14 Memorable Wrestling Moments of 2014

Warrior's last promo

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

This will be the final Year in Review type blog I write, I promise.  I've been reflecting on the year in wrestling, and I admit I did not venture too far outside of the WWE bubble in 2014.  I've come up with a list of my 14 favorite moments, in no particular order.

1.  Ultimate Warrior's last promo/appearance.  I was in the crowd at Raw in New Orleans on the night after Wrestlemania XXX.  We were 48 hours removed from Warrior being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and less than 24 hours away from his untimely death.  I was pumped that Warrior came out and spoke.  His words almost predicting his destiny.  He said in part "Every man's heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe a final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized."  Rest in peace Warrior.  We miss you.

2.  Daniel Bryan overcomes Triple H, Batista and Randy Orton in the same night to become the WWE World Heavyweight champion.

Sheamus with Ayden Bell

3.  Sheamus grants the wish for a Make-A-Wish kid in my area.  I blogged about this a few weeks ago.  Sheamus earned big points in my eyes for how he treated Ayden Bell as he battles cancer.  Class act all the way.

4.  Chikara makes its return, Icarus wins the Grand Championship.  I still haven't seen the show, but I'm happy to know this unique promotion is back and stronger than ever.

5.  The WWE launches the WWE Network.  Shut up and take my money already.

6.  Robbie E and Brooke Adams get cast on The Amazing Race.  I think it's always good for business when wrestlers cross over into the main stream media.  Hopefully the former couple's appearance on the reality show will provide a boost for TNA when it relaunches later this month.

7.  Brock Lesnar ends the Undertaker's unbeaten streak at Wrestlemania.  I still remember the look of shock on Chad's face after the three count and the gasp from the live crowd at the SilverDome... I mean SuperDome.

8.  Seth Rollins dives off the balcony at Extreme Rules as the Shield battles Evolution.  The matches between the two factions helped make Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose legit as far as I'm concerned.

9.  Cesaro bodyslams the Big Show over the top rope to win the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.  I had picked Show to win, so this victory was an awesome surprise to me.

Neville wins
Photo courtesy: WWE

10.  Adrian Neville wins the NXT championship from Bo Dallas in a ladder match and goes on to defend it throughout most of 2014.

11.  Sami Zayn reaches the top of the mountain by beating his friend Neville for the title, only to be attacked by Kevin Owens moments later.

12.  Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper engage in an intense and brutal ladder match at TLC for the Intercontinental Title.  Ziggler wins the belt back, proving he's still the man (at least to me)

13.  Sting appears in a WWE ring, kicking Triple H in the gut and helping Ziggler cover Rollins for Team Cena's win over Team Authority at Survivor Series.

In the ring again
USA Championship Wrestling

14.  I step back in the ring for a moment to ring announce a match at the Du Quoin State Fair.  Yes, this is an egotiscal pick, but hey if I don't promote myself, who will?  It was at a USA Championship Wrestling event by the way.  Oh, and since I'm plugging myself here, check out the podcast on JitteryMonkey or iTunes!  Thanks.