1. The WWE Network
Far more than just the biggest news story of the week, the WWE Network will probably finish up being the biggest wrestling story of 2014. Announced in Las Vegas on Wednesday, the Network will be a complete change of business model for the sports entertainment broadcaster. For $9.99 a month (6 month commitment) fans will get the WWE rolling channel, on demand content and monthly pay per view. That includes Wrestlemania. It is a stunning deal that will surely have fans signing up in droves. How much of a long term success this proves will be interesting to see. The Network, which launches toward the end of February, is already sending shock waves among WWE's corporate partners. DirecTV is one partner who has already expressed concern, pointing out that the cheap internet price undermines their own box office provision of pay per view. The company is said to be re-evaluating their partnership. Others could follow suit. What is the necessity to watch anything on television or ppv anymore when you can do it cheaper and at your leisure online? The industry ramifications we will have to wait and see, but right now, for wrestling fans it is a very exciting time to re-engage with WWE content. The Network is like a dream come true.