Indeed Wrestling: Reviewing some year-end match stats (WWE)

In terms of the last 12 months (December 2013-November 2014), let's start by looking at Meltzer's ***+ Star Ratings.

Most three-star-plus matches in the past 12 months

Randy Orton: 16 matches
John Cena: 14 matches
Dean Ambrose: 12 matches
Seth Rollins: 11 matches
Cesaro: 11 matches
Roman Reigns: 10 matches
Bray Wyatt: 10 matches
Daniel Bryan: 8 matches
Sheamus: 7 matches
Jack Swagger: 7 matches
Luke Harper & Erick Rowan: 5 matches
Jey & Jimmy Uso: 5 matches
Adrian Neville: 5 matches (NXT)

It's interesting to see Orton so high. He's certainly not someone who people have been thinking about as having a "big" year.

It's been a year where two of the WWE stars slated for the biggest pushes (Daniel Bryan & Roman Reigns) were unexpectedly sidelined with serious injuries. Meanwhile, the old guard (Orton & Cena) continue to compete and perform at the top level. It's been a big year for the remnants of the Shield and Wyatt Family. Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins really came into their own as singles stars, and the Harper/Rowan team really tore the house down when they were facing the Shield and the Usos.

Cesaro may be the great missed opportunity in 2014. His show of strength in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, his team with Swagger as the Real Americans, his excellent singles matches with RVD, Sheamus, Ziggler, Sami Zayn Cena, and Orton. It's clear WWE's lacks complete faith in him (as evidenced by Vince McMahon's comments during the Austin podcast). However, if there was anyone who persevered and demonstrated outstanding skill throughout the year, Here's to hoping for a much better 2015.

WWE Matches that were rated *** or higher by Dave Meltzer

Randy Orton

12/15/13 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Tables, Ladders and Chairs)

12/16/13 Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan ****

1/26/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena ***1/4

2/3/14 Randy Orton vs. Daniel Bryan ****

2/7/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Cage) (Non-televised) ***1/2

2/10/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena ***1/2

2/14/14 Randy Orton vs. Cesaro ***1/2

2/23/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Christian (Elimination Chamber) ***3/4

4/7/14 Batista vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton ****1/2

5/4/14 Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista ****1/2

6/1/14 Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista (Elimination) ****

6/29/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Bray Wyatt (Ladder) ****

7/20/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Kane ***1/4

8/17/14 Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton ****

9/14/14 Randy Orton vs. Chris Jericho ****

10/26/14 John Cena vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell) ***3/4

John Cena

12/15/13 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Tables, Ladders and Chairs)

1/26/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena ***1/4

2/7/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena (Cage) (Non-televised) ***1/2

2/10/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena ***1/2

2/17/14 John Cena vs. Cesaro ****1/4

2/23/14 Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Sheamus vs. Daniel Bryan vs. Cesaro vs. Christian (Elimination Chamber) ***3/4

4/7/14 John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt ***1/2

6/1/14 John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt (Last Man Standing) ****1/2

6/29/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Cesaro vs. Sheamus vs. Kane vs. Alberto Del Rio vs. Bray Wyatt (Ladder) ****

7/20/14 John Cena vs. Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. Kane ***1/4

8/17/14 Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena ****1/4

9/14/14 John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar ***1/2

10/26/14 John Cena vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell) ***3/4

11/23/14 John Cena/Dolph Ziggler/Erick Rowan/Ryback/Big Show vs. Seth Rollins/Mark Henry/Luke Harper/Kane/Rusev (Elimination) ****1/2

Dean Ambrose

12/15/13 CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose ***

2/14/14 Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose/Seth Rollings vs. Sheamus/Daniel Bryan/Christian ***3/4

2/23/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/4

3/3/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Luke Harper/Erick Rowan ****1/2

4/8/14 Dean Ambrose/Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt/Erick Rowan/Luke Harper ****1/4

5/4/14 Seth Rollins/Roman Reigns/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista ****1/2

6/1/14 Roman Reigns/Seth Rollins/Dean Ambrose vs. Triple H/Randy Orton/Batista (Elimination) ****

6/29/14 Seth Rollins vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Jack Swagger vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Rob Van Dam vs. Kofi Kingston (Ladder) ****1/2

8/17/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Lumberjack Match) ***3/4

8/18/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Falls Count Anywhere) ****1/4

10/26/14 Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins (Hell in a Cell) ****

11/23/14 Bray Wyatt vs. Dean Ambrose ***1/4

Seth Rollins