Even though WWE is no stranger to parody, 2017 served as one of the more hysterically fluid years in recent memory. Packed with NXT call ups, the rebooting of old careers, the emergence of unlikely faces, and the revitalization of tag team wrestling, 2017 had no shortage of bright spots.
Since we’re down to the final days of 2017, WWE deemed it a necessary time to release the top ten Superstars of the year. Of the dozens of WWE Superstars who had memorable years, trimming the list to a neat ten names may have caused a few brawls at WWE headquarters.
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We’re not sure what they’re methods were, but we can’t help but agree with most of this list. Check it out:
10. Enzo Amore
While Enzoย Amore will never be short on detractors, we have to objectively state that he’s had an unbelievableย 2017.ย
Even though he and Big Cass were destined for a few runs as Tag Champs, Enzoย fellย victim to a vicious betrayal by his 7 ft tall partner. Upon being shed by Cass it seemed that Enzoย was on the fast track toย obscurity. But to his credit, he’s flourished as a singles star and WWEย has rewarded him for his dedication to making impressions.ย
Not only is Enzoย a 2-time Cruiserweight Champion, but 205 Live is very much his show. So hate him if you must, but Enzoย continues to prove that he will prosper in WWE, regardless of what naysayersย wish to believe.ย
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9. Brock Lesnar
Given that Lesnar sits atop all of WWEย as Universal Champion, one would think he’d do a little better than #9. After all, he’s had a remarkableย 2017 season.
Lesnarย exorcised his Goldberg demon at WrestleManiaย 33 where he avenged his embarrassingย Survivor Series loss and Royal Rumble elimination. Ever since,ย Lesnarย embarked on one of his more dominant streaksย as WWEย Superstarย having defeated the likes of Samoa Joe andย Braun Strowmanย to keep his big red belt. Even more, Lesnarย emerged victoriousย in some of the better matches of 2017 likeย SummerSlam’s Fatal Four Way and his Survivor Series match against AJ Styles.ย
So why #9? Well, his sporadic schedule certainly doesn’t help, nor does his formulaic programs. On paper, Brock Lesnar had a fantastic 2017, but rolling back the footage reveals quite an apathetic Beast.
8. The Shield
Realistically speaking, the Shield as a unit has no business making anyone’sย top ten. Having more illnesses/injuries (2) than significant wins (1) is hardly an impressive ratio as this Shieldย reunion never actually got rolling.ย
While Reigns has had another lovely year, and Ambrose and Rollins were fun as a tag team, the Shield asย unified trio produced a pretty forgettableย year.ย
Theย Shieldย in 2017 represents the rare occasionย where the parts are greater than the whole.ย
7. Kevin Owens
Even though he lost the Universal Championship to open 2017, Kevin Owens spent the rest the year collecting huge WWEย moments. The Festival of Friendship, his Shane McMahon feud andย subsequent Hell in a Cell match, busting open Vince McMahon with a headbutt,ย and causing chaos on SmackDownย withย soul mate Samiย Zaynย all contributedย to an exceptionalย yearย for KO.ย
6. The Miz
When you’re arguably the most important player on both RAW and SmackDown in the same year, that’s good enough to make even the most scrutinizing of top ten lists. But, The Miz was more than just a good hand.ย
2017 cemented The Miz’sย claim to being the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. While that’s still a debatable point, we cannot deny the Miz’sย prosperousย surge a top WWE. Not to mention he put out the LaVar Ball fire and he and Maryseย announced their first child to boot.ย
5. Jinder Mahal
In terms of fan disdain, Jinderย Mahalย makes Enzoย Amore look like CM Punk. However, like Amore, we cannot deny that Jinderย has enjoyed a spectacular 2017.
Having defeated Randy Orton three times in WWE Championship matches en route to holding the belt for nearly 6 months certainly gives Mahalย the most surprising 2017, but that shouldn’t dilute his success.
Jinderย has gone from obscurity to the figureheadย of SmackDown. While he’s out of the title picture now, we’ll never forget that Jinderย dominated most of 2017.ย
4. The Usos and New Day
Whether it was via R-rated rap battles or stealing SummerSlamย during the pre-show, The Usos and New Day totally revitalized tag team wrestling WWE.ย
Through great matches, cringe-worthyย brutality, and a palpableย chemistry these two teams suppliedย some of the best moments of 2017. Theย New Day was pushed to limits they had never seen they added physicalityย that has been sorely missing from theirย act. But for the Usosย their heelย turn lead to a career renaissance of sorts as they arguably had the best year not of just tag teamers, but of all WWEย Superstars.ย
3. Alexa Bliss
We’re having a hard time remember a time in 2017 where Bliss wasn’t RAW Women’s Champion as Little Miss Bliss has all but monopolized Monday nights.ย
She’s all too deserving of the #3 spot even though the Women’s Division as a whole took a considerableย step backward. Not that the quality of their wrestlingย digressed, WWEย just simply did not supply many cool moments regarding their women.ย
Maybe that’s why there was only one female Superstar on theirย countdown…
#2 Braun Strowman
Braunย Strowman’s rise in 2017 was nothing short of meteoric. Using a slew of ambulance miracles, laughable feats of strengths and rapid in-ring growth, Braunย Strowmanย has made the case for being the #1 Superstar of 2017.
However, as good as this year was for the Monster Among Men, he didn’t win any titles, but WWE’sย #1 Superstar of 2017 won 3 of them.
#1 AJ Styles
From January to December, Styles was a crucial player in WWE. In a year that featured a slew of Match of the Year candidates along with 2 US Championship wins and 1 highlyย catharticย WWEย Championship, the victoryย makes Styles a slam dunk for the #1 Superstar of 2017.ย
In the years prior to his WWEย arrival, Styles proponentsย wouldย swear he was the best wrestler the world. Well, 2017 proved that belief is far more than a reckless opinion: AJ Stylesย is the best planetย earth offers.
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