Join “Big Natural” Stoney Keeley as he closes the book on 2017. We’ve looked at the best tag teams, rivalries, breakout superstars, and matches of 2017. Time to polish it off with the WWE’s top 10 superstars of the year. The criteria is an admittedly mixed hodgepodge of championship success, kayfabe prominence, and the body of work (quality matches, solid promos, and overall good booking).
One of these days, I’ll actually do it. I’ll say, “Stoney – at the end of the year, you’re going to space out a full column for each of your top 10 WWE superstars of the year each day for a 10-day period.” But, I’ve been making this list for four years now, and I’ve never pulled it off. I always end up just doing one top-10 list…at least this year, I turned it into three pieces. Anyway, let’s get after it.
2017 WWE ‘Superstar of the Year’ Honorable Mentions
Asuka – She’s still undefeated and left NXT without losing the Women’s Championship. She could very well become the top women’s wrestler in 2018.
Finn Balor – Once a sure bet for the main event and perennial top-10-lister, Balor cooled off big time in 2017.
The Bar – Only The Usos are better at consistently putting on great quality tag team wrestling matches.
Aleister Black – Black had some of the best matches of 2017, and looks poised to have a huge 2018.
Charlotte Flair – She’s the best athlete in the business, but in 2017, she took a step away from the title picture. Still, a couple of title runs have her in the conversation.
Johnny Gargano – Gargano is pound for pound one of the best workers in all of WWE. His 2017 body of work is impeccable.
The Hardy Boyz – Their return at Wrestlemania 33 was one of the highlights of the year, and the run as Raw Tag Team Champions was just as fun.
Neville – For a hot minute, it looked like Neville was going to put the Cruiserweight Division on the map. His work with Rich Swann, Jack Gallagher, Mustafa Ali, Austin Aries, and Akira Tozawa was great.
Bobby Roode – Roode spent the better part of 2017 as NXT Champion, having quality matches with Shinsuke Nakamura, Hideo Itami, and Drew McIntyre before being called up to the main roster.
Samoa Joe – He’s a workhorse, and had one hell of a body of work in 2017. If he wins a title, he’s undoubtedly in the top 10.
The Top 10 WWE Superstars of the Year
10.The Miz – Nothing much changed from a 2016 that saw him catapult himself to the upper echelon of WWE talent. He’s still one of the best characters in the industry, and cemented himself as one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions in WWE history.
9. Naomi – She was one of the breakout stars of the year, had two runs as Smackdown Women’s Championship, including a fun, lengthy reign throughout the Spring. She stepped her gimmick up and became one of the featured superstars on the blue brand.
8. Brock Lesnar – Can’t deny the Universal Championship reign Lesnar had this year led to some of WWE’s most epic contests. Just when Lesnar’s act was growing stale, he reinvigorated his character with a fun program with Goldberg and quality matches with Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman, and A.J. Styles.
7. Kevin Owens – Business as usual for Owens – great matches, great promos, a Universal Championship, a couple of United States Championships, and two of the biggest feuds of the year.
6. The Usos – Consistent show stealers that reinvented themselves when their act was getting stale. Easily the best tag team of 2017, but worth consideration for one of the top 10 acts in WWE this year.
5. Jinder Mahal – He may have had the best, most involved single championship reign of the year, but his body of work just wasn’t that great. Still, can’t discount the prominence he played in WWE this year.
4. Roman Reigns – Roll your eyes, but I’ll still go to bat for Reigns. He’s one of the best in the world, and had another solid year of work, main events, and an Intercontinental Championship to go with it.
3. Braun Strowman – Strowman was a prominent fixture in the main event scene this year, and became one of the WWE’s most marketable new stars. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the championship accolades to go with it. Otherwise, he’s #1.
Check out #2 here.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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