2024 has proven to be one of the WWE most successful and memorable years as a professional wrestling company. 2025 is expected to be even bigger as WWE prepares for a WrestleMania in Las Vegas and a debut of Raw on Netflix. As 2024 comes to a close, it's important to reflect on the moments that made 2024 one of WWE's biggest years yet.
Moments like CM Punk cost Drew McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship, Damian Priest's money in the bank, Sami Zayn's surprise Intercontinental Title victory over Gunther, and Chelsea Green becoming the first WWE United States Women's Champion all ranked among the best moments of the year. With 2025 already shaping up as a pivotal year for the company's future, the highlights of 2024 helped shape this transaction, and this year will not soon be forgotten.
11
TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace Makes WWE Debut
Battle Royal 2024
It's always been rare to see WWE collaborate with other wrestling companies, especially on a long-term basis. The new Triple H regime allowed wrestlers to work independent wrestling shows like Josh Barnett's Bloodsport or Japanese events with Pro-Wrestling NOAH, but they were always unique. Even Mickie James returning in the 2022 Royal Rumble match as TNA Knockouts Champion was just an isolated case. This, however, was different.
Jordynne Grace competing in the 2024 Royal Rumble match marked the beginning of a working partnership with Total Nonstop Action. From this point forward, TNA wrestlers like Grace, Joe Hendry, and Rosemary would appear in NXT and vice versa throughout 2024. This helped put the previously stagnant Impact promotion back on the map, while also adding a new level of interest in the WWE product from those outside of it.
10
John Cena returns to announce his retirement
Money in the Bank 2024
This may not be the happiest time of the year, but it could be the most meaningful time of the year. John Cena returned to WWE television for the first time since WrestleMania. It was a welcome surprise for Money in the Bank fans, but it quickly took a dark turn when the 16-time world champion announced that 2025 would be his last year as an active wrestler, as he is ready to permanently hang up his animated kicks. .
Cena is a man who many people consider to be the greatest WWE Superstar of all time, so his farewell was always going to be big news. Cena announcing that he will work throughout the 2025 calendar year speaks to a mission statement for the next year of WWE storytelling. Fans may enter 2025 expecting Cena to pursue last-minute dream matches and perhaps one last title chase for one last hurray.
9
Trick Williams wins the NXT Championship
NXT Spring Break 
In their first meeting on WWE Vengeance Day, Trick Williams was unable to defeat Ilja Dragunov for her NXT Championship. After ending a feud with former friend Carmelo Hayes, Trick gained the confidence to challenge The Mad Dragon at Spring Breakin', and this time he would not be denied. With one last clash in the final seconds, both men attacking each other, it is Williams who would land the Trick Shot to prevail.
Although not as widely seen by the masses of WWE viewers because it is not the main roster this felt like a victory for the main cast due to the atmosphere. The crowd got loud when Williams successfully made his three count, to the point where even the camera shook. For NXT fans, finally seeing Trick win the big one was the equivalent of a WrestleMania moment, and his energy made this moment memorable.
8
Ethan Pages wins the NXT Championship
NXT Heatwave
Just 75 days after his first title reign, Trick Williams defended his NXT Championship against three top contenders. In the final moments, Williams lands the Trick Shot on Ethan Page, who - unconscious - falls onto a fallen Je'Von Evans. Shawn Spears prevents Trick from breaking up the pinfall, forcing the champion to watch his title slip out of his hands.
Besides just being a great moment, it's a strong contender for the most shocking ending to a 2024 wrestling match and, even more arguably, the best heel tactic of the year. All Ego was knocked out as a challenger, but woke up as champion. It echoes shadows of the WWE Backlash 2007 main event Fatal Four Way finale, albeit with a twist. This time, viewers got to see a title change, and this time it was largely thanks to a nefarious president who wanted to anger his nemesis Williams.
7
Dominik Mysterio and Liv Morgan's first kiss
Raw, May 27, 2024
There was a time when the three-way feud between Liv Morgan, “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio and Rhea Ripley was the hottest angle of the year. The crowds ate it up, especially since Liv continued to seduce Dom for months while Ripley was out injured. The biggest twist in the story came when Liv lip-locked Mysterio to end her Steel Cage main event with Becky Lynch.
Some will argue that Dom's heel turn at SummerSlam sealed with a kiss was much more memorable, but it's a case of not getting the chicken without the egg. This ultimate union between WWE's IT couple won't happen if Liv never catches Dom off guard by giving him his first kiss when he least expects it.
6
Bronson Reed hits a tsunami on Braun Strowman on top of a car
Raw, August 26, 2024
The chaotic antics between Braun Strowman and Bronson Reed were some of the most entertaining highlights of 2024. Although the feud ended with a Last Monster Standing match that received a mixed reaction, the most fun-to-watch brawl took place on August 26th. one of the most devastating Tsunamis in WWE history.
Moments like these helped transform Bronson Reed into WWE's next big thing. 2024 was his breakout year, and he always created unmissable moments like this that would be worth talking about every week. This particular moment managed to be the most electrifying, as fans can't get enough of seeing two giants collide with each other. This collision was like watching Godzilla collide with Mothra at full speed, destroying everything around him in flames.
5
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods Launch Big E in the New Day
Raw, December 2, 2024
New Day celebrating its 10-year anniversary was one of the most anticipated segments of the year. Early on, a breakup was hinted at for months, with many speculating that Kofi Kingston or Xavier Woods would turn on each other. No one expected the two to attack an injured Big E.
Few moments in WWE have produced such a visceral and emotional reaction as this segment.. Fans were furious to see Kofi and Xavier berate E and basically kick him out of the New Day. The social media backlash was immense, translating into some of the loudest boos on WWE TV in every promo they've done since. The pair have managed to keep the momentum going with several segments since then, most notably the one where Kofi's mother turns her back on him, but that initial heel turn can't be beaten.
4
Wyatt Sicks' debut
Raw, June 17, 2024
For several weeks, ominous and cryptic messages were displayed in video packages that would play randomly, some of which would need to be unlocked on social media through clues. It would all finally culminate in the final minutes of this episode of Raw. The lights go out, and suddenly several members of the team, crew, and even the squad (most notably Chad Gable) are found unconscious. The Wyatt Sicks (or 6, Six) would emerge as the culprits.
Bo Dallas would return as his Uncle Howdy alter ego. Now in tow he would have former Wyatt Family member Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis, Joe Gacy (debuting in NXT) and Nikki Cross, all donning spinoffs of characters from Bray Wyatt's Firefly Funhouse. Bray Wyatt's death was a tragedy, but this new stable paid perfect tribute to his legacymaking an impactful and intriguing first appearance.
3
The Rock recognizes Roman reigns
Smash March 1, 2024
In what is easily the longest segment of the year, taking up nearly an hour of space (commercials included), The Bloodline reunites with their newest member in tow. Things start off hilariously with The Brahma Bull referring to the crowd as crackheads (one of his funniest moments), before things get deadly serious when The Rock issues a WrestleMania challenge to Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes, apparently without consulting the Boss Tribal beforehand. Refusing to be introduced by his distant cousin, the Head of the Bureau demands that Mr. Hollywood recognize him.
It seems like a stretch to suggest that one segment has “everything,” but if any promotion feels right, it’s this one. There's laughs, suspense, a main event made for WrestleMania, and a tease for a future WrestleMania match. Some will argue that it's too long, but it remained captivating to the WWE Universe every minute.
2
The Rock turns Cody Rhodes into a bloody pulp
Raw, March 25, 2024
The closer WrestleMania got, the closer The Rock was prepared to face Cody Rhodes. When The Final Boss finally got his hands on the Royal Rumble winner, The Rock unleashed a beatdown that would give anyone an American nightmare. He punched Rhodes' youngest son to a bloody pulp, whipping him with a belt to knock Raw off the air. Social media footage would reveal that The Rock continued to beat Rhodes after the show went off the air.
It's rare to see WWE showing any kind of blood since the company became PG, so seeing him here was a special moment. In addition to the shock of seeing blood, really established that this was a new version of The Rock, unlike anything seen before. This segment showed that this Bloodline Boss was much more brutal than ever, casting Cody as the perfect underdog in peril. The stunning view in the rain only amplified the moment even more.
1
Cody Rhodes finally finishes the story
WrestleMania XL
Cody Rhodes returned to WWE with one goal in mind: finish the story by winning the title his father Dusty failed to bring home 47 years ago. He hit a roadblock at WrestleMania 39 when Bloodline's interference prevented him from beating Roman Reigns for the belt. Mania 40 presented an even greater challenge under Bloodline Rules for the rematch. The WWE Universe grew tired of the Bloodline ruling the company with an iron fist for four years, and Superstars past and present stepped in to even the odds.
Once the Bloodline was neutralized, The American Nightmare could focus on the Chief of Staff and yield several years of narrative. The Marvel-style cameos were pop-worthy, but didn't overshadow what made the moment truly special. Fans have waited years — decades, counting Dusty — to see Rhodes hold the WWE Championship, and it was totally satisfying to finally see a storybook ending.