Top WWE Wrestlers of 2017

Two-thousand-and-seventeen was a strong year year for World Wrestling Entertainment. It followed 2016 which put more emphasis than ever on in-ring quality, athleticism, and what once previously might have been referred to as “indy style” – holds are still being worked, but guys are hitting harder and flying all over the place and going for This is Awesome chants more frequently.

WWE also went back to what they are good at – pushing superstars. The rise of Braun Strowman made 2017 a very fun time, as did most of Monday Night RAW in general, which was carried by the ascent (once again) of The Miz, the introduction of Samoa Joe, Kurt Angle as GM, the reunion of The Shield, and Roman Reigns having great TV match after great TV match. By the end of the year, all these guys feel like true superstars.

SmackDown meanwhile took a bit of a nosedive, seemingly forgetting how to tell compelling stories, making most of the midcard MIA, and making the wildcard choice to make Jinder Mahal its’ top star for most of the year. AJ Styles was stuck in a middling feud with Kevin Owens for a long time, while “top” guys like Orton and Nakamura and Owens and Zayn just didn’t deliver. I liked the idea of the Jinder Mahal push and there was some good stuff here and there, but so much focus on him learning to be a top guy really hurt the quality of everything from weekly TV to PPVs. Thankfully, The Usos and The New Day stepped up and cemented themselves as all-time great tag team professional wrestlers.

We also got the very cool Mae Young Classic which introduced a ton of fresh faces and offered some real gems like Kairi Sane vs. Bianca BelAir, Abbey Laith vs. Jazzy Gabert, and Shayna Baszler vs. anybody.

Let us remember the random stuff too – Austin Aries’ run in the first quarter of the year, Rusev vs. Chad Gable being weirdly amazing even though SmackDown forgot both guys existed, and Bayley just being completely buried in that trash feud with Alexa Bliss.

Neville managed to find his voice as a piece of garbage heel, but the presentation of 205 Live did its’ talented roster no favors.

And while the Four Horsewomen continue to be good rasslers, and while Alexa Bliss stepped up as a character, the ladies this year did not get a ton of moments to have great matches. When they got some focus, it tended to rule – when they didn’t though…

Anyways, let me get something out of the way real quick: ranking wrestlers is really dumb. So many of these sports entertainers we watch every week add so many little things to the overall pro wrestling world even if at the end of the year their work might not stand out as head and shoulders above everybody else. Plus, the presentation of WWE can be weird sometimes – due to a push or booking decision, some guys can easily look worse than they probably really are and vice versa. You might see a guy so much that he doesn’t seem really impressive, and then you look over his work in 2017 and go – Jesus, guy had like 20-30 great matches.

So, here is how I handle ranking WWE’s talent in 2017: I will list my overall Top 10, then separate the rest of the notable talents into categories.

The categories are as follows:

Overall Top 10– The cream of the crop… high-end matches, consistent work, strong promos, great sports entertainment.
Good Stuff, Not Enough– Wrestlers who had quite a few good performances but just weren’t featured enough to make the top 10.
Unsung Heroes– Wrestlers who weren’t pushed very hard but quietly had really good performances and added a lot to every match they were in.
The Cruiserweights– They only showed up in the middle of the year and their presentation has ranged from great (CWC) to terrible (RAW), so I talk about them here.
Hit-And-Miss– Wrestlers who had as many disappointments as they had great matches.
The Potential Is There– Midcard guys who had fun performances and seem primed to do great stuff even if they aren’t elite talents just yet.
Part-Time Pros– Reserved to give some love to guys who were only around very briefly but did well every time.
Do Better (Shame)– Wrestlers who disappointed this year – maybe they’re overrated or maybe they just suck.
This Was a Good Year– New for 2017! WWE has a heck of a roster right now, so here are some talents who might not have always stood out but deserve recognition as having a year where they made good contributions or made some serious progress.
The Asuka Award – I’ll tell you why later.

OVERALL TOP 10
1. ROMAN REIGNS
Roman Reigns appeared on Talk is Jericho this year and when asked about the boos he regularly receives from crowds, he responded simply, with a chuckle: “It’s loud.”

Roman Reigns is the Best Wrestler in the World. To do what he has done this year requires being the very best. The Ace of a wrestling company – let alone the biggest wrestling company in the world – isn’t always the best wrestler, but to keep up in today’s wrestling environment they better be close to it. Roman Reigns is THE best though – THE Top Guy in WWE, big time matches nearly every week on TV, great pay-per-view main events, with crowds going absolutely crazy every single time. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. That’s HARD, man. I know the thought goes that he gets mostly boos, and he still does – but towards the end of the year (and especially since The Shield reunion) those boos have shifted to legitimate cheers and just plain loud reactions to everything he does.

He’s certainly put in a lot of special positions, but nobody on this current roster would deliver more than him in those situations. I, as they say, believe that.

While he’s been legitimately good for a few years, he became elite this year when he decided, “Hey, that thing where I sold everything like death against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 31 worked. Let’s do that. Every time.” And it makes every single match of his a heated, dramatic main event. Roman Reigns has taken the WWE ace style, and whether you love it or hate it, innovated on top of it – Bruno, Hogan, Austin, Cena… Roman has taken that formula and included insane physicality that makes every match feel less like a super fun pro wrestling match and more like a super fun battle to the death.

Using this formula, Roman had so many guys’ best matches this year – Jericho, Owens, Balor, Rollins, Braun, Wyatt, Joe, Cesaro, Jordan, Elias. His series with Braun for most of the year was great and effectively positioned Braun as a Top Guy, and yes The Undertaker match sucked, but what really stood out to me was his TV matches. Guy was just having absolute clinics in how to have a good wrestling match people care about, using just a few signature spots and selling his ass off. He was by far the most consistent guy of the year.

Timing, physicality, facials, stuff between moves, SELLING – Roman does all the stuff us nerds try to quantify as what makes a wrestler good, and he does it for any wrestling fan whether they’ve seen a Super J Cup or Ric Flair match or not.

Nevermind the fact that 2017 was the year that positioned Roman Reigns as the infamous Face of The WWE. That was just a bonus to what was a special year of professional wrestling.

Key Performances

• Kevin Owens Banned From Ringside and If Roman is DQ’d or Counted Out, He Loses the Title – WWE U.S. Title: Roman Reigns [c] vs. Chris Jericho (RAW 1/2/17)
• No DQ Match – WWE Universal Title: Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens [c] (Chris Jericho in a Shark Cage) (Royal Rumble 1/29/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 2/6/17)
• Roman Reigns/Braun Strowman Contract Signing and Brawl (RAW 2/27/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Fastlane 3/5/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Jinder Mahal (RAW 3/13/17)
• Roman Reigns “This Is My Yard Now” promo (RAW 4/3/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Payback 4/30/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Finn Balor (RAW 5/15/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins (RAW 5/29/17)
• Fatal 5-Way Extreme Rules Universal Title #1 Contender Match: Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Samoa Joe (Extreme Rules 6/4/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Bray Wyatt (RAW 6/5/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 6/19/17)
• Ambulance Match: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Great Balls of Fire 2017 7/9/17)
• Winner Faces Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship at SummerSlam: Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 7/17/17)
• Last Man Standing Match: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 8/7/17)
• Roman Reigns/John Cena No Mercy Contract Signing (RAW 8/28/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Jason Jordan (RAW 9/11/17)
• John Cena vs. Roman Reigns (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. The Miz w/ The Miztourage (RAW 9/25/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Roman Reigns vs. The Miz [c] w/ The Miztourage (RAW 10/2/17)
• The Shield Reunion (RAW 10/9/17)
• Steel Cage Match: Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 10/16/17)
• The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose) vs. The Miz, Cesaro & Sheamus w/ The Miztourage (RAW 11/13/17)
• The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose) vs. The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Roman Reigns vs. The Miz [c] w/ The Miztourage (RAW 11/20/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Roman Reigns [c] vs. Elias w/ The Miztourage (RAW 11/27/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Roman Reigns [c] vs. Jason Jordan (RAW 12/4/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Roman Reigns [c] vs. Cesaro (RAW 12/11/17)
• The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose) vs. Samoa Joe, Cesaro & Sheamus (Tribute to the Troops 12/14/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Roman Reigns [c] vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 12/25/17)

2. THE MIZ
In 2017, The Miz made everywhere he went a better place and anybody he worked with a better talent. There was his first few months of the year spent in hot feuds with Ambrose and Cena that made SmackDown awesome; there was his debut on RAW and feuds with Ambrose and The Shield that made RAW awesome. He carried any brand he was on with epic promos among the best ever in wrestling, one of the only guys who can effectively carry this weird-ass brand of entertainment WWE has developed. Whether he’s mocking Cena with his wife at his side, having heated arguments with LaVar Ball, or talking The Shield into re-uniting – or even turning lemons into lemonade with the likes of Jason Jordan and The Miztourage – Miz is just the best guy at this crazy sports entertainment thing. Oh and the wrestling too. Miz kind of brought it all together last year feuding with Ziggler, and this year that trend continued. The guy has safe, simple matches that get over. His series with Reigns and Ambroise were both top shelf stuff, as were his random IC Title matches with Heath Slater and The Hardy Boyz. He even made Baron Corbin somewhat compelling. The Miz has been awesome for a long time, but 2017 was the year he cemented himself as an all-timer.

Key Performances

• WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] w/ Maryse vs. Dean Ambrose (RAW 1/3/17)
• The Miz Promo on Losing the IC Title and Being the Best (Talking Smack 1/3/17)
• Lumberjack Match – WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz w/ Maryse vs. Dean Ambrose [c] (SmackDown 1/24/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match: The Miz vs. Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 2/7/17)
• MizTV w/ John Cena (SmackDown 2/28/17)
• The Miz and Maryse Attack John Cena and Nikki Bella and Cut a Promo on Their Relationship (SmackDown 3/7/17)
• MizTV w/ The Miz and Maryse (SmackDown 3/14/17)
• Total Bellas Bullshit with The Miz and Maryse (Part 1 & 2) (SmackDown 3/21/17)
• The Miz and Maryse’s Total Bellas Bullshit Conclusion (SmackDown 3/28/17)
• The Miz & Maryse vs. John Cena & Nikki Bella (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• The Miz and Dean Ambrose Debut on RAW (RAW 4/10/17)
• Triple Threat WWE Intercontinental Title #1 Contender Match: The Miz w/ Maryse vs. Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor (RAW 5/1/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz w/ Maryse vs. Dean Ambrose [c] (RAW 5/15/17)
• If Ambrose is DQ’d, He Loses The Title – WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz w/ Maryse vs. Dean Ambrose [c]
• The Miz and Maryse WWE IC Title Celebration
• WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] w/ Maryse, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel vs. Heath Slater w/ Rhyno (Extreme Rules 6/4/17)
• MizTV w/ Lavar Ball and Sons (RAW 6/26/17)
• The Miz with Maryse, Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel presents The Mizzies (RAW 7/10/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] w/ Maryse and The Miztourage vs. Jeff Hardy w/ Matt Hardy (RAW 9/4/17)
• MizTV w/ Enzo Amore (RAW 9/11/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] vs. Jason Jordan (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] w/ The Miztourage vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 10/2/17)
• MizTV w/ Cesaro & Sheamus and The Shield Reunion (RAW 10/9/17)
• MizTV w/ Braun Strowman (RAW 10/16/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] w/ The Miztourage vs. Matt Hardy (RAW 10/30/17)
• The Miz Cell Phone Promo on Baron Corbin (Twitter 10/29/17)
• Intercontinental Champion vs. U.S. Champion: The Miz w/ The Miztourage vs. Baron Corbin (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: The Miz [c] w/ The Miztourage vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 11/20/17)

3. THE USOS
Like The Miz, I thought The Usos cemented themselves as all-time greats this year. I was on The Usos train prior to 2017 more than most I had seen for a while – they could be a bit one-note and repetitive, but really had the effective WWE tag formula down well. Then in late-2016 they turned heel and OH MY GOD. Give these guys 5 minutes and it’s a great TV match. Give them 10 and it’s a great match, period. Give them over 10 and you’re looking at a straight-up epic. They have a formula down but it’s a rollercoaster of a formula filled with huge saves, major spots, and great surprises. Combine that with great tag feuds with American Alpha and New Day, weirdly epic squashes on TV, and their epic promos that have me thinking they will follow Rock and Cena into the movies, and you’ve got yourselves an amazing team that tags together.

Key Performances

• The Usos Promo in the Crowd on American Alpha (SmackDown 2/21/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos vs. American Alpha [c]
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. American Alpha
• The Usos on Breezango’s Roleplaying (SmackDown 5/16/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. Breezango (Backlash 5/21/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. Breezango (SmackDown 5/23/17)
• The Usos In-Ring Promo on the Tag Team Division (SmackDown 5/30/17)
• The Usos on The New Day and Comedy (SmackDown 6/6/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods (Money in the Bank 6/18/17)
• The New Day/The Usos Rap Battle (SmackDown 7/4/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) w/ Big E (Battleground 7/23/17)
• The Usos Attack The New Day During Their Entrance Promo (SmackDown 7/25/17)
• The Usos vs. Sami Zayn & Tye Dillinger (SmackDown 8/8/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston [c] vs. The Usos (SummerSlam Kickoff 8/20/17)
• Sin City Street Fight – SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston)
• The Usos Promo on The New Day (SmackDown 10/3/17)
• Hell in a Cell – SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos vs. The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston [c] (Hell in a Cell 10/8/17)
• RAW Tag Team Champions vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos vs. Cesaro & Sheamus (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• The Usos vs. Rusev & Aiden English (SmackDown 12/12/17)
• The Uso Penitentary Promo (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match – SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Usos [c] vs. The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable vs. Rusev & Aiden English (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)
• The Usos Post-Clash of Champions Interview (Talking Smack 12/17/17)
• The Usos vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable (SmackDown 12/19/17)

4. JOHNNY GARGANO
He wasn’t on TV a ton thanks to being a part of the NXT brand, but there was just too much quality stuff this year from Johnny Wrestling to ignore. After an epic 2016 filled with great tags, the guy has put it together at working great singles matches and is one of the only pure babyfaces left in wrestling. He sells huge, builds to stuff, and fires that stuff off when it’s right. You can just feel the crowd connection to him any time he works too. He had so many great matches this year, and the key is they were great mostly because of his performance. The final #DIY/Revival tag, Almas match in Brooklyn, and Dunne and Ohno matches are must-watch stuff.

Key Performances

• NXT Tag Team Title: #DIY [c] vs. TM61 (NXT 1/4/17)
• NXT Tag Team Title: #DIY [c] vs. The Revival (NXT 1/11/17)
• NXT Tag Team Title: #DIY [c] vs. The Authors of Pain w/ Paul Ellering (NXT TakeOver: San Antonio 1/28/17)
• Triple Threat Elimination Match – NXT Tag Team Title: #DIY vs. The Authors of Pain [c] w/ Paul Ellering vs. The Revival (NXT TakeOver: Orlando 4/1/17)
• Ladder Match – NXT Tag Team Title: #DIY vs. The Authors of Pain [c] w/ Paul Ellering (NXT TakeOver: Chicago 5/20/17)
• Tommaso Ciampa attacks Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver: Chicago 5/20/17)
• Johnny Gargano in-ring promo on returning, Tommaso Ciampa, and needing to be Johnny Wrestling (NXT 7/12/17)
• Johnny Gargano vs. Raul Mendoza (NXT 8/2/17)
• Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn 8/19/17)
• Johnny Gargano vs. Riddick Moss w/ Tino Sabbatelli (NXT 9/13/17)
• Johnny Gargano vs. Tino Sabbatelli w/ Riddick Moss (NXT 9/20/17)
• Johnny Gargano vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega (NXT 10/11/17)
• Johnny Gargano vs. Fabian Aichner (NXT 11/1/17)
• WWE U.K. Title: Johnny Gargano vs. Pete Dunne [c] (NXT 11/22/17)
• NXT Title #1 Contender Fatal 4-Way Qualifier: Johnny Gargano vs. Kassius Ohno (NXT 12/6/17)
• Fatal 4-Way NXT Title #1 Contender Match: Lars Sullivan vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Aleister Black vs. Killian Dain (NXT 12/27/17)

5. BRAUN STROWMAN
It’s always fun to see WWE strap a rocket to someone’s back, and Braun Strowman handled it better than most. Great matches, great angles, and it’s so awesome to have a guy on the roster with such an aura that when his music hits you know somebody is getting messed up. I’m not going to claim he’s some ring general (yet), but Braun delivered in every single spot he was put in (outside of that Brock match, but I blame Brock more for that). The series with Big Show and Braun were legit classics, but he also had great TV matches with Ambrose, Rollins, Cena, Matt Hardy, and even Apollo Crews. 2017 was such a fun ride and most of it was due to this guy.

Key Performances

• Last Man Standing Match: Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 1/2/17)
• Handicap Match: Braun Strowman vs. Dusty Wallace, James Stock, Rob Kelly & TC Bonus (RAW 2/6/17)
• Braun Strowman Attacks Roman Reigns with Steel Steps and Powerslams Him Through the Barricade (RAW 2/6/17)
• Braun Strowman vs. Mark Henry (RAW 2/13/17)
• Braun Strowman vs. Big Show (RAW 2/20/17)
• Braun Strowman/Roman Reigns Contract Signing (RAW 2/27/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Fastlane 3/5/17)
• Braun Strowman Blindsides Roman Reigns (RAW 3/13/17)
• Braun Strowman Pushes Over an Ambulance with Roman Reigns In It (RAW 4/10/17)
• Braun Strowman vs. Big Show (the ring breaks) (RAW 4/17/17)
• Braun Strowman Puts Kalisto in a Dumpster and Pushes it off the Entrance (RAW 4/24/17)
• Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (Payback 4/30/17)
• Braun Strowman Returns and Challenges Roman Reigns to an Ambulance Match (RAW 6/19/17)
• Braun Strowman vs. Apollo Crews w/ Titus O’Neil (RAW 7/3/17)
• Ambulance Match: Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns (Great Balls of Fire 7/9/17)
• Braun Strowman Survives an Ambulance Accident and Walks Away Bleeding (Great Balls of Fire 7/9/17)
• Triple Threat Match: Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe
• Last Man Standing Match: Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 7/31/17)
• Braun Strowman Interrupts Paul Heyman and Lays Out Brock Lesnar (RAW 8/21/17)
• If Brock Lesnar Loses, He Leaves WWE – Fatal 4-Way Match – WWE Universal Title: Braun Strowman vs. Brock Lesnar [c] w/ Paul Heyman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• Steel Cage Match: Braun Strowman vs. Big Show (RAW 9/4/17)
• Braun Strowman vs. John Cena (RAW 9/11/17)
• Braun Strowman/Brock Lesnar with Paul Heyman Split-Screen Interview (RAW 9/18/17)
• Braun Strowman vs. Dean Ambrose (RAW 9/25/17)
• Braun Strowman vs. Seth Rollins (RAW 10/2/17)
• Braun Strowman vs. Matt Hardy (RAW 10/9/17)
• Braun Strowman Rises from a Dumpster Truck and Attacks The Miz and The Miztourage (RAW 10/30/17)
• Steel Cage Match: Braun Strowman vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 10/16/17)
• Braun Strowman lays out Triple H (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• Braun Strowman Interrupts and Attacks Elias (RAW 12/4/17)
• Secret Santa Handicap Match: Braun Strowman vs. The Miztourage (RAW 12/25/17)

6. PETE DUNNE
Pete Dunne exploded on the WWE radar in January and instantly showed off his greatness – defined character that he milks to death, awesome matwork and beatings, matches that feel legit, matches that to build to these insane crescendos. Much like Gargano, he had only like eight matches in WWE all year but all of them were top shelf. Dunne was in my #1 and #4 matches of the year with Tyler Bate, and I am still so impressed by his 3-match performance on Night 2 of the UK Title Tournament. The legacy of Regal and Finlay continues, and he can do a backflip.

Honorable Mentions go to Tyler Bate and Mark Andrews, who both had excellent years, even if those excellent years were mostly opposing Pete Dunne.

Key Performances

• Pete Dunne attacks Sam Gradwell and is Confronted by William Regal (WWE U.K. Championship Tournament Night 1 1/14/17)
• WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Quarter Finals: Pete Dunne vs. Sam Gradwell (WWE U.K. Championship Tournament Night 2 1/15/17)
• WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Semi Final: Pete Dunne vs. Mark Andrews (WWE U.K. Championship Tournament Night 2 1/15/17)
• Pete Dunne attacks Tyler Bate’s shoulder and William Regal forces Dunne to the back (WWE U.K. Championship Tournament Night 2 1/15/17)
• WWE U.K. Title Tournament – Final: Pete Dunne vs. Tyler Bate (WWE U.K. Championship Tournament Night 2 1/15/17)
• Pete Dunne vs. Mark Andrews (NXT 2/22/17)
• WWE U.K. Title #1 Contender Match: Trent Seven vs. Pete Dunne (WWE U.K. Championship Special 5/19/17)
• Pete Dunne shoves Mark Andrews and Stares Down Tyler Bate (U.K. Championship Special 5/19/17)
• WWE U.K. Title: Tyler Bate [c] vs. Pete Dunne (NXT TakeOver: Chicago 5/20/17)
• Pete Dunne vs. Danny Burch (NXT 5/31/17)
• WWE U.K. Title: Pete Dunne [c] vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT 11/22/17)

7. AJ STYLES
AJ!!! DAMNIT, AJ! I don’t know what to say. My #1 wrestler (BY FAR) last year started 2017 with like 3 months of him continuing his incredible 2016 run, but once he had an epic with Shane freaking McMahon at WrestleMania he descended into post-Mania SmackDown hell and had like twelve middling matches with Kevin Owens. Even in non-Owens matches, it seemed like the spark had disappeared, and though he wasn’t in a ton of great positions, until like October you’d be hard pressed to name more than two great AJ Styles matches in 2017. But, suddenly, just like that – he was back. A few fun sprints with Tye Dillinger, a great match with Demon Balor, Jinder Mahal’s best ever matches, an absolute epic with Brock Lesnar. Welcome back, Mr. Styles. We missed you.

Key Performances

• John Cena/AJ Styles WWE Title Contract Signing (SmackDown 1/3/17)
• AJ Styles In-Ring Promo on the Royal Rumble Poster (SmackDown 1/24/17)
• WWE Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. John Cena (Royal Rumble 1/29/17)
• AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose (SmackDown 1/31/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match: AJ Styles vs. Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 2/7/17)
• Elimination Chamber – WWE Title: AJ Styles vs. John Cena [c] vs. Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Baron Corbin (Elimination Chamber 2/12/17)
• Triple Threat Match – WWE Title: AJ Styles vs. Bray Wyatt [c] vs. John Cena (SmackDown 2/14/17)
• WWE Title #1 Contender Match: AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton (SmackDown 3/7/17)
• AJ Styles Puts Shane McMahon Through a Car Window (SmackDown 3/14/17)
• AJ Styles vs. Shane McMahon (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• Triple Threat WWE U.S. Title #1 Contender’s Match: AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 4/11/17)
• AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 4/18/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens [c] (Backlash 5/21/17)
• AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura & Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler & Baron Corbin (SmackDown 6/13/17)
• Money in the Bank Ladder Match: AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Baron Corbin (Money in the Bank 6/18/17)
• Winner Enters the U.S. Title #1 Contender Battle Royal: AJ Styles vs. Chad Gable (SmackDown 7/4/17)
• Triple Threat Match – WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles vs. Kevin Owens [c] vs. Chris Jericho (SmackDown 7/25/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Kevin Owens (SmackDown 8/1/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Kevin Owens (Special Guest Referee: Shane McMahon) (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Tye Dillinger (SmackDown 9/12/17)
• Triple Threat Match – WWE U.S. Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Tye Dillinger vs. Baron Corbin (Hell in a Cell 10/8/17)
• AJ Styles vs. “The Demon” Finn Balor (TLC 10/22/17)
• AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins vs. The Miz, Cesaro & Sheamus w/ Curtis Axel (RAW 10/23/17)
• WWE Title: AJ Styles vs. Jinder Mahal [c] w/ The Singh Brothers vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 11/7/17)
• Universal Champion vs. WWE Champion: AJ Styles vs. Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• Handicap Match: AJ Styles vs. The Singh Brothers (SmackDown 11/28/17)
• WWE Title: AJ Styles [c] vs. Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)

8. NEVILLE
All Hail the King of the Cruiserweights. Even mired in 205 Live apathy, Neville stood out by finding the character he was born to play (both in and out of the ring) and just having awesome performance after awesome performance. He completely carried early 205 Live on his back and re-invented himself into top level talent. Whether he was having mini-epics with young 205 guys like Mustafa Ali or Cedric Alexander, or completely wrecking guys like Lince Dorado in all-time great squashes, or having some tremendous junior heavyweight matches with Austin Aries… Neville was my guy. And if he didn’t leave WWE in October (tears!) and capped the year off with a match or two I can truly say was an epic, he ranks way higher. He might not have had the in-ring highs as some of the guys above him, but for great consistent work Neville was the man.

Key Performances

• Neville vs. TJ Perkins (205 Live 1/3/17)
• Neville vs. Lince Dorado (RAW 1/9/17)
• Neville vs. Cedric Alexander (205 Live 1/24/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Jack Gallagher (Fastlane 3/5/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Rich Swann (RAW 3/6/17)
• Neville Interview with Austin Aries (RAW 3/6/17)
• Neville vs. Mustafa Ali (205 Live 3/21/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Austin Aries (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• Neville vs. Mustafa Ali (RAW 4/3/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Austin Aries (Payback 4/30/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. TJP (205 Live 6/6/17)
• Neville attacks Rich Swann and Cuts a Promo on Akira Tozawa (RAW 6/12/17)
• Neville vs. Rich Swann (205 Live 6/20/17)
• Neville vs. Lince Dorado (RAW 6/26/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil (Great Balls of Fire Kickoff 6/18/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil (RAW 8/14/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil (RAW 205 Live 8/22/17)
• Neville vs. Gran Metalik (RAW 9/18/17)

9. SAMOA JOE
Samoa Joe jumped to the main WWE roster in February and immediately proved to the entire world that he belonged. His run was dare I say like AJ Styles’ in 2016, as after a so-so start he just launched himself into Top Guy status. Great promos, good matches… the Zayn and Rollins’ series weren’t bad but it took Joe a bit to find his footing. Once he faced off with Brock I think WWE finally figured out who Joe is, and it has been an amazing ride ever since. He has lost a couple steps with age so might not be as spectacular as that Styles run but damn if this man has not talked and worked his way into some of the best moments of 2017. The Reigns matches and Brock angles are personal favorites.

Key Performances

• Samoa Joe Debuts and Chokes Out Seth Rollins (RAW 1/30/17)
• Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 2/6/17)
• Samoa Joe Attacks Sami Zayn and Chokes Him Out (RAW 2/13/17)
• Samoa Joe/Sami Zayn Pull-Apart Brawl (RAW 2/27/17)
• Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn (Fastlane 3/5/17)
• Samoa Joe vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 3/20/17)
• Samoa Joe vs. Chris Jericho (RAW 4/17/17)
• Samoa Joe Chokes Out Paul Heyman (RAW 6/5/17)
• Samoa Joe/Brock Lesnar Pull-Apart Brawl (RAW 6/12/17)
• Samoa Joe/Roman Reigns “Just Joe” Promo (RAW 6/19/17)
• Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 6/19/17)
• Samoa Joe Chokes Out Brock Lesnar From Behind (RAW 6/26/17)
• Samoa Joe/Brock Lesnar with Paul Heyman Split-Screen Sit-Down Interview Leading to a Confrontation (RAW 7/3/17)
• WWE Universal Title: Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar [c] w/ Paul Heyman (Great Balls of Fire 7/9/17)
• SummerSlam 4-Way Setup with Samoa Joe, Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns (RAW 7/10/17)
• Triple Threat Match: Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 7/31/17)
• If Brock Lesnar Loses, He Leaves WWE – Fatal 4-Way Match – WWE Universal Title: Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar [c] w/ Paul Heyman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor (RAW 11/6/17)
• Samoa Joe vs. Finn Balor (RAW 11/20/17)
• Samoa Joe, Cesaro & Sheamus vs. The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose) (Tribute to the Troops 12/14/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Samoa Joe vs. Roman Reigns [c] (RAW 12/25/17)

10. CESARO
It’s all about consistency, baby. Even if he’s stuck in a lot of questionable situations, even if nobody has still exactly figured out what his character is, Cesaro is always solid and always impressive. And then the last half of the year he cemented himself as one of the best tag guys in wrestling. Everybody brought some goodness to the Shield/Bar series, but Cesaro was the glue – he took his strong babyface opposition and his badass heel partner and created compelling magic around it. He also had three great singles matches with all three Shield guys. Love this man.

Key Performances

• Cesaro vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 2/27/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match – RAW Tag Team Title: Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson [c] vs. Enzo & Big Cass vs. The Hardy Boyz (return) (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title #1 Contender Match: Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Enzo & Big Cass (RAW 4/3/17)
• Cesaro w/ Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy w/ Matt Hardy (RAW 4/17/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Cesaro & Sheamus vs. The Hardy Boyz [c] (Payback 4/30/17)
• Cesaro w/ Sheamus vs. Finn Balor (RAW 7/3/17)
• 2/3 Falls – RAW Tag Team Title: Cesaro & Sheamus [c] vs. The Hardy Boyz (RAW 6/12/17)
• Cesaro w/ Sheamus vs. Dean Ambrose (RAW 8/7/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Cesaro & Sheamus [c] vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Cesaro & Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] (RAW 10/16/17)
• Cesaro, The Miz, Sheamus w/ Curtis Axel vs. Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins & AJ Styles (RAW 10/23/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] vs. Cesaro & Sheamus (RAW 11/6/17)
• Cesaro, The Miz & Sheamus w/ The Miztourage vs. The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose) (RAW 11/13/17)
• Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins (RAW 11/27/17)
• RAW Tag Team Champions vs. SmackDown Tag Team Champions: Cesaro & Sheamus vs. The Usos (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Cesaro vs. Roman Reigns [c] (RAW 12/11/17)

GOOD STUFF, NOT ENOUGH
1. ONEY LORCAN
Oney Lorcan had under ten matches all year but all of them were like the best matches of all-time. Oney does not exactly wrestle. He hurts. He slaps and he runs his entire body at you and he hurts you. He’s like a modern day Sabu, in that every time I watch him my eyes are glued to the screen wondering, What is this guy going to do next? I don’t know how WWE presents any of this on the main roster but all I know is any time I watched Oney Lorcan in 2017 it was a blast.

Key Performances

• Oney Lorcan vs. Tyler Bate (NXT 2/1/17)
• Oney Lorcan vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (NXT 3/22/17)
• Oney Lorcan vs. Rich Swann (205 Live 4/4/17)
• Oney Lorcan vs. Drew McIntyre (NXT 4/12/17)
• Oney Lorcan vs. Hideo Itami (NXT 6/7/17)
• Oney Lorcan vs. Hideo Itami (NXT 6/28/17)
• Oney Lorcan vs. Danny Burch (NXT 7/19/17)
• Oney Lorcan vs. Danny Burch (NXT 8/9/17)
• Oney Lorcan vs. Lars Sullivan (NXT 9/27/17)
• Oney Lorcan & Danny Burch vs. The Authors of Pain w/ Paul Ellering (NXT 12/13/17)

2. SASHA BANKS
2017 unfortunately didn’t have a ton of banner women’s wrestling matches like 2016, mainly because the Four Horsewomen were phased out for Alexa Bliss, Naomi and Natalya pushes. And I am OK with all of those but it’s not like you are getting epics every couple of months. So Sasha did have a few completely awesome performances that reminded us all that she is completely awesome, but she also had a lot of 5-minute duds on RAW that drove the show to a halt. Any time she gets time or focus – PPV matches, TV matches given build and time – it rocks. The other stuff, not so much. But the matches with Nia Jax, the shoot fights with Alexa… Sasha Banks is very good.

Key Performances

• Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match – RAW Women’s Title: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley [c] vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Nia Jax (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• Gauntlet Match – Winner Faces Alexa Bliss at Great Balls of Fire for RAW Women’s Title: Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax (RAW 6/26/17)
• RAW Women’s Title: Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss [c] (Great Balls of Fire 7/9/17)
• Winner Faces Alexa Bliss for RAW Women’s Title at SummerSlam: Sasha Banks vs. Bayley (RAW 7/24/17)
• Winner Faces Alexa Bliss for RAW Women’s Title at SummerSlam: Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax (RAW 8/14/17)
• RAW Women’s Title: Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss [c] (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• Fatal 5-Way Match – RAW Women’s Title: Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss [c] vs. Bayley vs. Nia Jax vs. Emma (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• Sasha Banks vs. Alicia Fox (TLC Kickoff 10/22/17)

3. CHARLOTTE FLAIR
Much like Sasha, any time she got a little love – it was great. But she also had a lukewarm babyface turn, is barely on SmackDown, and just didn’t have a lot of standout stuff. Charlotte still has a ton of talent (the matches with Bayley and Natalya, maaaan) and has come into her own as a TV star (the promo after she won the SD! Title!), but 2017 just didn’t have the peaks of 2016. Regardless, both Sasha and Charlotte continue to be underrated great wrestlers, given the positioning of both.

Key Performances

• RAW Women’s Title: Charlote Flair [c] vs. Bayley (Royal Rumble 1/29/17)
• RAW Women’s Title: Charlotte Flair [c] vs. Bayley (RAW 2/13/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Elimination Match – RAW Women’s Title: Charlotte Flair vs. Bayley [c] vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• SmackDown Women’s Title: Charlotte Flair vs. Naomi [c] (SmackDown 4/25/17)
• Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya (SmackDown 6/13/17)
• Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match: Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch vs. Natalya vs. Carmella w/ James Ellsworth vs. Tamina (SmackDown 6/27/17)
• Charlotte Flair vs. Becky Lynch (SmackDown 7/18/17)
• SmackDown Women’s Title: Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya [c] (SmackDown 11/14/17)
• Charlotte Flair Interview on winning the SmackDown Women’s Title (SmackDown 11/14/17)

4. THE REVIVAL
Both members of The Revival were injured for like 9 of this year’s 12 months but damn were those 3 months good. Awesome matches with #DIY and The Hardys, a random epic on Main Event with Gallows & Anderson. SAY YEAH!

Key Performances

• The Revival vs. Riddick Moss & Tino Sabbatelli (NXT 1/4/17)
• NXT Tag Team Title: The Revival vs. #DIY [c] (NXT 1/11/17)
• Triple Threat Elimination Match – NXT Tag Team Title: The Revival vs. The Authors of Pain [c] w/ Paul Ellering vs. #DIY (NXT TakeOver: Orlando 4/1/17)
• The Revival (debut) vs. The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston (RAW 4/3/17)
• The Revival vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (Main Event 6/28/17)
• Scott Dawson w/ Dash Wilder vs. Kalisto (Main Event 7/5/17)
• The Revival vs. The Hardy Boyz (RAW 7/17/17)

5. ANDRADE “CIEN” ALMAS
Andrade “Cien” Almas really came into his own this year. He continued to possess his impressive athleticism and charisma, but in 2017 figured out how to be a WWE star, started having Zelina Vega on his side, and began just striking the shit out of his opponents. The Brooklyn match with Johnny Wrestling is SO good, and I am excited to see where NXT Champ Andy Almas takes us.

Key Performances

• Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Oney Lorcan (NXT 3/22/17)
• Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Aleister Black (NXT TakeOver: Orlando 4/1/17)
• Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Drew McIntyre (NXT 4/26/17)
• Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
• Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT 10/11/17)
• Andrade “Cien” Almas vs. Roderick Strong (NXT 10/25/17)
• NXT Title: Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega vs. Drew McIntyre [c] (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 11/18/17)
• Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega vs. Fabian Aichner (NXT 12/13/17)

UNSUNG HEROES
1. SHEAMUS
Sheamus is the most WWE possible wrestler, a big fella who mostly does the same stuff every time. But every match is an awesome physical slugfest and he was again one of the most reliable TV guys there is. He just does all the little stuff that makes TV wrestling good… check out the Matt Hardy singles matches for the finest example of this. Hits hard, works for holds, times stuff well. The tag run with Cesaro has breathed new life into him too. I’m not sure marquee main eventer Sheamus has me jumping out of my seat, but upper midcarder Sheamus rules.

Key Performances

• Sheamus vs. Luke Gallows (RAW 1/9/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match – RAW Tag Team Title: Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson [c] vs. Enzo & Big Cass vs. The Hardy Boyz (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• Sheamus w/ Cesaro vs. Matt Hardy w/ Jeff Hardy (RAW 4/24/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Sheamus & Cesaro vs. The Hardy Boyz [c] (Payback 4/30/17)
• Winner Chooses the Extreme Rules Stipulation: Sheamus w/ Cesaro vs. Matt Hardy w/ Jeff Hardy (RAW 5/22/17)
• 2/3 Falls – RAW Tag Team Title: Sheamus & Cesaro [c] vs. The Hardy Boyz (RAW 6/12/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Sheamus & Cesaro [c] vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] (RAW 10/16/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] (RAW 11/6/17)
• Sheamus w/ Cesaro vs. Dean Ambrose w/ Seth Rollins (RAW 11/20/17)
• Sheamus vs. Seth Rollins (RAW 12/11/17)

2. DEAN AMBROSE
Dean Ambrose was here every god damn week. He is a great worker, though I am not sure he is a great wrestler. And that’s not a bad thing. He sells big, cuts great promos, and crowds react to him. Him in The Shield or with Rollins is so awesome as well. But he’s had his share of eh moments too, a guy who deserves to play it safe but still plays it safe. The amount of his notable performances is long, but his batting average isn’t great. Regardless, he was always reliable for a fun enough match that got the crowd going, and his peaks were high – vs. AJ Styles, The Miz series, The Shield tags, and especially the Street Fight with Baron Corbin which I loved.

Key Performances

• Ambrose Asylum w/ The Miz & Maryse (SmackDown 1/10/17)
• Lumberjack Match – WWE Intercontinental Title: Dean Ambrose [c] vs. The Miz w/ Maryse (SmackDown 1/24/17)
• Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 1/31/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match: Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles vs. The Miz vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 2/7/17)
• Dean Ambrose Thanks Baron Corbin for the “Good Talk” And Gets Put Under a Forklift (SmackDown 3/7/17)
• Dean Ambrose Promo on Baron Corbin (Talking Smack 3/21/17)
• Street Fight: Dean Ambrose vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 4/4/17)
• Dean Ambrose and The Miz Debut on RAW (RAW 4/10/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Dean Ambrose [c] vs. The Miz w/ Maryse (RAW 5/15/17)
• If Ambrose is DQ’d, He Loses The Title – WWE Intercontinental Title: Dean Ambrose [c] vs. The Miz w/ Maryse (Extreme Rules 6/4/17)
• Dean Ambrose vs. Elias Samson (RAW 6/12/17)
• 2-on-3 Handicap Match: Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins vs. The Miz & The Miztourage w/ Maryse (RAW 7/24/17)
• Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro w/ Sheamus (RAW 8/7/17)
• Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose Fist Bump (RAW 8/14/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro & Sheamus [c] (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins [c] vs. Cesaro & Sheamus (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• Dean Ambrose vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 9/25/17)
• The Shield Reunion (RAW 10/9/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins [c] vs. Cesaro & Sheamus (RAW 10/16/17)
• Dean Ambrose, Seth Rollins & AJ Styles vs. The Miz, Cesaro & Sheamus w/ Curtis Axel (RAW 10/23/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Sheamus & Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] (RAW 11/6/17)
• The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins) vs. The Miz, Cesaro & Sheamus w/ The Miztourage (RAW 11/13/17)
• The Shield (Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns & Seth Rollins) vs. The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• Dean Ambrose w/ Seth Rollins vs. Sheamus w/ Cesaro (RAW 11/20/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro & Sheamus [c] (RAW 12/4/17)

3. SETH ROLLINS
Seth Rollins has lost a step since his return last year but he still quietly had a hell of a year. Like Dean, there was a shit ton he did that I liked but not a lot I loved. Also like Dean, he was always reliable for a match on TV that got over. Plus, The Shield just rules and the last few months of 2017 has made Seth infinitely cooler.

Key Performances

• Royal Rumble Qualifying Match: Seth Rollins vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 1/23/17)
• Seth Rollins Invades NXT (NXT TakeOver: San Antonio 1/28/17)
• Seth Rollins and Triple H Sign the Hold Harmless Agreement (RAW 3/27/17)
• Unsanctioned Match: Seth Rollins vs. Triple H (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• Triple Threat WWE Intercontinental Title #1 Contender Match: Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor vs. The Miz w/ Maryse (RAW 5/1/17)
• Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 5/29/17)
• Fatal 5-Way Extreme Rules Universal Title #1 Contender Match: Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns vs. Finn Balor vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Samoa Joe (Extreme Rules 6/4/17)
• Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt (RAW 7/10/17)
• Seth Rollins Offers Dean Ambrose a Chairshot (RAW 7/17/17)
• 2-on-3 Handicap Match: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose vs. The Miz & The Miztourage (Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel) w/ Maryse (RAW 7/24/17)
• Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose Fist Bump (RAW 8/14/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose vs. Cesaro & Sheamus [c] (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] vs. Cesaro & Sheamus (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• Seth Rollins vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 10/2/17)
• The Shield Reunion (10/9/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] vs. Cesaro & Sheamus (RAW 10/16/17)
• Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose & AJ Styles vs. The Miz, Cesaro & Sheamus w/ Curtis Axel (RAW 10/23/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose [c] vs. Cesaro & Sheamus (RAW 11/6/17)
• The Shield (Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose) vs. The Miz, Cesaro & Sheamus w/ The Miztourage (RAW 11/13/17)
• The Shield (Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose) vs. The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• Cesaro vs. Seth Rollins (RAW 11/27/17)
• Seth Rollins vs. Sheamus (RAW 12/11/17)
• The Shield (Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns & Dean Ambrose) vs. Samoa Joe, Cesaro & Sheamus (Tribute to the Troops 12/14/17)

4. ELIAS
THE DRIFTER, BABY! I mean Elias Samson. I mean Elias. Here is one of those non-indy NXT guys that didn’t do much there, but completely excelled once called up to the main roster. The “Who wants to walk with Elias?” thing is one of the best recurring bits in wrestling. The guy has SUCH a command of his promos; it’s really impressive. He also had a hand in getting Finn Balor over again as a top babyface, and was one of the only heels who had the crowd siding completely with Roman Reigns. There might not be some four-star match to point to or anything, but the guy is good. And I am excited for what is next.

Key Performances

• “The Drifter” Elias Samson vs. No Way Jose (NXT 2/1/17)
• Loser Leaves NXT: “The Drifter” Elias Samson vs. Kassius Ohno (NXT 3/29/17)
• “The Drifter” Elias Samson is Dragged Out of the Arena (NXT 3/29/17)
• Elias Samson/Dean Ambrose Confrontation (RAW 6/5/17)
• Elias Samson vs. Dean Ambrose (RAW 6/12/17)
• Elias Plays a Song and is Interrupted by Finn Balor (RAW 7/10/17)
• Elias Samson vs. Finn Balor (RAW 7/10/17)
• No DQ Match: Elias Samson vs. Finn Balor (RAW 7/24/17)
• Elias vs. Kalisto (Main Event 8/9/17)
• Elias starts to play a song; Titus O’Neil interrupts (RAW 10/9/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Elias w/ The Miztourage vs. Roman Reigns [c] (RAW 11/27/17)
• Elias Plays a Song on Los Angeles and is Interrupted by Braun Strowman (RAW 12/4/17)
• Elias Meets the RAW Women’s Division (RAW 12/18/17)
• Elias and John Cena Play a Song in Chicago (RAW 12/25/17)
• Elias vs. John Cena (RAW 12/25/17)

5. RUSEV
Rusev is so, so underrated. Despite zero focus or push until the last two weeks of 2017, his matches are always credible, his promos are always fun, and he is always over. The 8/15 SmackDown match with Chad Gable is especially impressive. I wish he was around more this year, but nobody should be sleeping on Rusev Day. Nobody.

Key Performances

• Rusev with Jinder Mahal and Lana Confronts Shawn Michaels (RAW 1/9/17)
• Rusev w/ Lana vs. Sin Cara (Main Event 2/8/17)
• Rusev w/ Lana vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 2/13/17)
• Rusev vs. Chad Gable (SmackDown 8/1/17)
• Rusev vs. Chad Gable (SmackDown 8/15/17)
• Rusev and Aiden English Promo on Randy Orton spoiling Happy Rusev Day (SmackDown 10/3/17)
• Rusev vs. Randy Orton (Hell in a Cell 10/8/17)
• Aiden English introduces Rusev and sings a song for Rusev Day (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match – SmackDown Tag Team Title: Rusev & Aiden English vs. The Usos [c] vs. The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)
• Winners Face The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Title – Triple Threat Match: The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable vs. Rusev & Aiden English (SmackDown 12/26/17)

CRUISERWEIGHTS
1. NEVILLE
SEE ABOVE

Key Performances

• Neville vs. TJ Perkins (205 Live 1/3/17)
• Neville vs. Lince Dorado (RAW 1/9/17)
• Neville vs. Cedric Alexander (205 Live 1/24/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Jack Gallagher (Fastlane 3/5/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Rich Swann (RAW 3/6/17)
• Neville Interview with Austin Aries (RAW 3/6/17)
• Neville vs. Mustafa Ali (205 Live 3/21/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Austin Aries (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• Neville vs. Mustafa Ali (RAW 4/3/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Austin Aries (Payback 4/30/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. TJP (205 Live 6/6/17)
• Neville attacks Rich Swann and Cuts a Promo on Akira Tozawa (RAW 6/12/17)
• Neville vs. Rich Swann (205 Live 6/20/17)
• Neville vs. Lince Dorado (RAW 6/26/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil (Great Balls of Fire Kickoff 6/18/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil (RAW 8/14/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Neville [c] vs. Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil (RAW 205 Live 8/22/17)
• Neville vs. Gran Metalik (RAW 9/18/17)

2. DREW GULAK
I wrote this about Drew Gulak in 2016 when I first saw him in the Cruiserweight Classic: “Everything about Drew Gulak outside the ring – character, look, stupid jacket, stupid pose, having no distinguishable characteristic – makes me not want to like him.” I think the lesson here is that I can be a stupid idiot. Talk about a great second impression. He’s an excellent wrestler – takes high-flying moves like a professional, reacts big to stuff, and dishes out fun credible beatings like a junior heavyweight Dave Finlay. But Drew Gulak also found his character in 2017 and WWE completely bought into it and I love it. He is the creepy GOP political aide character that 2017 needs. The campaign for A Better 205 Live, the PowerPoint presentations, and now Enzo’s lackey… Gulak was a consistent highlight of WWE TV this year and one of the only highlights – period – of 205 Live.

Key Performances

• Drew Gulak vs. Cedric Alexander (205 Live 1/17/17)
• Drew Gulak vs. Gran Metalik (debut) (205 Live 2/14/17)
• Drew Gulak Talks to Mustafa Ali About Changing 205 Live (205 Live 3/28/17)
• Drew Gulak Offers Advice for Mustafa Ali on Taking Risks (205 Live 4/4/17)
• Drew Gulak & Tony Nese vs. Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado (Main Event 4/12/17)
• Drew Gulak vs. Mustafa Ali (205 Live 6/27/17)
• Drew Gulak Apologizes for Trying to Fly (205 Live 7/11/17)
• 2/3 Falls: Drew Gulak vs. Mustafa Ali (205 Live 7/18/17)
• Drew Gulak & Tony Nese vs. Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik (205 Live 8/15/17)
• Drew Gulak & Tony Nese vs. Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik (205 Live 8/22/17)
• Drew Gulak Presents a PowerPoint Presentation on A Better 205 Live (205 Live 9/5/17)
• Drew Gulak Presents a PowerPoint Presentation on A Better 205 Live (205 Live 10/3/17)
• Drew Gulak Stages a Drew Gulak Protest (205 Live 10/24/17)
• Drew Gulak vs. Gran Metalik (205 Live 10/24/17)
• Drew Gulak and Enzo Amore and Drew Gulak in-ring promo on Kurt Angle’s Three I’s (RAW 10/30/17)
• Street Fight: Drew Gulak vs. Akira Tozawa (205 Live 11/21/17)
• Winner Wrestles in a #1 Contender’s Match for the Cruiserweight Title – Fatal 4-Way Match: Drew Gulak vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Tony Nese (RAW 12/4/17)

3. AKIRA TOZAWA
The first 6 months of 2017 after Akira Tozawa’s debut were absolute magic. He immediately got over in front of crowds unfamiliar with him, developed a bunch of great signature spots, hit everything he did beautifully including the best tope in wrestling, and had an underrated classic series of matches with Brian Kendrick. I wish the Neville matches were better, but they were still good. Currently, Tozawa is kind of stuck in 205 Live purgatory, but from January to June there weren’t a lot of folks better.

Key Performances

• Akira Tozawa (debut) vs. Aaron Solow (205 Live 1/31/17)
• Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak (RAW 2/6/17)
• Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick (205 Live 2/21/17)
• Akira Tozawa vs. Bryan Kendrick (Arik Cannon) (205 Live 3/7/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match: Akira Tozawa vs. Austin Aries vs. TJ Perkins vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese (205 Live 3/14/17)
• Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick (205 Live 3/28/17)
• Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick (205 Live 4/4/17)
• Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick (205 Live 5/9/17)
• Street Fight: Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick (205 Live 5/23/17)
• Akira Tozawa vs. TJP (205 Live 6/13/17)
• Winner Faces Neville at SummerSlam for the Cruiserweight Title: Akira Tozawa vs. Ariya Daivari (205 Live 8/1/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil vs. Neville [c] (Great Balls of Fire Kickoff 6/18/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil vs. Neville [c] (RAW 8/14/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Akira Tozawa w/ Titus O’Neil vs. Neville [c] (RAW 205 Live 8/22/17)
• Street Fight: Akira Tozawa vs. Drew Gulak (205 Live 11/21/17)

4. MUSTAFA ALI
True Story: Back in January when The President of the United States decided his first action as President of the United States was to ban refugees from certain countries, Mustafa Ali was criticizing a lot about that decision on Twitter. I went ahead and e-mailed him on his personal account, which at the time was still on his Twitter. And I told him I was sorry on behalf of the United States and that I am with him and feel for those who were so uncertain. And he thanked me, and called me his brother. And I know that might seem cheesy, but it is OK to feel passion about something and it is OK to try and make a connection with someone in the midst of all the hate in this world.

Anyways, I think Mustafa Ali is awesome. And him calling me his brother will make me root for him until the end of time, but it doesn’t hurt that he’s an awesome wrestler. As is the story with most cruiserweights in 2017, he is usually stuck in apathetic matches and feuds, but Ali always manages some insanely impressive flying, and he has had some legitimate epics with guys like Neville and Drew Gulak. He’s a great babyface too, which is a role I am glad he has after that awkward initial heel introduction.

Key Performances

• Mustafa Ali vs. Noam Dar (205 Live 1/3/17)
• Mustafa Ali vs. Tony Nese (205 Live 1/17/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match: Mustafa Ali vs. TJ Perkins vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher vs. Noam Dar (205 Live 2/7/17)
• Mustafa Ali vs. Neville (205 Live 3/21/17)
• Mustafa Ali vs. Neville (RAW 4/3/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender Fatal 4-Way Match: Mustafa Ali vs. Austin Aries vs. TJ Perkins vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher (205 Live 4/4/17)
• Mustafa Ali vs. Tony Nese (205 Live 5/9/17)
• 2/3 Falls: Mustafa Ali vs. Drew Gulak (205 Live 7/18/17)
• Winner Wrestles in a #1 Contender’s Match for the Cruiserweight Title – Fatal 4-Way Match: Mustafa Ali vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese (RAW 12/4/17)
• Winner Faces Drew Gulak in a #1 Contender’s Match for the Cruiserweight Title – 2nd Chance Fatal 4-Way Match: Mustafa Ali vs. Cedric Alexander vs. Ariya Daivari vs. Tony Nese (RAW 12/11/17)

5. CEDRIC ALEXANDER
Hey look it’s another pretty good cruiserweight who didn’t get to shine much cause 205 Live sucks. But still, Cedric had a strong year. No highlight like the Ibushi match from 2016, and it’s a crime we never got him vs. Neville for the Cruiserweight Title, but watch any of the matches below and you know Cedric Alexander is just waiting for his chance to break out.

Key Performances

• Cedric Alexander w/ Alicia Fox vs. Noam Dar (205 Live 1/10/17)
• Cedric Alexander vs. Drew Gulak (205 Live 1/17/17)
• Cedric Alexander vs. Neville (205 Live 1/24/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match: Cedric Alexander vs. TJ Perkins vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Noam Dar (205 Live 2/7/17)
• Cedric Alexander vs. Brian Kendrick (Main Event 6/28/17)
• I Quit Match: Cedric Alexander vs. Noam Dar w/ Alicia Fox (205 Live 7/11/17)
• Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak (205 Live 8/15/17)
• Cedric Alexander & Gran Metalik vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak (205 Live 8/22/17)
• Cedric Alexander & Rich Swann vs. Noam Dar & Tony Nese (205 Live 10/24/17)
• Winner Wrestles in a #1 Contender’s Match for the Cruiserweight Title – Fatal 4-Way Match: Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Drew Gulak vs. Tony Nese (RAW 12/4/17)
• Winner Faces Drew Gulak in a #1 Contender’s Match for the Cruiserweight Title – 2nd Chance Fatal 4-Way Match: Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali vs. Ariya Daivari vs. Tony Nese (RAW 12/11/17)

HIT-AND-MISS
1. RANDY ORTON
Randy Orton is in his twilight years and I doubt we get another year of full-time Randy. He can be a total pro of a wrestler – over as shit, with great timing and signature moves that get pops. But he can also just be the most half-speed, same-ol-same-ol boring wrestler. He had a few good matches this year, but he also managed some real garbage, including his title match at Mania. Even a lot of the good stuff mentioned below struggled to hit second gear. I still can’t deny his talent – the Wyatt Family build was inspired stuff and he made the early Jinder run alright, but it is both very good and very bad that he can basically sleepwalk his way through a solid match.

Key Performances

• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The Wyatt Family (Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt) w/ Luke Harper vs. American Alpha [c] (SmackDown 1/10/17)
• Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper (SmackDown 1/24/17)
• The Wyatt Family (Randy Orton & Bray Wyatt) vs. John Cena & Luke Harper (SmackDown 1/31/17)
• Randy Orton w/ Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena (SmackDown 2/7/17)
• Randy Orton vs. Luke Harper (Elimination Chamber 2/12/17)
• Randy Orton Bows to Bray Wyatt (SmackDown 2/14/17)
• WWE Title #1 Contender Match: Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 3/7/17)
• Randy Orton vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 5/16/17)
• WWE Title: Randy Orton [c] vs. Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers (Backlash 5/21/17)
• WWE Title: Randy Orton vs. Jinder Mahal [c] w/ The Singh Brothers (Money in the Bank 6/18/17)
• Winner Earns WWE Title Match at Hell in a Cell: Randy Orton vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (SmackDown 9/5/17)
• Randy Orton vs. Aiden English (SmackDown 9/19/17)
• Winner Joins Team SmackDown at Survivor Series: Randy Orton vs. Sami Zayn (SmackDown 10/24/17)

2. KEVIN OWENS
I like a lot of aspects of Kevin Owens, and I do think he was all-around very good from his debut in NXT to around mid-last year. But any time the guy is positioned as a top star – RAW last year as Universal Champ, now SmackDown as the thorn in Shane’s side – it is just not good. It also doesn’t help that he dragged AJ Styles down with him for half of the year. The hardcore matches with Roman Reigns and Shane McMahon were awesome, and the Festival of Friendship and Mr. McMahon headbutt angles were great… but there was more bad than good this year. Let us never speak of Face of America Kevin Owens ever again, either.

Key Performances

• No DQ Match – WWE Universal Title: Kevin Owens [c] vs. Roman Reigns (Chris Jericho in a Shark Cage) (Royal Rumble 1/29/17)
• Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho’s Festival of Friendship (RAW 2/13/17)
• Kevin Owens Spotlight Promo on Chris Jericho (RAW 2/20/17)
• No DQ Match – If Zayn Wins, He Enters the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, If Zayn Loses, He’s Fired: Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 3/27/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho [c] (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• If Jericho Wins, He Goes to SmackDown – WWE U.S. Title: Kevin Owens [c] vs. Chris Jericho (Payback 4/30/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Kevin Owens [c] vs. AJ Styles (Backlash 5/21/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Kevin Owens [c] vs. Chad Gable (SmackDown 6/20/17)
• Kevin Owens interview on winning the WWE U.S. Title; argues with Renee Young (Talking Smack 7/23/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles [c] (SmackDown 8/1/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles [c] (Special Guest Referee: Shane McMahon) (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• Kevin Owens Headbutts Mr. McMahon (SmackDown 9/12/17)
• Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (SmackDown 9/26/17)
• Falls Count Anywhere Hell in a Cell Match: Kevin Owens vs. Shane McMahon (Hell in a Cell 10/8/17)
• Sami Zayn Banned From Ringside – No DQ Match: Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton (SmackDown 11/28/17)
• Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn Occupy SmackDown (SmackDown 12/12/17)

3. THE NEW DAY
The New Day certainly cemented themselves as tag team greats this year, and I like Xavier Woods more and more every time he gets a chance to really wrestle, but this just was not a year of upward mobility for them. Any time they were paired with The Usos, it was top shelf stuff (and they make up like half of #3 Usos best matches). Any other time… eh. I love that they have managed to stay as a unit and the people obviously like them, but I really hope we get something fresh from them in 2018. Pancakes are not it.

Key Performances

• The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston vs. The Revival (debut) (RAW 4/3/17)
• The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) vs. The Revival (RAW 4/10/17)
• The New Day/The Usos Money in the Bank Setup (SmackDown 5/30/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods vs. The Usos [c] (Money in the Bank 6/18/17)
• The New Day vs. The Usos Rap Battle hosted by Wale (SmackDown 7/4/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) w/ Big E vs. The Usos [c] (Battleground 7/23/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston [c] vs. The Usos (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• Sin City Street Fight – SmackDown Tag Team Title: The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) vs. The Usos [c] (SmackDown 9/12/17)
• Hell in a Cell – SmackDown Tag Team Title: The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston [c] vs. The Usos (Hell in a Cell 10/8/17)
• The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The Shield (Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins & Dean Ambrose) (Survivor Series 11/19/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match – SmackDown Tag Team Title: The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods vs. The Usos [c] vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable vs. Rusev & Aiden English (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)
• Winners Face The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Title – Triple Threat Match: The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable vs. Rusev & Aiden English (SmackDown 12/26/17)

4. SAMI ZAYN
Much like his rival/buddy Kevin Owens, I like a lot of aspects of Sami, but he has just not delivered this year. And it is definitely recency bias, but the heel run on SmackDown from October on has kind of been a turd, even if I highly enjoy his entrance theatrics. The Braun, Joe and Corbin feuds brought the good stuff, but there was zero consistency.

Key Performances

• Last Man Standing Match: Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 1/2/17)
• Sami Zayn Analyzes a 6-Man Tag with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins (RAW 1/16/17)
• Royal Rumble Qualifying Match: Sami Zayn vs. Seth Rollins (RAW 1/23/17)
• Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho (RAW 1/30/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Sami Zayn vs. Chris Jericho [c] w/ Kevin Owens (RAW 2/6/17)
• Sami Zayn vs. Rusev w/ Lana (RAW 2/13/17)
• Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe (Fastlane 3/5/17)
• Sami Zayn vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 3/20/17)
• No DQ Match – If Zayn Wins, He Enters the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, If Zayn Loses, He’s Fired: Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens (RAW 3/27/17)
• Triple Threat WWE U.S. Title #1 Contender’s Match: Sami Zayn vs. AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin (RAW 4/11/17)
• Sami Zayn vs. Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers (SmackDown 5/2/17)
• Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin (Backlash 5/21/17)
• Sami Zayn vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 6/27/17)
• Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens (SmackDown 9/26/17)
• Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens Promo on the Hell in a Cell Finish (SmackDown 10/10/17)
• Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens Occupy SmackDown (SmackDown 12/12/17)

5. DREW MCINTYRE
Drew McIntyre made his triumphant return this year and it was the tale of two wrestlers: his initial squashes, including the epic with Oney Lorcan, made him look like an absolute superstar. I remember watching him live in the pre-match at TakeOver: Chicago versus Wesley Blake and thinking, My god – this guy wrestles like he’s The Undertaker. But outside of the Almas matches, any time it was time to go toe-to-toe with anybody (Roddy Strong, Bobby Roode) it didn’t quite hit.

Key Performances

• Drew McIntyre vs. Oney Lorcan (NXT 4/12/17)
• Drew McIntyre vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (NXT 4/26/17)
• Drew McIntyre vs. Sean Maluta (NXT 5/17/17)
• Drew McIntyre vs. Wesley Blake (NXT 5/24/17)
• Drew McIntyre vs. Rob Ryzin (NXT 6/14/17)
• NXT Title: Drew McIntyre [c] vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas w/ Zelina Vega (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 11/18/17)

THE POTENTIAL IS THERE
1. JASON JORDAN
Jason Jordan had himself a good 2017. American Alpha wasn’t around a ton on SmackDown for the first half, but any time they were it was great pro wrestling. And then the Jason Jordan is Kurt Angle’s Son angle kicked off, and though it has had its awkward moments it has overall had a pretty genius arc. And he has just been crushing it in matches with all of WWE’s main eventers for the last couple months. He can still feel like a bit of a blank slate, but the potential is just oozing out of him. I am very, very intrigued to see where this all goes.

Key Performances

• SmackDown Tag Team Title: American Alpha [c] vs. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton) w/ Luke Harper (SmackDown 1/10/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: American Alpha [c] vs. The Usos (SmackDown 3/21/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: American Alpha vs. The Usos [c] (SmackDown 4/11/17)
• Jason Jordan is Introduced as Kurt Angle’s Long Lost Son (RAW 7/17/17)
• Jason Jordan vs. John Cena (RAW 9/4/17)
• Jason Jordan vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 9/11/17)
• Jason Jordan Pleads with Kurt Angle Not to Remove Him From the Survivor Series Main Event (RAW 11/13/17)
• WWE Intercontinental Title: Jason Jordan vs. Roman Reigns [c] (RAW 12/4/17)
• RAW Tag Team Title: Jason Jordan & Seth Rollins vs. Cesaro & Sheamus [c] (RAW 12/25/17)

2. NIKKI CROSS
Nikki Cross isn’t around much and SAnitY still tends to be goofy as hell, but any time she gets a little chance to shine I am all in. Big time charisma (check out the NXT Women’s Title Qualifying Battle Royal where she comes off like a lady Stone Cold), great psychopath character (check out the sit-down interview on NXT), and willing to take some of the most insane bumps (check out the TakeOver: Brooklyn III tag or the Last Woman Standing Match). This gal is special and I want to see more.

Key Performances

• SAnitY (Nikki Cross, Eric Young, Killian Dain & Alexander Wolfe) vs. Tye Dillinger, No Roderick Strong, Ruby Riot & X (Kassius Ohno) (NXT TakeOver: Orlando 4/1/17)
• Nikki Cross/Ruby Riot Pull-Apart Brawl (NXT 4/26/17)
• Nikki Cross Sit-Down “Interview” (NXT 5/10/17)
• Last Woman Standing Match – NXT Women’s Title: Nikki Cross vs. Asuka [c] (NXT 6/28/17)
• NXT Tag Team Title: SAnitY (Eric Young & Alexander Wolfe) w/ Nikki Cross and Killian Dain vs. The Authors of Pain [c] w/ Paul Ellering (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
• NXT Women’s Title Qualifying Battle Royal (NXT 10/25/17)
• Nikki Cross vs. Taynara Conti (NXT 11/1/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match – NXT Women’s Title: Nikki Cross vs. Ember Moon vs. Kairi Sane vs. Peyton Royce (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 11/18/17)

3. STREET PROFITS
The Street Profits are still in their initial squash phase but it is a very good time. They’re the new Enzo & Cass – a reliable tag team with a lot of charisma that the crowd is into. Montez Ford in particular is special – crazy athleticism and precision, and the guy’s charisma and It Factor is undeniable.

Key Performances

• Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) (debut) vs. The Metro Brothers (Chris Metro & JC Metro) (NXT 8/9/17)
• Street Profits vs. The Ealy Brothers (NXT 9/13/17)
• Street Profits vs. Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss (NXT 11/15/17)
• Street Profits vs. Tino Sabbatelli & Riddick Moss (NXT 11/29/17)

4. LARS SULLIVAN
Lars Sullivan seemed like a guy destined to be a Performance Center prospect that went nowhere. For years, all we heard about was this dude with big hands. He’d show up on NXT TV maybe once or twice and then disappear into the unknown. In 2017 though, he was finally unleashed, and we are all the better for it. It also seems like all the time he spent cooking was for the best, as he now brings a ton of intensity to his matches and seems to totally get his gimmick. The matches with Oney Lorcan and Roderick Strong in particular are great. I really hope this all works, as we might be seeing a strong rival for Braun in the making.

Key Performances

• Lars Sullivan Attacks No Way Jose During His Entrance (NXT 8/23/17)
• Lars Sullivan vs. Oney Lorcan (NXT 9/27/17)
• Lars Sullivan vs. Danny Burch (NXT 10/11/17)
• Lars Sullivan vs. Raul Mendoza (NXT 11/15/17)
• Lars Sullivan vs. Kassius Ohno (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 11/18/17)
• NXT Title #1 Contender Fatal 4-Way Qualifier: Lars Sullivan vs. Roderick Strong (NXT 12/20/17)
• Fatal 4-Way NXT Title #1 Contender Match: Lars Sullivan vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Aleister Black vs. Killian Dain (NXT 12/27/17)

5. BIANCA BELAIR
I’ve seen Bianca BelAir in action like five times and I am already all in. The gimmick is great, the confidence is undeniable, and her ability just a year and a half into being a pro wrestler is incredible. The match with Kairi Sane is a total keeper too.

Key Performances

• Mae Young Classic – Round 2: Bianca BelAir vs. Kairi Sane (Mae Young Classic Season 1 Episode 5 9/4/17)
• Bianca BelAir vs. Lacey Evans (NXT 9/20/17)
• NXT Women’s Title Qualifying Battle Royal (NXT 10/25/17)

PART-TIME PROS
1. BIG SHOW
Big Show’s time on TV was relatively limited this year, but he made the most of it. Outside of the awkward deal with Enzo & Big Cass, it was as if he had one goal: put over Braun Strowman. And he did, like an absolute pitch perfect part-time professional. Show and Braun had three matches this year and all were bonafide classics. You could see WWE’s next top star progress as a better wrestler with each subsequent one. And god bless Big Show for that final bump through the steel cage. I assume he’ll be back, but if he isn’t, what an incredibly giving and awesome last run.

Key Performances

• Big Show vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 2/20/17)
• Big Show vs. Braun Strowman (the ring breaks) (RAW 4/17/17)
• Big Show Confronts Big Cass and is Attacked by Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson (RAW 8/14/17)
• Steel Cage Match: Big Show vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 9/4/17)

2. BROCK LESNAR
Let us get one thing out of the way: Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman at No Mercy was really, really bad. But it was also just one tarnish on both guys’ incredible 2017. Brock almost seemed revitalized this year after a disappointing 2016 (remember those Ambrose and Orton matches?). He and Goldberg had a special WrestleMania Classic, and he sold his ass off to establish Braun and Samoa Joe as top guys. His selling of Joe’s choke on RAW 6/26 and anything Braun did at SummerSlam was so awesome. And he capped everything off with an amazing match with AJ Styles. The Beast is back.

Key Performances

• WWE Universal Title: Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. Goldberg [c] (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• Brock Lesnar is Attacked by Samoa Joe from Behind (RAW 6/26/17)
• WWE Universal Title: Brock Lesnar [c] w/ Paul Heyman vs. Samoa Joe (Great Balls of Fire 7/9/17)
• If Brock Lesnar Loses, He Leaves WWE – Fatal 4-Way Match – WWE Universal Title: Brock Lesnar [c] w/ Paul Heyman vs. Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe vs. Braun Strowman (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• Universal Champion vs. WWE Champion: Brock Lesnar w/ Paul Heyman vs. AJ Styles (Survivor Series 11/19/17)

3. JOHN CENA
2017 marked the second year in a row that Big Match John was a part-timer, between even more movies and guest host stints on The Today Show and whatever the heck else he is up to. Even his WrestleMania match this year was like the fifth most promoted match on the card. Regardless, John still brought the goods any time he appeared. He and AJ Styles traded great promos and had one of the best matches of the year. He randomly worked Shinsuke Nakamura and it ended up Nak’s best match since the Sami Zayn one. And he and Roman Reigns spit hot fire at each other, leading to an excellent passing of the torch type match. The matches he had with Randy Orton and Baron Corbin aren’t amazing or anything, but they are still great examples of Big John having his hand on the pulse of sports entertainment. 2017 will indeed go down as the year John handed the torch to Roman, but you know any time he shows up (and there will be many times he shows up) he will bring his A game.

Key Performances

• John Cena/AJ Styles WWE Title Contract Signing (SmackDown 1/3/17)
• John Cena vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 1/10/17)
• John Cena Promo on AJ Styles and the Indy Scene (SmackDown 1/24/17)
• WWE Title: John Cena vs. AJ Styles [c] (Royal Rumble 1/29/17)
• John Cena vs. Randy Orton w/ Bray Wyatt (SmackDown 2/7/17)
• Triple Threat Match – WWE Title: John Cena vs. Bray Wyatt [c] vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 2/14/17)
• John Cena and Nikki Bella Interview on The Miz and Maryse (Talking Smack 3/21/17)
• Winner Faces Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam for the WWE Title: John Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura (SmackDown 8/1/17)
• John Cena vs. Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers (SmackDown 8/15/17)
• John Cena/Roman Reigns Confrontations (RAW 9/4/17 & 9/11/17)
• John Cena/Roman Reigns Contract Signing (RAW 8/28/17)
• John Cena vs. Baron Corbin (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• John Cena vs. Jason Jordan (RAW 9/4/17)
• John Cena vs. Braun Strowman (RAW 9/11/17)
• John Cena vs. Roman Reigns (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• John Cena interview on Roman Reigns and Passing the Torch (Talking Smack 9/24/17)

4. CHRIS JERICHO
2016 was a year that saw Chris Jericho cement himself for me as an all-time great. I’ve always been a fan, even if his in-ring stuff the last few years hasn’t been much. But his ability to re-invent himself once again into a top WWE character was special. He was only around for a few months this year, but in that few months he had an excellent match with Roman Reigns and brought us one of the greatest angles ever in The Festival of Friendship. I didn’t love the Owens series in-ring, but the sports entertainment that surrounded it was very good.

Key Performances

• Kevin Owens Banned From Ringside and If Roman is DQ’d or Counted Out, He Loses the Title – WWE U.S. Title: Chris Jericho vs. Roman Reigns [c] (RAW 1/2/17)
• Chris Jericho vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 1/30/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Chris Jericho [c] w/ Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 2/6/17)
• Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens’ Festival of Friendship (RAW 2/13/17)
• Chris Jericho/Kevin Owens WrestleMania Setup (RAW 3/6/17)
• The Highlight Reel w/ The Real Kevin Owens (RAW 3/20/17)
• Chris Jericho vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 4/17/17)
• If Jericho Wins, He Goes to SmackDown – WWE U.S. Title: Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens [c] (Payback 4/30/17)
• Triple Threat Match – WWE U.S. Title: Chris Jericho vs. Kevin Owens [c] vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 7/25/17)

5. AUSTIN ARIES
It is pretty wild that Austin Aries can be counted as part-time, given how quickly he solidified himself as an integral part of WWE programming in late-2016 and early 2017. But here we are. His in-ring run was brief, but it brought a really awesome series of matches with Neville, along with a lot of random solid stuff with most of the 205 Live roster.

Key Performances

• Austin Aries Interviews Neville and Knocks Him Out (RAW 3/6/17)
• Austin Aries Interview with Himself (205 Live 3/7/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender Fatal 5-Way Elimination Match: Austin Aries vs. TJ Perkins vs. Akira Tozawa vs. Brian Kendrick vs. Tony Nese (205 Live 3/14/17)
• Austin Aries vs. Noam Dar w/ Alicia Fox (RAW 3/27/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Austin Aries vs. Neville [c] (WrestleMania 33 4/2/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title #1 Contender Fatal 4-Way Match: Austin Aries vs. TJ Perkins vs. Gentleman Jack Gallagher vs. Mustafa Ali (205 Live 4/4/17)
• Austin Aries vs. TJ Perkins (205 Live 4/18/17)
• WWE Cruiserweight Title: Austin Aries vs. Neville [c] (Payback 4/30/17)
• Austin Aries vs. TJP (RAW 5/1/17)

DO BETTER (SHAME)
1. SHINSUKE NAKAMURA
Damnit, Shinskay. Nakamura always had a reputation as guy that mostly coasts but gets by on his charisma and delivers in big matches. But there is no way to see his 2017 in WWE as anything but a complete disappointment. Creative did him no favors – going 15 with Dolph twice in a row, looking like a chump against Jinder Mahal – but MAN. You can only have so many turds. So many weak singles and lifeless tag matches. The Cena match is good, but everything else that’s worth watching is still just missing something, and the other stuff is worse.

Key Performances

• NXT Title: Shinsuke Nakamura [c] vs. Bobby Roode (NXT TakeOver: San Antonio 1/28/17)
• Shinsuke Nakamura vs. TJ Perkins (NXT 3/8/17)
• Shinsuke Nakamura (debut) vs. Dolph Ziggler (Backlash 5/21/17)
• Shinsuke Nakamura & Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens & Baron Corbin (SmackDown 5/30/17)
• Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Dolph Ziggler (SmackDown 6/20/17)
• Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Baron Corbin (SmackDown 7/25/17)
• Winner Faces Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam for the WWE Title: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. John Cena (SmackDown 8/1/17)
• Winner Earns WWE Title Match at Hell in a Cell: Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Randy Orton (SmackDown 9/5/17)
• Shinsuke Nakamura Attacks Jinder Mahal and The Singh Brothers (SmackDown 9/26/17)
• Elimination Match: Team SmackDown (Shinsuke Nakamura, Shane McMahon, John Cena, Randy Orton & Bobby Roode) vs. Team RAW (Triple H, Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman, Finn Balor & Samoa Joe) (Survivor Series 11/19/17)

2. BARON CORBIN
He was just starting to figure it all out. The first half of this year was a strong one for Baron Corbin… a good series with Zayn, worked with top guys and belonged. But once he lost that Money in the Bank match… man. The buzz died down as he was de-pushed for sure, but he also eventually picked up the U.S. Title and just didn’t deliver. Him as the top of the midcard on SmackDown just hurt that brand even further, and if I have to watch one more boring beatdown by this guy I might puke. There’s enough good stuff here and there to make me think he can rebound, but this was not a good year for the Lone Wolf.

Key Performances

• Baron Corbin vs. Dolph Ziggler (SmackDown 1/3/17)
• Baron Corbin Interview on the Royal Rumble and John Cena (Talking Smack 1/3/17)
• Baron Corbin vs. John Cena (SmackDown 1/10/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match: Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles vs. The Miz (SmackDown 2/7/17)
• Baron Corbin Interview on Attacking Dean Ambrose (SmackDown 2/14/17)
• Baron Corbin Lowers a Forklift on Dean Ambrose (SmackDown 3/7/17)
• Street Fight: Baron Corbin vs. Dean Ambrose (SmackDown 4/4/17)
• Triple Threat WWE U.S. Title #1 Contender’s Match: Baron Corbin vs. AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn (SmackDown 4/11/17)
• Baron Corbin vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 4/18/17)
• Baron Corbin vs. Randy Orton (SmackDown 5/16/17)
• Baron Corbin vs. Sami Zayn (Backlash 5/21/17)
• Baron Corbin vs. Sami Zayn (SmackDown 6/27/17)
• Baron Corbin vs. John Cena (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• Baron Corbin vs. Tye Dillinger (SmackDown 10/3/17)
• Triple Threat Match – WWE U.S. Title: Baron Corbin vs. AJ Styles [c] vs. Tye Dillinger (Hell in a Cell 10/8/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Baron Corbin [c] vs. Sin Cara (SmackDown 11/14/17)
• Triple Threat Match – WWE U.S. Title: Baron Corbin [c] vs. Bobby Roode vs. Dolph Ziggler (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)

3. JINDER MAHAL
2017 saw Jinder Mahal put everything together – he worked snugger, looked like a superstar, picked up a couple lackeys, and oh yeah inexplicably won the WWE Title. It was a risk I am glad WWE took, but Jinder got THE PUSH and in the end just didn’t deliver. I liked the idea of it all, and there was some decent stuff once in a while, but him as top guy on SmackDown just took a dump on the entire brand, as did his never-ending middling feuds with Orton and Nakamura.

Key Performances

• Jinder Mahal vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 3/13/17)
• Jinder Mahal vs. Sami Zayn (RAW 4/3/17)
• Jinder Mahal vs. Finn Balor (RAW 4/10/17)
• Six-Pack Challenge WWE Title #1 Contender Match: Jinder Mahal vs. Sami Zayn vs. Luke Harper vs. Mojo Rawley vs. Dolph Ziggler vs. Erick Rowan (SmackDown 4/18/17)
• Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers vs. Sami Zayn (SmackDown 5/2/17)
• WWE Title: Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers vs. Randy Orton [c] (Backlash 5/21/17)
• Jinder Mahal’s Punjabi Celebration with The Singh Brothers (SmackDown 5/23/17)
• Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers vs. Mojo Rawley (SmackDown 6/6/17)
• WWE Title: Jinder Mahal [c] w/ The Singh Brothers vs. Randy Orton (SmackDown 6/18/17)
• Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers vs. John Cena (SmackDown 8/15/17)
• WWE Title: Jinder Mahal [c] w/ The Singh Brothers vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 11/7/17)
• WWE Title: Jinder Mahal w/ The Singh Brothers vs. AJ Styles [c] (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)

4. BRAY WYATT
Ugh. There are only so many monologues and crap matches you can watch before you realize you are sick of a guy. Wyatt is still a pretty phenomenal actor, but 2017 brought barely anything of note from this guy. The WrestleMania title match with Orton and the Balor feud in particular sucked.

Key Performances

• SmackDown Tag Team Title: American Alpha [c] vs. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton) w/ Luke Harper (SmackDown 1/10/17)
• The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton) vs. John Cena & Luke Harper (SmackDown 1/31/17)
• Elimination Chamber – WWE Title: Bray Wyatt vs. John Cena [c] vs. Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles vs. The Miz vs. Baron Corbin (Elimination Chamber 2/12/17)
• Triple Threat Match – WWE Title: Bray Wyatt [c] vs. John Cena vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 2/14/17)
• Bray Wyatt vs. Luke Harper (SmackDown 3/28/17)
• Bray Wyatt vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 6/5/17)
• Bray Wyatt vs. Seth Rollins (RAW 7/10/17)
• Bray Wyatt vs. Finn Balor (No Mercy 9/24/17)
• Bray Wyatt/Woken Matt Hardy Inter-Changing Promo (RAW 12/4/17)

5. KASSIUS OHNO
Chris Hero was a guy who had a heavily touted 2016. Kassius Ohno was a guy who made me frequently wonder, Why did they even bring him back? There are certainly backstage reasons to have him around – it’s good to have a locker room leader who owns a million wrestling tapes. But he just had way too many matches that didn’t click in 2017. Unless he is working Johnny Wrestling, I was just not into this goof in a basketball jersey and wrestling tights.

Key Performances

• Kassius Ohno Returns and Confronts Bobby Roode (NXT 2/22/17)
• Kassius Ohno, Tye Dillinger, No Roderick Strong & Ruby Riot & vs. SAnitY (Eric Young, Killian Dain, Alexander Wolfe & Nikki Cross) (NXT TakeOver: Orlando 4/1/17)
• Kassius Ohno vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (NXT 5/17/17)
• Kassius Ohno vs. Aleister Black (NXT 6/21/17)
• Kassius Ohno vs. Fabian Aichner (NXT 9/27/17)
• Kassius Ohno vs. Lars Sullivan (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 11/18/17)
• NXT Title #1 Contender Fatal 4-Way Qualifier: Kassius Ohno vs. Johnny Gargano (NXT 12/6/17)

THIS WAS A GOOD YEAR
1. ALEXA BLISS
Alexa Bliss ruled the RAW women’s division this year and I am not positive the entire division is better for it, but she definitely is. Tremendous character, great promos, and despite being only five feet tall she works mean and nasty like she’s a seven-footer. I’m not going to say Alexa Bliss is some ring general, and such an emphasis on her did lead to a dip in match quality for the women’s division, but the division also desperately needed a character like her. She had some really good matches with Naomi and Sasha Banks, and though the Bayley series was awkward, the Payback match was pretty sweet. Alexa done good this year and cemented herself as a star.

Key Performances

• Steel Cage Match – SmackDown Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss [c] vs. Becky Lynch (SmackDown 1/17/17)
• Alexa Bliss & Mickie James vs. Becky Lynch & Naomi (SmackDown 1/31/17)
• SmackDown Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss [c] vs. Naomi (Elimination Chamber 2/12/17)
• Alexa Bliss Interrupts Naomi’s SmackDown Women’s Title Celebration (SmackDown 2/14/17)
• Alexa Bliss Interrupts Naomi Relinquishing the SmackDown Women’s Title (SmackDown 2/21/17)
• SmackDown Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss vs. Naomi [c] (SmackDown 4/4/17)
• RAW Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley [c] (Payback 4/30/17)
• Alexa Bliss Promo on being the Goddess of WWE (RAW 5/15/17)
• RAW Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss [c] vs. Sasha Banks (Great Balls of Fire 7/9/17)
• RAW Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss [c] vs. Sasha Banks (SummerSlam 8/20/17)
• RAW Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks [c] (RAW 8/28/17)
• RAW Women’s Title: Alexa Bliss [c] vs. Mickie James (TLC 10/22/17)
• RAW Women’s Champion vs. SmackDown Women’s Champion: Alexa Bliss vs. Charlotte Flair (Survivor Series 11/19/17)

2. ALEISTER BLACK
Intriguing debut, great presence, incredible entrance, looks like a superstar, and already seems main roster ready. The former Tommy End had an amazing last half of the year too after his initial squashes, with great matches and interesting feuds with Velveteen Dream and Adam Cole. Black has burst onto the scene and I am liking it.

Key Performances

• Aleister Black vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas (NXT TakeOver: Orlando 4/1/17)
• Aleister Black vs. Cezar Bononi (NXT 5/10/17)
• Aleister Black vs. Hideo Itami (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
• Aleister Black/Velveteen Dream Confrontation (NXT 9/20/17)
• Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream (NXT TakeOver: WarGames 11/18/17)
• NXT Title #1 Contender Fatal 4-Way Qualifier: Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole w/ Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish (NXT 12/13/17)
• Fatal 4-Way NXT Title #1 Contender Match: Lars Sullivan vs. Johnny Gargano vs. Aleister Black vs. Killian Dain (NXT 12/27/17)

3. FINN BALOR
After being out for months with an unfortunately timed injury, Balor returned post-Mania and really seems to have excelled as a wrestler and WWE superstar. He hasn’t gotten the big push yet, but he’s also always kept strong and is always over, unless he’s feuding with Bray Wyatt. He had a really fun feud with Elias that made RAW’s midcard a lot of fun and got both guys over, epic big time matches with Roman Reigns and AJ Styles, and a couple tremendous TV matches with Samoa Joe recently that blew their NXT Title matches out of the water. Finn Balor is essentially a top guy ready to happen who is waiting for all The Shield guys to get injured.

Key Performances

• Finn Balor & Seth Rollins & vs. Kevin Owens & Samoa Joe (RAW 4/3/17)
• Triple Threat WWE Intercontinental Title #1 Contender Match: Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins vs. The Miz w/ Maryse (RAW 5/1/17)
• Finn Balor vs. Roman Reigns (RAW 5/15/17)
• Finn Balor vs. Karl Anderson w/ Luke Gallows (RAW 5/22/17)
• Fatal 5-Way Extreme Rules Universal Title #1 Contender Match: Finn Balor vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt vs. Samoa Joe (Extreme Rules 6/4/17)
• Finn Balor vs. Elias Samson (RAW 7/10/17)
• No DQ Match: Finn Balor vs. Elias Samson (RAW 7/24/17)
• “The Demon” Finn Balor vs. AJ Styles (TLC 10/22/17)
• Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 11/6/17)
• Finn Balor vs. Samoa Joe (RAW 11/20/17)

4. ASUKA
Much like last year, she hasn’t been in a ton of matches on TV, but almost every time she works it’s good stuff. The main roster is hurting her aura a bit, but she remains a great wrestler with a great presence. The Ember Moon match at Brooklyn III match is especially sweet.

Key Performances

• NXT Women’s Title: Asuka [c] vs. Peyton Royce w/ Billie Kay (NXT 3/1/17)
• Asuka vs. Priscilla Zuniga (NXT 3/22/17)
• Last Woman Standing Match – NXT Women’s Title: Asuka [c] vs. Nikki Cross (NXT 6/28/17)
• NXT Women’s Title: Asuka [c] vs. Ember Moon (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III 8/19/17)
• Asuka (debut) vs. Emma (TLC 10/22/17)
• Asuka vs. Stacie Cullen (RAW 10/30/17)

5. CHAD GABLE
If he didn’t have the month of December, maybe he doesn’t even make it here. But I am glad he did. Chad Gable is like a Rusev or Sin Cara in that he is rarely pushed, but when he does get a little love it rules. His partner Jason Jordan is off to a big time push on RAW, but I’m so glad he isn’t getting lost in the shuffle. The promos aren’t there yet, but he is a crazy impressive wrestler. Watch him crush it with The Usos, or flip everybody out by German suplexing everybody to death in the December multi-man tags, or manage a total classic with zero build with Rusev. Chad Gable had a good year.

Key Performances

• SmackDown Tag Team Title: American Alpha [c] vs. The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt & Randy Orton) w/ Luke Harper (SmackDown 1/10/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: American Alpha [c] vs. The Usos (SmackDown 3/21/17)
• SmackDown Tag Team Title: American Alpha vs. The Usos [c] (SmackDown 4/11/17)
• WWE U.S. Title: Chad Gable vs. Kevin Owens [c] (SmackDown 6/20/17)
• Winner Enters the U.S. Title #1 Contender Battle Royal: Chad Gable vs. AJ Styles (SmackDown 7/4/17)
• Chad Gable vs. Rusev (SmackDown 8/1/17)
• Fatal 4-Way Match – SmackDown Tag Team Title: Chad Gable & Shelton Benjamin vs. The Usos [c] vs. The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods vs. Rusev & Aiden English (Clash of Champions 12/17/17)
• Winners Face The Usos for the SmackDown Tag Team Title – Triple Threat Match: The New Day (Big E & Xavier Woods) w/ Kofi Kingston vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable vs. Rusev & Aiden English (SmackDown 12/26/17)

THE ASUKA AWARD
1. GRAN METALIK
Last year, I finished my entire 2016 list of top WWE wrestlers and went – shit. I forgot Asuka. She might have shown up once every 2 months, but she managed an amazing match almost every time. And somehow, despite zillions of hours of programming, WWE tends to have one or two folks like that every year.

Gran Metalik is that person this year. He is typically stuck in Main Event or 205 Live hell, but the guy flips me out every time I watch him. He tends to do the same moves every time, but those moves are just SO lightning speed and impressive. And every couple matches he’ll do something new that just doesn’t seem like it should be humanely possible. I’m not confident he exactly fits in with the presentation of WWE, and maybe that’s why he hasn’t gotten much love, but I’d like to see them try. The guy is too awesome.

Key Performances

• Gran Metalik (debut) vs. Drew Gulak (205 Live 2/14/17)
• Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado vs. Drew Gulak & Tony Nese (Main Event 4/12/17)
• Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado vs. Tony Nese & Ariya Daivari (Main Event 4/19/17)
• Gran Metalik & Cedric Alexander vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak (205 Live 8/15/17)
• Gran Metalik & Cedric Alexander vs. Tony Nese & Drew Gulak (205 Live 8/22/17)
• Gran Metalik vs. Neville (RAW 9/18/17)
• Gran Metalik vs. Drew Gulak (205 Live 10/24/17)

MAKE ME FEEL SOMETHING NEXT YEAR
Tyler Bate, Mark Andrews, The Hardy Boyz, Sin Cara, Becky Lynch, Natalya, Breezango, Roderick Strong, Mojo Rawley, Brian Kendrick, Peyton Royce, Ember Moon, Aiden English, The Bludgeon Brothers, The Singh Brothers, Bobby Roode, Shelton Benjamin, Kairi Sane, Nia Jax, Kalisto, Enzo Amore, Wolfgang, Rich Swann, Tye Dillinger, Zack Ryder, Jack Gallagher, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel, Rhyno, Heath Slater, Bayley, Kane, Mickie James, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, Bobby Fish, Carmella, Dolph Ziggler, Heavy Machinery, Moss & Sabbattelli, Danny Burch, Lince Dorado, No Way Jose, Tommaso Ciampa, SAnitY, The Ascension, Paige, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, Alicia Fox, Hideo Itami, Goldust, Titus O’Neil, Apollo Crews, Big Cass, Dana Brooke, Billie Kay, Lacey Evans, Mike Kanellis, R-Truth, Curt Hawkins, The Colons, Ruby Riott, Sarah Logan, Liv Morgan, Lana, Tamina, Ariya Daivari, Tony Nese, TJP