Pro wrestling has returned to prominence after a strong year of surprise returns, top-notch matches and engaging stories.

In 2024, WWE went on a hot streak thanks to Roman Reigns' time on top, Cody Rhodes' quest to restore his family's honor, and an electrifying heel turn. Some of the company's biggest feuds grew long in the tooth and the execution wasn't always perfect, but it would be hard to deny its successes vastly outweighed its misfires.

Meanwhile, All Elite Wrestling has stumbled in its fifth year as it continues to deliver an alternative to the global juggernaut. The Elite's hostile takeover had a promising start but quickly fizzled out without an impactful protagonist to work against.

Nevertheless, the emergence of Swerve Strickland and a new crop of highly sought-after free agents such as Will Ospreay provided bright spots. AEW's pay-per-view output also remained stellar even when the weekly programming wasn't as enthralling as its early years.

No matter what your company of choice has been, wrestling feels cool again, and that's a good thing for the entire industry heading into 2025.

Let's rank the best WWE and AEW storylines of the year.

8. Liv Morgan's Revenge Tour

In January, Liv Morgan returned after six months to enter the women's Royal Rumble match and exact revenge on Rhea Ripley.

The Australian turned on her former partner, cost her and Raquel Rodriguez the tag titles, and took her out of commission in 2023. Their history together made Morgan a favorite to defeat the then-women's world champion heading into WrestleMania 40 season.

However, the New Jersey native didn't earn a chance to unseat her ahead of the event, and she attacked her backstage the following night. As a result, Ripley was forced to vacate her title, sparking a double turn.

In her absence, Morgan stayed true to her word and took everything her tormentor held dear including Dominik Mysterio and her spot in The Judgment Day. This year-long feud has gone on too long, but it has been a defining storyline for WWE in 2024.

Despite its flaws, fans are clearly invested, and both women have grown more popular in their respective roles.

7. The New Day Return to Their Roots

The New Day's turmoil and eventual heel turn has been one of the year's highlights on WWE Raw.

This story arc became a pleasant surprise after Karrion Kross tempted Xavier Woods to step out of Kofi Kingston's shadow and join his ranks. His growing frustration with the status of the stable led to some uncomfortable arguments and compelling segments.

In truth, this angle excelled because Woods and Kingston drew from 10 years' worth of continuity and planted several clever Easter eggs for longtime fans. Their gut-wrenching exchange from the Nov. 25 episode was one of the best backstage segments of 2024 and an excellent teaser for their 10th-anniversary celebration the following week.

As viewers prepared for the split we never imagined would come, WWE delivered one of the greatest swerves in recent memory. Instead, the duo kicked Big E out of the group and revealed he would never be cleared to return.

The heat they generated on the next episode was incredible, and we can't wait to see what's next for the decorated tag team.

6. Bryan Danielson's Last Shot

Bryan Danielson was, arguably, wrestler of the year, and his final weeks as a full-time member of the AEW roster were certainly a roller coaster.

Yes, the follow-up to his long-awaited world title win was disappointing, but the journey to his triumphant moment at All In London was still special. The American Dragon started the year on a high note with a venture to Japan to face Kazuchicka Okada in a highly acclaimed rematch at Wrestle Kingdom 18.

However, Danielson suffered a humbling loss to The Rainmaker at the Tokyo Dome. The notable arrogance that defined most of his defiant AEW run waned as he lost to Zack Sabre Jr., Eddie Kingston and Will Ospreay.

With growing questions of whether he could still compete with younger, hungry opponents, he entered and won the men's Owen Hart Cup. This led to an instant classic against Swerve Strickland at Wembley Stadium and a career highlight for the beloved wrestling savant.

His last match at WrestleDream and the aftermath were divisive, but his campaign to win the company's top prize was a fantastic cap on his post-WWE career.

5. The Bloodline Saga Continues

Many viewers wondered what life after Roman Reigns' historic title run would look like, but WWE proved there are still plenty of stories to tell.

Straight away, Solo Sikoa remolded The Bloodline in his image, effectively building anticipation for The Original Tribal Chief's return. The new iteration of the stable also grew into its own with the arrival of Jacob Fatu as its enforcer.

WWE specializes in producing unforgettable moments, and this storyline created many in the build towards Survivor Series: WarGames. Reigns' return at SummerSlam, his uneasy alliance with Cody Rhodes, the OG Bloodline reunion and CM Punk's reveal as the fifth member were all tremendous.

The men's WarGames match was also a great culmination to this chapter of the story that left enough dangling plot threads to keep us interested.

Still, the most impressive feat is how WWE has connected so many threads to this storyline on Raw and SmackDown such as Kevin Owens' heel turn and Seth Rollins' current rivalry with Punk.

4. Drew McIntyre Prays For CM Punk's Downfall

WWE masterfully turned an unfortunate injury into one of its best feuds of the year after CM Punk tore his tricep in the men's Royal Rumble match.

This brief bump in the road halted the Chicagoan's momentum after his first in-ring appearance for the company in 10 years. Nonetheless, it also set up one of his best promos since his return and a dangerous game of one-upmanship with Drew McIntyre.

The Scottish Warrior said he prayed for Punk's downfall and gloated about thwarting his dream of headlining WrestleMania for the first time. The Second City Saint returned the favor as he cost his rival the World Heavyweight Championship at The Showcase of the Immortals and again at Clash at the Castle: Scotland.

Their back-and-forth got a bit hokey when the friendship bracelet was introduced and the SummerSlam match didn't live up to the hype. Nevertheless, it picked up again in the weeks ahead of Bash in Berlin, and their Hell in the Cell match at Bad Blood was a violent masterpiece.

This trilogy of matches is among Punk's best work since his return to pro wrestling. Additionally, McIntyre developed into one of the company's most captivating antagonists.

3. 'Hangman' Adam Page and Swerve Strickland's Bitter Rivalry

"Hangman" Adam Page and Swerve Strickland produced the best feud of 2023, but their work together this year elevated it into an all-time great pro wrestling rivalry.

At Revolution, Hangman officially turned heel as he tapped out to Samoa Joe, ensuring his enemy would not win the world title. Afterward, he attacked two officials, resulting in an onscreen suspension.

While Page was away, Strickland achieved his goal of becoming the first Black AEW world champion at Dynasty and matured into a fan favorite. This enraged the 33-year-old and furthered his descent into madness ahead of Blood and Guts and his stint in the men's Owen Hart Cup.

His obsession with revenge took a drastic turn during the go-home episode of Dynamite before All Out when Hangman burned down Strickland's childhood home. The visual of him sitting in front of the house engulfed in flames will go down as one of the most iconic images of the year.

Their ultra-violent unsanctioned steel cage match at All Out emphasized how much Page has changed from the honorable man we knew. Conversely, Strickland's ambition tarnished both men and granted him the moniker "The Most Dangerous Man in AEW."

2. The Rise and Fall of Toni Storm

"Timeless" Toni Storm emerged as one of the most intriguing characters in pro wrestling and an outstanding AEW women's world champion.

Her rise as the division's top star and eventual fall to her understudy is among the greatest long-term storytelling the company has ever produced. From the moment Mariah May debuted last November, AEW started planting the seeds for her to earn Storm's trust and betray her as soon as she had the chance.

So much so that it felt inevitable when The Glamour entered the women's Owen Hart Cup to earn a shot at the women's title. Still, nothing could prepare us for the closing moments of the tournament finals as May viciously bludgeoned her idol with her own shoe, a callback to Storm's catchphrase.

The 26-year-old showed no remorse as she discarded her mentor and defeated her at All In London for the women's title.

This storyline was an exceptional way to showcase the women and create a new star.

1. Cody Rhodes Finishes The Story

At Royal Rumble, Cody Rhodes achieved what many thought impossible as the first back-to-back winner since 1998, setting him on a collision course with Roman Reigns.

Who could have guessed that this story would take so many twists and turns as he stared down the then-champion to close the show? Nevertheless, The Rock entered the fray and seemingly convinced him not to challenge Reigns on the Feb. 2 episode of SmackDown.

Luckily, WWE pivoted after the backlash from the fans and put us back on the path toward the logical conclusion to this feud. As a result, The Rock turned heel and delivered some of his best work in years as The Final Boss.

Even more, Rhodes finally vanquished Reigns and finished the story on Night 2 of WrestleMania 40. It was one of the most rewarding moments in the history of the event and a proper celebration of its anniversary.

All the extra layers such as Seth Rollins' sacrifice and The Tribal Chief's last attempt to humiliate him made it even more memorable.

It was truly a perfect ending and a WrestleMania moment that will stand the test of time.