Pro wrestling in 2021: Looking back at the highs and lows of the year for both AEW and WWE

While there is no shortage of wild and unique years in the history of professional wrestling, 2021 will go down as one of the most interesting of them all. There were constant landscape-changing bombshells dropped throughout the year as WWE and AEW attempted to continue navigating a global pandemic.

From talent jumping ship to talent long-retired making unlikely returns, the most important rosters in American pro wrestling shifted continuously, though maybe most surprisingly, many of those changes came as WWE made several massive cuts to their roster.

There was also the return of live fans, and eventually, touring schedules. While uncertainty continues to reign as COVID-19 shows no signs of slowing down or developing more contagious variants, the wrestling business forges ahead, a constant on the airwaves as always.

Let’s take a look back at 2021 and the highs and lows in the world of wrestling.

The good

Big events delivered the goods: Whatever your feelings on WWE’s weekly television product, the promotion continues to largely shine during major events. There’s no denying that the WWE roster is as talent-laden as ever, even as they released heaps of skilled performers over the calendar year. It wasn’t often a WWE pay-per-view event left you feeling let down by the in-ring action.

If WWE’s big events were good, AEW’s were incredible. Twice in 2021, AEW delivered events that rank among the best pay-per-views in the history of wrestling. All Out and Full Gear were nights that reminded what pro wrestling at its absolute best can provide: full of surprises, thrills and nail-biting action. AEW even made good on their more heavily-hyped TV specials with moments like a fully off-the-leash Bryan Danielson going 60 minutes with Kenny Omega and 90 minutes with Adam Page, and of course, the return of CM Punk.

Big E finally reached the top: For years, WWE fans have singled out Big E as someone…