2014 in professional wrestling describes the year's events in the world of professional wrestling. List of notable promotions These promotions held notable shows in 2014. Calendar of notable shows January February March April May June July August September October November December Notable events February 24 – WWE launched the WWE Network in the United States, an over-the-top streaming service and digital television network, hosting thousands of hours of in-ring shows and all pay-per-views (PPV) from WWE and various promotions they have acquired over the years, such as Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling, as well as airing current WWE PPVs, NXT events, and other original productions. It had a staggered launch throughout the rest of the world. December 1 – New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) launched NJPW World, a worldwide streaming site for the promotion's events, including airing current events live as well as hosting events from the promotion's archives, dating back to 1972. Accomplishments and tournaments AAA Total Nonstop Action Wrestling WWE Title changes AAA NJPW ROH The Crash Lucha Libre TNA WWE NXT Awards and honors AAA Hall of Fame Pro Wrestling Illustrated TNA Hall of Fame Wrestling Observer Newsletter Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards WWE WWE Hall of Fame Slammy Awards Debuts Uncertain debut date Lacey Evans January 1 - Dragon Lee (wrestler) January 12 – Yuna Manase January 28 – Rika Tatsumi April 12 - Carmelo Hayes April 29 – Shunma Katsumata May 17 – Tom Lawlor May 31 – Chelsea Green/Laurel Van Ness June 13 – Tessa Blanchard August 6 Kota Sekifuda Toshiyuki Sakuda September 5 – Chad Gable September 18 – Dana Brooke October 3 – Velveteen Dream October 18 Kota Umeda Kouki Iwasaki November 24 – Michiko Miyagi November 28 – Dai Suzuki November 29 Kazusada Higuchi Ryota Nakatsu December 19 – Braun Strowman Retirements Kaitlyn (August 29, 2010 – January 8, 2014) (first retirement, returned in 2018 on Mae Young Classic) Jillian Hall (1998 – January 21, 2014) Bonnie Maxon (2000 – January 24, 2014) CM Punk (1999–January 2014; returned in 2021) Kensuke Sasaki (February 16, 1986 – February 13, 2014) El Dandy (1981–2014) Axl Rotten (1987–2014) Chuck Palumbo (1998–2014) Sgt. Slaughter (1972-March 29, 2014) Beulah McGillicutty (1995–2014) Christian Cage (1995–2014) (first retirement, returned to WWE in June 2020) Drake Wuertz (August 31, 2001 – April 27, 2014) Sarah Bäckman (2012–2014) Jose Gonzalez (1966-2014) Adrian Street (1957