Top 10 Superstars of the WWE in 2014

We are into the WrestleMania season and a lot has already happened regarding the storylines. Two sub standard PPVs have passed. CM Punk has walked out. Undertaker, Hogan and most probably Sting have returned. Batista has returned, won the rumble and then turned heel.

The authority have only grown stronger, and Daniel Bryan has only been screwed more and more. AJ Lee has cemented herself as the face of the beautiful divas with her reign becoming the longest one.

The Shield has teased us throughout the first couple of months of a split. All three of the members look like future main eventers. Bray Wyatt, Luke Harper and Erick Rowan have put to rest any fears that might have been there regarding their in ring talents. Bray arguably had the match of the first two months against Daniel Bryan at Royal Rumble.

Here I rank the top 10 superstars of the WWE for the year 2014. The ranking is based on the way the superstars were booked. Carrying titles and earning clean victories are major criteria for the ranking. Factions like the Shield and Wyatt Family are given a singular rank as they mostly do compete as a single entity.

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10. Big E

Big E

Big E has had an interesting 2014. He is still the intercontinental Champion and has defended his title recently against the Real American Jack Swagger. Big E has been booked well. He has mostly won his matches clean and that is exactly what gets him in this list.

Big E however has still not gotten over with the fans. He is yet to be given a concrete storyline and the title he holds can be shown to be much more important than the current booking suggests. It would be very entertaining to see how Big E does in the coming months and especially at WrestleMania.

9. New Age Outlaws

New Age Outlaws

The “New” Age Outlaws had their tag team titles for the major part of the year till now. The tag team division which is currently one of the more interesting divisions was mostly led by the outlaws. They were able to scratch through their matches against Rhodes brothers and also against the Usos.

Although not getting many clean victories, sees them on the ninth spot. They always seemed like the transition champs and though their entries were nostalgic, they did seem a lot slower than their younger challengers.

8. Shield

The Shield

The Shield as a group has not had a great 2014 yet. But that should not worry Dean Ambrose, Seth Rolllins or least of all Roman Reigns. Shield has been beaten twice at the hands of Wyatt family and they have certainly lost the momentum that they had this time around last year. But all that is making up for some good television as the split of the shield would be the most anticipated thing in 2014.

All three of the superstars have churned out some great matches. Reigns also broke Kane’s record of most number of eliminations at Rumble. The shield should have a very intriguing 2014 ahead.

7. Batista

Batista

Batista returned on the Raw before Royal Rumble and he is most certainly going to headline WrestleMania. “Deal with it”. The thing is nobody cares about Batista or his match against Randy Orton. Batista had not wrestled a match before the Elimination chamber in which he won against Del Rio in a very un inspiring match. Since the he has fought against Ziggler and Bryan on raw.

The animal has not looked at his best and his work leaves a lot to be desired. He seems out of breath after every other move. However, him being the No 1 contender to the No 1 title gets him onto the seventh spot.

6. Brock Lesnar

Brock Lesnar

The beast incarnate has had a very dominating year 2014 to say the least. He dominated Mark Henry twice and wrecked Big show at Royal Rumble. He has been made to look very strong and is set to conquer the rest of the year too. He already has victories over the likes of Punk, Triple H leading into his showdown with Undertaker.

It would be interesting to see how Lesnar fares at the grandest stage of them all and after that too.

5. The Usos

The Usos

The new tag champs look all set for a good push which should see them head a strong division into the 2014 year. The usos have been entertaining for a while, and the same can be said about their performance this year.

Their enthusiasm and in ring style would be a treat to watch and the brothers get a very well deserved number 5.

4. The Wyatt Family

The Wyatt Family

The Wyatt Family have well and truly established themselves as the stable to watch out for this year. They have had some terrific matches against the Shield and Bray’s match with Bryan along with the storyline was engrossing too. Luke Harper and Erick Rowan have also developed a lot in terms of their in ring styles and promos.

The family looks all set for a feud with the biggest baby face John Cena. It should take the Wyatts to even more prominence.

3. John Cena

John Cena

Taking of Cena, Cena may not have had a perfect new year. He has lost two championship opportunities but both of them were due to Wyatt’s interference. Cena has definitely been booked like the topmost star who he is. He gets a divided audience but the creative team along with Cena seems to respect that.

And to Cena’s credit, he has had good matches too. Despite fans frequent chants, his match with Orton was above average. Cena continues to lead the WWE as the stalwart that he is.

2. Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan

If there is a superstar who is popular and over with the fans then he is Daniel Bryan. Bryan puts up great matches when he is in the ring. Off late he has been booked well too with. Apart from his loss to Wyatt, in a match which made him look good too, he has only been wronged due to the Authority.

2014 should be Bryan’s year, and if he does wins at WrestleMania against Triple H, it would be a moment to cherish for the crowd favorite.

1. Randy Orton

Randy Orton

The WWE World Heavyweight Champion tops the list. He has the title everyone else crave for. He is the alleged face of the WWE. More importantly he tends to win at the right time. The heel champion has actually had a patchy but worthwhile run with the title and it would be entertaining to track how he does in the future. He performs excellently as a heel too.

With the battle against Batista coming up, if Orton does turn face and keeps the Championship, he can turn up to be a crowd favorite too.