The year 2024 has been written and for the twenty-third time, I am revealing my Best of WWE year-end list. This post will kick of the Best of 2024 series, which will include film, television, music, and more.

Superstar of the Year:
CODY RHODES

Since returning to the WWE at WrestleMania 38 in 2022, Cody Rhodes has been the main event. His chase for the WWE Championship remained the key booking decision and fans like me have waited decades, since his 2007 WWE debut, for his dream to be realized. At WrestleMania XL, Cody did “Finish the Story,” concluding his epic rivalry with “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns and “The Final Boss,” The Rock. Since becoming champion, Cody memorably feuded and battled the likes of Solo Sikoa, Kevin Owens, AJ Styles, Logan Paul, and Gunther – and was gifted a “one night only” entrance with the Winged Eagle WWE Championship for a Saturday Night’s Main Event special broadcast.

This is Cody Rhodes’ third consecutive top finish in this category.

RAW Woman of the Year:
LIV MORGAN

Liv Morgan returned from a six-month sidelining injury in the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble match. Her ensuing feud with Rhea Ripley, “The Liv Morgan Revenge Tour,” saw her crowned Women’s World Champion over “The Man” Becky Lynch (after Ripley vacated the title due to injury). Through the remainder of the year, Morgan took over Ripley’s spot in The Judgment Day, aligned herself with “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and Raquel Rodriguez, and fended off challengers like Iyo Sky. Morgan defeated Nia Jax to became the inaugural Women’s Crown Jewel Champion in Saudi Arabia.

SmackDown Woman of the Year:
NIA JAX

Since her return to the WWE, Nia Jax has show marked improvement and has battled the likes of Rhea Ripley, Bayley, Bianca Belair, Michin, Naomi, and Lyra Valkyria, whom she defeated to become the 2024 Queen of the Ring. Her victory in the tournament secured her a championship opportunity at SummerSlam, where she defeated Bayley to become the WWE Women’s Champion. Jax’s allegiance with Miss Money-in-the-Bank Tiffany Stratton has been a secondary story bubbling under the surface.

Feud of the Year:
CM PUNK vs. DREW McINTYRE

The spark for WWE’s most intense feud was lit in the lead-up to WrestleMania XL, when McIntyre moved into a title program against Seth Rollins. Reportedly, the slot was initially for CM Punk, but an untimely injury shifted plans and put Punk on commentary for the match. Post-match, McIntyre celebrated his victory over Rollins, and taunted Punk, with the new World Heavyweight Championship – and that’s when Punk attacked. That moment kicked off one of WWE’s most personal rivalries, which spanned 10 months and three marquee matches at SummerSlam, Bash in Berlin (strap match), and at Bad Blood in Hell in a Cell, which became known as one of the bloodiest, most violent in the history of the event. The promo’s, vignettes, and matches were all reminiscent of WWE’s beloved “Attitude Era.”

Match of the Year:
CM PUNK vs. DREW McINTYRE (HELL IN A CELL)
WWE Bad Blood | October 5, 2024 | Atlanta, Georgia

The feud of the year yielded the match of the year. The sheer brutality of the encounter re-established the imposing contest that can be Hell in a Cell. Additionally, it was a solidifying moment for Drew McIntyre, who’d worked for years to be recognized as a WWE main event star, while simultaneously being a proving moment for “The Best in the World,” CM Punk. The match served as the culmination of a months-long program and rubber match, which ended with CM Punk going 2-1 over Drew McIntyre in the feud.

Tag Team of the Year:
BIANCA BELAIR & JADE CARGILL

Bianca Belair and Jade Cargill notched two Women’s Tag Team Championship reigns in 2024 and helped restore prestige to the division and championships. Their dominant performances against teams like Damage CNTRL and The Unholy Union propelled them into league of their own and allowed them to appear across all three brands of WWE. The pairing removed Bianca Belair from the singles division, helped establish Jade Cargill to the WWE base, and planted the seeds of a dream match between Belair and Cargill.

NXT Superstar:
TRICK WILLIAMS

Williams began the year as a challenger to Ilja Dragunov, moved into a bizarre secondary angle with Lash Legend (with whom there’s plenty of chemistry) and the Meta Four, defeated Dragunov to become NXT Champion and have a spanning feud with the newly debuting “All Ego” Ethan Page. In the process, Trick Williams became a bonafide star and NXT main-event talent. The “Whoop That” age was undeniable as he moved on to battle Pete Dunne, TNA’s Joe Hendry, Wes Lee, and Ridge Holland.

NXT Woman of the Year:
ROXANNE PEREZ

As of this writing, Roxanne Perez has dominated the NXT women’s division. She’s been the champion for 270 days and counting, in her second title reign. She’s defeated the likes of Lyra Valkyria and done battle with Lola Vice, Thea Hail, Jaida Parker, and the debuting Giulia and Stephanie Vaquer. Most notably, Perez delivered a standout performance against TNA Women’s Champion Jordynne Grace, during a period when WWE NXT and TNA Impact Wrestling were cross-promoting regularly. Finally, Perez becomes the second woman to win this award back-to-back, since Asuka in 2016 and 2017.

Newcomer of the Year:
JADE CARGILL

Since arriving in WWE, the conversation has been on the money matches Jade Cargill is prepared to have. Her pairing with Bianca Belair puts that near the top of the “must-see” list and WWE has been writing the eventual showdown with Nia Jax little by little. It’s clear they’re heading for a Hogan-Andre moment. Beyond that, it’s clear Jade’s trajectory is to the main event, and her improvements throughout the year, coupled with her aura alone will be enough. Wrestling fans have known that Jade Cargill has “it,” and they’re clamoring for the marquee matches with the two already listed and Charlotte Flair, Naomi, Rhea Ripley, and if it’s willed: Sasha Banks. Cargill notched two championships runs in her debut year alongside Bianca Belair.

Most Improved Wrestler of the Year:
DAMIAN PRIEST

In the span of one year, Damian Priest went from the muscle of The Judgment Day to its de facto leader. His improvements saw him crowned Mr. Money in the Bank in 2023 and be rewarded with a successful cash-in on Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XL. Priest’s time as the headliner on WWE RAW was marked by a feud with The Judgment Day, in which he and Rhea Ripley were ousted from the group (to form the “Terror Twins”). He had notable bouts against Finn Balor, Gunther, and Drew McIntyre throughout the year – and Priest seemed to finally connect and rise to a place he maybe wasn’t always destined to go.

Moment of the Year:
CODY RHODES finishes THE STORY

As a decades-long fan of Cody Rhodes, I’ve known what capturing the WWE Championship would mean to Rhodes, especially after the loss of his father, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. Everything “The American Nightmare” has ever worked for culminated in the moment the referee counted three against Roman Reigns. A victory denied in 2023 was delivered in 2024. The emotion was greater for WrestleMania 39, but the legendary involvement (Cena, The Rock, Undertaker, etc.) in the match’s conclusion added importance to the victory. Rhodes had overcome adversity and ended a three year quest for the championship that eluded his family and father. The celebration with his mom in the ring afterward was iconic – and it solidified Cody Rhodes as the undeniable anchor of the WWE.

The Bálor Award (Best Entrance):
JADE CARGILL

When Jade Cargill enters an arena, the strobed lighting effects, the echo of her voice (“A storm is coming…), the falling snow, the silhouette, the pose, and her presence are undeniable. Cargill has the most intriguing entrance in the WWE. Her arrival signals the arrival of a main event star (she reminds me of “Storm” from X-Men) – and that’s the spot she’s positioned to take moving into 2025.

NXT Newcomer of the Year:
“ALL EGO” ETHAN PAGE

How many people can seamlessly transition into the WWE and claim the championship of their division in their first year. It’s a rarity, but a feat “All Ego” Ethan Page completed in 2024 when he became WWE NXT Champion. His notable feuds with Trick Williams and TNA’s Joe Hendry made him a focal point of the broadcasts and a main event star upon arrival.

NXT Tag Team of the Year:
FRAXIOM

Axiom and Nathan Frazer dominated NXT’s tag team division throughout 2024. First, they defeated Bron Breakker and Baron Corbin to claim the championships on April 9 and reigned until Chase U defeated them on August 13. A mere 18 days later, Fraxiom reclaimed the titles and have reigned since, for a combined run of 240+ days as tag team champions.

Valet of the Year:
PAUL HEYMAN

Paul Heyman is undeniably the valet of the year, for a fourth year running. Heyman shows the value of a valet to main event talent. Having spent years at the side of Roman Reigns, Heyman was forced to work with a new “Tribal Chief” in Solo Sikoa’s new Bloodline. Heyman sold the angle as only Heyman could – from the fear, the promo’s, and the “deteriorating” appearance, the “Wise Man” proved his value time and time again. Heyman’s 2024 Hall of Fame induction spoke to that – and to his contribution to the industry overall. There aren’t nearly enough valets in the WWE, but those who do exist should be working with the mastermind who is Paul Heyman.

Comeback of the Year:
ROMAN REIGNS

Following his defeat at the hands of Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania XL, Roman Reigns disappeared from WWE programming. For 1,316 days, Reigns was the Universal Champion (735 days as WWE Champion). The four month hiatus ended when Reigns returned at SummerSlam to help his rival Cody Rhodes prevail over Solo Sikoa in a “Bloodline Rules” match and retain WWE Universal Championship. Reigns spent the following months reforming his allegiances with The Usos and Paul Heyman (the original Bloodline) and rebranding himself as the “O.T.C.” (Original Tribal Chief).

Non-Wrestling Personality of the Year:
MICHAEL COLE

A longtime commentator on WWE programming, Michael Cole’s “stock” seemed to boom in 2024. Cole was everywhere promoting WWE events, leading press conferences, interviewing, and narrating. The year seemed to solidify Cole as the voice of the WWE – and in doing so, fans began to recognize his contributions in ways similar to the all-time greats (ex. Jesse Ventura, Jim Ross, etc.).

Show of the Year:
WRESTLEMANIA XL
April 6-7, 2024 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The first WrestleMania of the Paul “Triple H” Levesque era was the first to be produced without Vincent Kennedy McMahon. The two night extravaganza delivered Rhea Ripley defeating “The Man” Becky Lynch for the Women’s World Championship, Sami Zayn defeating Gunther for the WWE Intercontinental Championship, LA Knight vs. AJ Styles, Bayley overcoming Iyo Sky for the WWE Women’s Championship, and Cody Rhodes defeating Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

The show felt like the spectacle WrestleMania was always designed to be – and many of the bouts had stories the made the stakes seem higher, which has been an improving component to WWE lately.

Pipebomb of the Year:
TRIANGLE OF HATRED – Punk vs. Rollins vs. McIntyre
WWE RAW | March 25, 2024

In this 20-minute segment, Punk dished on his return to the WWE, Roman Reigns, Drew McIntyre, and Seth Rollins. Punk, who had sustained an injury, became fare for Drew McIntyre, who infamously said, “I prayed for this and it happened.”

In deciding Punk’s WrestleMania role, Seth Rollins interrupted and took shots at Punk’s absence from the WWE and labeled him a has-been. The seeming hatred between the three was palpable, and at the end of 2024, Punk and Rollins were still intertwined, headed for a collision, scheduled to take place on the first WWE RAW of its Netflix era.