10 Times WWE Hit The Mainstream In 2014

The biggest crossover stories of the year.

By Kieran Shiach /

Every few years, WWE and wrestling on the whole goes through another boom period where it becomes more popular and visible in the mainstream. WrestleMania made Hulk Hogan a household name, and The Attitude Era turned the likes of The Rock and €œStone Cold€ Steve Austin into global superstars. It seems like professional wrestling might be on another upswing as it was all over pop culture in 2014. People who were children during The Attitude Era are now adults with jobs and families of their own, and it seems everyone is remembering how cool wrestling can be. Wrestling is starting to be taken more seriously in the media as well, with the success of Total Divas and The Rock and Batista storming through Hollywood. Popular publications like The Independent and Rolling Stone now cover WWE, and independent wrestling is getting the spotlight thanks to documentaries like Insane Fight Club and Smack €˜Em Up. 2015 seems like it€™s going to be an even better year for wrestling in pop culture, especially with crossovers like John Cena appearing in Parks & Recreation and two big budget comedies. As we head into the new year, here are the ten biggest news stories featuring wrestling from the last one.