'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE often books its top stars in a way that protects them even in defeat. When a major player loses, it's usually due to outside interference or via a quick pin.
Losing by disqualification or in a multi-person/team match is also an extremely easy way to keep top performers looking strong even in a losing effort.
Roman Reigns would have qualified last year but he's only competed four times in 2024. Surprisingly, he's only 2-2 this year.
If The Head of the Table isn't the most protected star this year, who is? The next six WWE stars have been the most protected by the company in 2024.
Trending
New Champs in WWE! More RIGHT HERE
(Note: The records below only include singles matches and other variations and not matches like the Royal Rumble).
#6. Nia Jax has enjoyed the best year of her career
Getting released may have been a blessing in disguise for Nia Jax. She returned a force of nature, easily filling the top heel role in the women's division. Her in-ring work has greatly improved, something officials must have noticed.
Her dedication to improving led Jax to a 16-6 record, with most of her losses coming before WrestleMania 40. She won Queen of the Ring and then the WWE Women's Title at SummerSlam.
Jax's most recent loss came in a tag team match with Tiffany Stratton, with Stratton being pinned in the match.
The Queen of the Ring has been protected ever since winning the crown. Even her loss to Liv Morgan at Crown Jewel came after a lot of outside interference from Dominik Mysterio and Raquel Rodriguez.
#5. Gunther is one of WWE's most dominant forces
The Ring General's booking has been that of a dominant ring technician who can adapt to any opponent. That style led him to a record-setting run as Intercontinental Champion.
After losing that title to Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 40, Gunther won the King of the Ring tournament. He captured the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam and is 12-4 in 2024.
His other three defeats included two tag team matches with Imperium and a roll-up loss to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel. Gunther has enjoyed the booking Roman Reigns had when he ruled over WWE over the last four years.
#4. WWE loves to protect Bianca Belair
While Charlotte Flair has won numerous titles, she's been pinned cleanly from time to time. Bianca Belair has seemingly assumed Flair's role as WWE's top female star but has had slightly more protection in her few losses.
Belair may have six losses (23-6 overall) in 2024, but further exploration of the results shows WWE's reluctance to have The EST of WWE look weak at any moment.
Her biggest singles loss came via roll-up to IYO SKY to build up to a tag team match with Damage CTRL. Against Jax, in the Queen of the Ring semis, a knee injury was used as an excuse for losing to the eventual winner.
Her other losses came in multi-team tag team matches and a Triple-Threat qualifier for Money in the Bank in which she was not pinned.
#3. Bron Breakker feasts on competition
Much like in NXT, Bron Breakker's spot on the main roster has been easily identified. He's a future WrestleMania main-eventer but is being brought along slowly so as not to give him too much too soon in the New Era.
Breakker is 18-6-1 since joining the main roster before WrestleMania 40. Despite not being featured much in the ring lately, he's again the Intercontinental Champion.
Bookers have preserved Breakker's aura by having three of his six losses come via disqualification. His two biggest defeats were to Sami Zayn and Jey Uso.
#2. Cody Rhodes is the face of WWE
The top star of the company usually enjoys favorable booking which keeps them strong even in defeat. Since Cody Rhodes beat Roman Reigns, he's benefitted from many of the same protections The Head of the Table enjoyed.
Rhodes is 15-3 thus far in 2024, with one of those losses coming in singles action against Drew McIntyre in February. His other two defeats came in tag team action. The Rock pinned The American Nightmare on Night One of The Show of Shows.
Solo Sikoa pinned Rhodes in a six-man tag team match at Money in the Bank to set up a singles clash at this year's SummerSlam. Bloodline interference influenced the outcome both times.
#1. Jade Cargill hasn't been pinned in WWE
Few WWE stars have been as heavily protected as Jade Cargill. Even Brock Lesnar lost matches from time to time. However, despite having three losses in 2024, not one has involved The Storm being pinned.
After debuting in the Royal Rumble, Cargill has been heavily protected in her 22-3 mark. Her loss to Nia Jax in the Queen of the Ring tournament came via disqualification when she hit Jax with a chair.
Her other two defeats came in Triple-Threat bouts where another participant or team was pinned. By comparison, Rhea Ripley, Bayley, and IYO SKY were singles champs this year.
Bayley went 14-6-1 but lost matches to Belair and Jax. Sky went 14-7 while Ripley's time in and out of the lineup has her at 6-1-1.
