatdown that put The Viper out of action.

Luke Harper

Best Matches

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Elimination Chamber

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Raw, March 3

vs. John Cena—SmackDown, March 21

The Wyatt Family vs. The Usos—Money in the Bank

The Wyatt Family vs. The Usos—Battleground

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series 

vs. Dolph Ziggler—TLC

vs. Dolph Ziggler—Raw, Dec. 22

Biggest Moments

Wins Intercontinental Championship on Nov. 17.

How 2014 Went

Harper began the year standing in Bray Wyatt's shadow, playing a peripheral role in the Wyatt and Cena feud. As 2014 progressed, the bruiser had more and more chances to shine away from the patriarch.

He and Erick Rowan collided with The Usos in series of memorable matches in the summer. Everyone involved looked good in those battles, but Harper stood out, a wrecking ball with surprisingly nimble feet.

Wyatt freed both Harper and Rowan to venture on their own. Harper used his freedom to win the IC title, headline Survivor Series as part of Team Authority and produce again and again opposite Ziggler. 

The Showoff took back the gold, though, leaving Harper's future unclear.

What 2015 Holds

Harper will provide consistently physical matches on the midcard. Much like Cesaro did in 2014, he'll get some shots against big names and deliver hard-hitting action  but get no real momentum going.

A feud with Rowan is inevitable. It's the only obvious story to tell with him.

Outside of that, look for him to join the fray in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match and be a formidable force in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

Mark Henry

Best Matches

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series 

Biggest Moments

Rallies America in main event segment on Sept. 15

Betrays Big Show on Oct. 27.

How 2014 Went

Henry popped in and out throughout the year.

Early on, he challenged Dean Ambrose for the U.S. title. WWE used him as a means to make Brock Lesnar look powerful. He then fell off the radar for a stretch.

A few easy wins over Damien Sandow followed and soon a brief feud with Rusev. That led to some excellent mic work from The World's Strongest Man but nothing memorable in the ring.

He turned on Big Show, ending a partnership that never got its time in the spotlight. Following that, he stepped away from the ring again.

What 2015 Holds

All the years on the mat are catching up to the big man. Henry recently let fans know why they haven't seen as of late, tweeting,"Yes, I'm still hurt."

At 43, injuries continuing to keep him from any sustained run, this promises to be Henry's last year. Expect him to make sporadic appearances until WWE gives him a farewell program against an up-and-comer.

Los Matadores

Best Matches

vs. The Usos, The Real Americans and RybAxel—WrestleMania

El Torito vs. Hornswoggle—Extreme Rules

vs. The Miz and Damien Mizdow, The Usos and Goldust and Stardust—Survivor Series

Biggest Moments

Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5.

How 2014 Went

El Torito increasingly became the star of this group. He had the bigger pay-per-view bouts. His feud with Hornswoggle was more compelling than anything involving Los Matadores themselves.

WWE made them into even more cartoonish characters, asking them to put on thicker accents and dressing up El Torito like a reindeer.

With the tag team division lacking depth, though, Los Matadores did get a few cracks at the tag titles. 

What 2015 Holds

Unless WWE adds a number of quality teams, Los Matadores will continue to fill a need in the division. They are certain to be victims of The Ascension and any other duos the company wants to showcase.

The El Torito-Hornswoggle feud is overdone as it is, but that won't stop it from popping up again in 2015. There are no other natural rivals for those two performers.

For the bullfighters, 2015 isn't going to look much different than 2014.

The Miz

Best Matches

vs. Dolph Ziggler—Raw, July 21

vs. Dolph Ziggler and Cesaro—Raw, Sept. 29

with Damien Mizdow vs. The Usos—Raw, Dec. 29

Biggest Moments

Wins Intercontinental Championship at Battleground.

Wins Intercontinental Championship at Night of Champions.

Wins Tag Team Championship at Survivor Series.

How 2014 Went

A gimmick shift invigorated The Miz's stalling career.

Early in 2014, he began an angle where he lashed against WWE for not showcasing him more. That led nowhere. He had no significant matches or feuds until he returned from shooting The Marine 4: Moving Target.

He had then morphed into a self-indulgent Hollywood jerk who overvalued his movie career.

The move allowed him to be a more compelling figure and more effectively make use of his ability to grate on fans. Adding Mizdow to the mix elevated him even further. Together, they made for one of the most entertaining parts of WWE each week.

In a short span, he won and lost the IC title twice and briefly held the tag belts. His feuds with Ziggler and Sheamus produced solid action, but more importantly, they allowed him to be a bigger part of WWE programming.

What 2015 Holds

A big match and rivalry with his stunt double lies ahead for The Miz. WWE has teased tension between him and Mizdow, going the slow-burn route in their eventual split.

That will lead to at least one memorable pay-per-view match and a second chance for Mizdow to be a star on his own.

Unfortunately for The Miz, the dissolution of this pair is going to hamper his momentum. His act won't be as compelling without the Mizdow element. That will lead to The Miz falling down the card some, getting less consistent spots on pay-per-views.

The New Day

Best Matches

Big E vs. Bad News Barrett—Payback

Big E vs. Rusev—Money in the Bank

Money in the Bank Ladder Match (Kofi Kingston)

Big E vs. Seth Rollins—Main Event, Sept. 16

Kofi Kingston vs. Justin Gabriel—Superstars, Sept. 25

Kofi Kingston vs. Sin Cara—Superstars, Oct. 2 

Biggest Moments

Kingston jumps from the guardrail to the ring during the Royal Rumble.

Kingston upsets then-champion Randy Orton on Jan. 13.

Big E becomes first man to give Rusev a real challenge.

The New Day faction officially debuts on Nov. 28.

How 2014 Went

After losing the Intercontinental Championship, Big E became Rusev's first major test. Those two men's career trajectories then went in opposite directions.

Rusev kept winning and climbing up the card. Big E, meanwhile, floundered.

WWE seemed unsure of what to do with him until it paired him with Xavier Woods and Kingston.

Woods had been mostly warming the bench. Kingston had a few highlights in Battle Royals and then suffered from lack of direction.

That faction sat on the runway for months before taking off. When it finally did, it was too cheesy and one-dimensional of a gimmick. The group has yet to garner much reaction from fans.

What 2015 Holds

The New Day will flop.

A group of really positive guys is far from the most appealing gimmick WWE has ever come up with. It doesn't help that Big E's role is the one who sweats a lot.

When fans don't get behind the trio, look for the company to split them up and have them feud with each other. Kingston makes the most sense to keep as a babyface, so either Woods or Big E are destined to be the one who betrays the group. 

R-Truth

Best Matches

vs. Ryback—Superstars, July 17

Biggest Moments

Breaks Bo Dallas' undefeated streak on July 28.

Becomes Dolph Ziggler's stunt double "R-Ziggler" on Sept. 12.

How 2014 Went

R-Truth played the partner, the sidekick and the filler talent.

Early in the year, he stood in Xavier Woods' corner as the two of them took on Rusev. He briefly aligned with Ziggler, doing a shtick much like Damien Mizdow's.

The veteran didn't have any feuds of note. For a short time, he and Dallas collided, but it wasn't something WWE made a priority.

What 2015 Holds

At this point in his career, R-Truth is the reliable worker the company uses to make other guys look good. He is skilled enough at that role that he is in little danger of getting his walking papers.

There's no reason to think he will move up from that spot, either.

With Adrian Neville and Sami Zayn expected to make the jump from NXT, it will likely be R-Truth who gets the call to get them some wins early in their career.  

Randy Orton

Best Matches

vs. Daniel Bryan—Raw, Feb. 3

Elimination Chamber match

vs. Daniel Bryan and Batista—WrestleMania

vs. Roman Reigns—SummerSlam

vs. Chris Jericho—Night of Champions 

vs. Dolph Ziggler—Raw, Oct. 13

Biggest Moments

Main events WrestleMania.

Lays out Roman Reigns on July 28.

Falls victim to The Authority on Nov. 3.

How 2014 Went

The year began with Randy Orton as world champ, destined for a spot on the WrestleMania marquee with Batista but with fans demanding Bryan get that opportunity instead. WWE miscalculated what the fans wanted, and an Orton vs. Batista matchup looked like it would be a dumpster fire of a main event.

Instead, the company inserted Bryan into the headline matchup. Orton then helped compose a great bout to close out the huge pay-per-view.

The Viper then spent much of the year hovering around the title picture. His ties with The Authority assured him main event matches but often had him be more lackey than supervillain.

He began to show the viciousness that brings out his best work against Reigns. He also teased a babyface turn before Seth Rollins and company put him out of action. 

What 2015 Holds

An extended collision with The Authority is coming. The group turned on him and ordered the hit that removed him from WWE TV. He can't simply let that go.

Orton will battle Kane en route to his real target—Rollins.

This meeting of former stablemates will serve to elevate Rollins, but Orton will do his part to make sure those two get at least one Match of the Year candidate out of it. 

Following that, Orton will linger around the main event. If Reigns is the champ, Orton will get a crack at him at a pay-per-view. WWE knows he can maximize Reigns' raw talent.

Roman Reigns

Best Matches

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Elimination Chamber

The Shield vs. Evolution—Extreme Rules

The Shield vs. Evolution—Payback

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Ladder match—Money in the Bank

vs. Randy Orton—SummerSlam

Biggest Moments

Breaks record for eliminations in single Royal Rumble.

Wins Battle Royal to qualify for the Money in the Bank world title bout on June 16.

Challenges for WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank and Battleground.

Wins Superstar of the Year Slammy Award.

How 2014 Went

Emergency hernia surgery halted Roman Reigns' rise. Beginning with the Royal Rumble, WWE made it clear that it believed in him.

He did much of the damage that The Shield caused, spearing foes again and again. When the group dissolved, he challenged for the world title, stared John Cena down and took on big names like Orton.

Recovering from surgery took him out of action for nearly the last third of the year. He did, though, storm back at TLC to announce he's going to outdo himself at the next Rumble.

What 2015 Holds

Even with his still-in-progress ring work and shaky mic skills, WWE is clearly behind Reigns. He's the favorite to win the 2015 Royal Rumble.

And despite fans pining for Daniel Bryan to get that victory, the company will pin its hopes on Reigns. He's the glossier, sexier product of the two.

Look for Reigns to fell Big Show, take the Rumble and defeat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania. There will be some backlash from fans who prefer Bryan, but Reigns will make enough progress between now and then to make WWE happy with its decision.

The rest of the year will be an experiment, the company gauging just how popular Reigns is. If he doesn't meet expectations, bet on the old standby Cena taking his spot.

Rusev

Best Matches

vs. Big E—Money in the Bank

vs. Jack Swagger—SummerSlam

vs. Sheamus—WWE Network special, Nov. 3

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series 

Biggest Moments

Debuts at Royal Rumble.

Collides with The Rock on Oct. 6.

Attacks U.S. serviceman on Oct. 20

Wins United States Championship on Nov. 3.

How 2014 Went

Rusev's stock rose as the year progressed. Booked as an unstoppable monster, he rolled over the likes of Zack Ryder and Xavier Woods before moving onto more formidable opponents.

He knocked off a long list of warriors, from Mark Henry to Big Show.

Lana whipped fans into a xenophobic rage. It felt like 1980s WWE all over again.

Feuding with Rusev brought out the best in Big Show and Jack Swagger. The Bulgarian Brute transitioned well from squash matches to slugfests. 

He ended the year with the U.S. title on his shoulder and with no pinfall or submission losses on his resume.

What 2015 Holds

Rusev is going to plant Ryback in the ground and keep on moving up the ladder. Those two powerhouses have clashed but not yet in an official capacity. Expect that to happen at the Royal Rumble, WWE waiting until WrestleMania to end Rusev's undefeated streak.

A feud with John Cena is inevitable as Rusev is running out of patriotic babyfaces to anger.

WWE hasn't shown it is comfortable with Cena losing rivalries, so the safe bet is for Rusev to lose more often than his fan favorite counterpart. Then it's off to Money in the Bank contention for the so-called Russian hero.

Seth Rollins

Best Matches

The Shield vs. The Wyatt Family—Elimination Chamber

The Shield vs. Evolution—Extreme Rules

Money in the Bank Ladder Match

vs. Dean Ambrose—SummerSlam

vs. Dean Ambrose—Raw, Aug. 18

vs. Dean Ambrose—Hell in a Cell

Team Cena vs. Team Authority—Survivor Series 

Biggest Moments

Betrays The Shield on June 2.

Wins Money in the Bank contract.

Wins five Slammy Awards.

Main events Payback, Hell in a Cell and Survivor Series.

Forces John Cena to bring back The Authority on Dec. 29.

How 2014 Went

In many ways, 2014 was the year of Seth Rollins. He and The Shield provided some early thrills as a trio. Rollins then provided one of the year's biggest shockers when he turned on Roman Reigns and Ambrose.

He and Ambrose had a most compelling feud, one powered by rage and villainy. It was a story that made both men look like main event stars.

With Brock Lesnar not around on a consistent basis, it was Rollins who took over the role of top heel. He thrived at it.

He delivered in the ring time and time again. As a talker, he grew, morphing into a grating, insufferable braggart.

After struggling to defeat Cena, he ended the year by outsmarting him, welcoming back The Authority by threatening to paralyze Edge.

What 2015 Holds

A world title reign awaits Rollins. He holds the Money in the Bank contract and can either be the heel of the decade by cashing in on Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania or add flames to his gasoline-soaked rivalry with Reigns by cashing in on him.

Either way, Rollins will get a brief stay on top of the company.

Expect him to challenge for Match of the Year again, battling Bryan, Dolph Ziggler or Ambrose. He continues to produce matches worthy of the main event, and that will only increase as his star power expands.

Sheamus

Best Matches

Elimination Chamber match

vs. Christian—Raw, Feb. 24

vs. Cesaro—Main Event, May 13

vs. Bad News Barrett—June 9

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Ladder match—Money in the Bank

vs. Cesaro—Night of Champions

vs. Rusev—WWE Network special, Nov. 3

Biggest Moments

Wins United States Championship on May 5.

How 2014 Went

Sheamus returned from a shoulder injury at the Royal Rumble and ended the year with another trip to the disabled list. He stepped away from the ring just before Survivor Series.

In between, he held the U.S. title for the second time, his reign stretching on for nearly six full months.

As champ, he delivered a number of intense, brawl-heavy bouts. At times, it looked like his reign would be one of the better ones in recent memory. Inactivity did him in later on, though. 

The Celtic Warrior went a good chunk of his time with the belt without defending it.

His chemistry with Cesaro was great. It's surprising then that WWE didn't have those two engage in a lengthier, more involved feud. Instead, Sheamus moved from foe to foe, with no rivalry that really sticks out.

What 2015 Holds

Once he gets healthy, Sheamus will be due for a shift in character. He has been a babyface for years now.

He's an excellent heel, that role allowing him to be nasty and relentless. Expect WWE to have him go that route. The roster is short on villains, and that will be even more true should Brock Lesnar leave the company.

Sheamus will make a good rival for a champion Roman Reigns and a fun foe for a rising Dolph Ziggler.

Sin Cara

Best Matches

vs. Kofi Kingston—Superstars, Oct. 2 

Lucha Dragons vs. The Ascension—NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way

Biggest Moments

Wins NXT Tag Team Championship at NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way.

How 2014 Went

On the main roster, Sin Cara was a (masked) face in the crowd. He was a part of several Battle Royals throughout the year but didn't have any significant impact on any of them.

It was at NXT where he experienced his success. He teamed up with Kalisto, becoming tag team champions in September. Since then, he has spent the majority of his time at Full Sail University with Kalisto at his side.

What 2015 Holds

The Lucha Dragons will follow The Ascension to the main roster. The duo has a good look and excellent chemistry. They also have an exciting in-ring style.

Besides, the main roster tag division is desperate for talent.

Success will be harder to find outside of NXT, though. Fans just haven't connected with Sin Cara. And just as they did with The Ascension, WWE officials are likely to tinker with The Lucha Dragons' gimmick too much.

Slater Gator

Best Matches

None

Biggest Moments

Titus O'Neil turns on Darren Young on Jan 31.

Debuts as team on July 11.

Heath Slater upsets Seth Rollins on Aug. 4.

Slater eliminates Cesaro in the Battleground Battle Royal.

How 2014 Went

Before joining forces, Slater and O'Neil were floundering. O'Neil's heel turn and feud with former partner Darren Young fizzled. The powerhouse failed to build on that betrayal, and WWE quickly gave up on him as a singles star.

With two-thirds of 3MB sent away, Slater was even more lost than O'Neil.

Together, they formed an amusing team with potential. Not much came of it, though, other than it helping extend Slater's surprise winning streak in the summer.

What 2015 Holds

Slater's future as a Superstar is in doubt. An Atlanta security guard claims that Slater "grabbed her by the neck and tried to force her to his hotel room," per The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. WWE then issued a statement, as noted by the Ottawa Sun, saying, "WWE has been advised that a misdemeanour arrest warrant has been issued against Heath Miller (aka Heath Slater)."

He has been off TV since word of this emerged.

Without him, O'Neil has been relegated to bottom-feeding duties. He can't expect more than that unless Slater is cleared of the charges and their team catches fire.

The more realistic bet is that Slater Gator is done and that O'Neil will get the majority of his ring time on Superstars.

Tyson Kidd

Best Matches

vs. Adrian Neville—NXT Takeover

vs. Adrian Neville—NXT, June 2

vs. Adrian Neville, Tyler Breeze and Sami Zayn—NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way

vs. Sami Zayn—NXT, Oct. 16

vs. Cesaro and Dolph Ziggler—SmackDown, Nov. 14

Biggest Moments

Main events NXT Takeover and NXT Takeover: Fatal 4-Way.

Upsets U.S. champ Sheamus on Nov. 3.

How 2014 Went

Kidd experienced a career rejuvenation at NXT. Heading down to WWE developmental lead to him being part of his most compelling story yet.

He slowly descended into heel territory, using Natalya as a human shield and finding new, unethical ways to win. 

That narrative saw him produce a series of great matches, becoming NXT's benchmark opponent. The story didn't translate as well on the main roster. That version of it focused more on Natalya.

Kidd ended the year partnering with Cesaro a number of times.

What 2015 Holds

Teaming with Cesaro will be great for Kidd. With WWE desperate for new teams, those two in-ring maestros are going to catch on.

Cesaro will be the more popular one, though, branching off as a singles star. That's going to leave Kidd stranded but not before a run with the tag belts.

The Usos

Best Matches

vs. Daniel Bryan and Bray Wyatt—Raw, Jan. 13

vs. The Wyatt Family—Money in the Bank

vs. The Wyatt Family—Raw, July 7

vs. The Wyatt Family—Battleground

vs. Goldust and Stardust—Hell in a Cell

vs. Damien Mizdow and The Miz—Raw, Dec. 29

Biggest Moments

Win Tag Team Championship on March 3.

Win Tag Team of the Year Slammy Award.

How 2014 Went

The Usos evolved more than any team on the roster in 2014. Jimmy and Jey came into their own, showing that they can be more than a novelty high-flying act. They were the clear highlights of the tag team division, thanks to improved in-ring storytelling and showing off more personality.

They became tag team champions in March, but unfortunately, the division soon cooled off. The Shield, The Real Americans and other squads split up, leaving The Usos to have to face The Wyatt Family a number of times. 

First Goldust and Stardust, then The Miz and Mizdow, briefly ruled the division, but The Usos were there at every turn. They provided the most consistent action and served as the ideal rivals for every potential top team.

They closed the year by recapturing the gold.

What 2015 Holds

The tag team division will be built around The Usos once more. 

Should The Ascension improve upon their underwhelming debut, they will be in next in line to collide with the title-wearing brothers. Look for the recent NXT transplants to run over all the other teams en route to the champs.

A series of battles between The Usos and The Ascension will follow. Cesaro and Tyson Kidd will be chasing The Usos down as well.

Zack Ryder

Best Matches

None

Biggest Moments

Ended Raw losing streak on July 21.

How 2014 Went

Zack Ryder was rarely on TV. WWE offered him no storylines or feuds. His lone highlight was breaking his string of defeats with an upset over Fandango on Raw.

Even that, though, was more about the story of Fandango's old dance partners leaving him behind.

The celebration didn't last long. Ryder went back to jobbing duties. In November, as Ryder told fans via video, a torn rotator cuff took him out of action.

What 2015 Holds

When he's healthy, Ryder is set to return to a bottom-feeding role. WWE has shown no interest in doing anything with him. That will only get worse when the roster has to make room for Sami Zayn and Adrian Neville.

If he can stay employed throughout 2015, that will be a victory in itself.