Top 10 WWE Wrestlers Of 2017

Coming out of a horrifically timed shoulder injury in 2016, The Demon King returned to the ring the following year without missing a beat. Out-spookying Wyatt at SummerSlam and coming up just short against Reigns a few months prior, Finn put on some stellar performances in 2017 – and punctuated them with the coup de grace. While it can be argued that his time away did dampen the hype, and his high profile matches have been few-and-far-between, Bálor continues to show massive promise.

Woi Neville, what would we do without you? It’s safe to say that the Cruiserweight division has had a rocky start so far, but if one thing’s made it worthwhile it was this sinister Geordie. Given the grueling task of carrying the brand, Neville took the challenge and excelled, cementing himself as one of the better heels in not just the brand, but also the whole company in 2017. Of course, this isn’t to say that the division doesn’t have some incredible talents; the likes of Tozawa and Aries have gotten it over, but in our books the king reigns supreme.

The Beast incarnate so low on our list? Let’s just say that having so few matches in 2017 has significantly hurt his standing on our list. The year started out a bit shaky for the conqueror, after a quick elimination at the Rumble, but he climbed back up to the top of the mountain. Highlights like the SummerSlam four-way and an absolute adrenaline rush of a match with Goldberg at ‘mania have ensured that his credibility is unharmed… But the strain of having a part-timer as the Universal champ is a heavy hit to the Raw brand…

If there’s a man who’s been consistently overlooked, it’s the Lunatic Fringe. Ambrose hasn’t been involved in the highest caliber feuds this year, but he took what he was given and went the extra mile. The short-lived rivalry with Corbin was better than expected and his war with the Miz did wonders to reignite both of their sparks. Having recently made it to the elite grand-slam club after winning the tag team titles with Rollins, it seems there’s little territory left for Ambrose to explore – but here’s hoping the absolute madman pulls some more surprises.

Since turning up to cripple Rollins, the Samoan submission machine has been on a complete warpath. We were cautiously optimistic when he jumped to the main roster, but were quickly put at ease when he put away the likes of Roman Reigns, Zayn, and Cesaro – looking like a total beast while doing it, btw. Heck, Joe even managed an impressive standing against Lesnar in their Universal title match. We can only hope that his efforts eventually land him the coveted prize, but for now opponents beware because Joe is gonna kill you…

John Cena? Top Wrestler? 2017? It’s more likely than you think. Big Match John has been on the receiving end of many a nasty chant over the years, but we’re simply running out of reasons to hate on him. From his match of the year candidate against A.J. Styles to the absolute roasting of Roman Reigns on Raw, Cena has managed to make 2017 his – and not bury too many people in the process. Love him or loathe him, he’s always going to get your attention.

The cannon balling Quebecois is our number 4 pick, and for good reason. Despite not landing high on the card for the majority of his 2017 run, Owens has remained a consistent treat to watch. With a heartbreaking but brilliant break-up with Jericho and a solid series of matches with Styles, Owens has shown that he’s more than deserving of another world title shot. Regardless, the prizefighter has proved that no matter where he turns up on a show, he’s going to put on one hell of a performance.

What the hell went right? When Strowman turned up on the scene, we were expecting generic mastodon version 375, but oh how wrong we were. The monster among men has delivered time and time again – somehow making even the most comical of premises seem downright believable. Though the industry has moved further away from the big man style of old, Braun if proof that with a little innovation, the beasts still have their place. Something tells us that Strowman still isn’t finished with 2017 yet…

Whether he’s playing the good guy or the bad, Seth always has the crowd behind him. Rollins’ 2017 has been littered with ups and downs: he started the year off with another lousy injury, only to make a miraculous comeback for WrestleMania, where he took down The Game. But if one thing’s stayed steady, it’s that he’s usually involved in the match of the night. He’s been somewhat of an unsung hero for the brand throughout 2017, although a few questionable booking choices did hurt his spotlight. But high caliber matches and his program with former shield buddy, Dean, keep us optimistic.

Before we unveil our number one pick, here are some honorable mentions:
- Sami Zayn
- Roman Reigns
- Cesaro

Was there really any doubt? “The Phenomenal One” once again proved in 2017 that he’s a strong contender for the title of “best wrestler on the planet.” From his awesome battle with Cena, to his brawls with Owens, to the fact that he also somehow managed to put on a decent match with Shane; Styles has shown that you can get by on pure wrestling talent alone. Sure, the U.S. title may be beneath him, but with any luck he’ll be back in the main event picture before too long. Here’s to you A.J., and here’s to us hindering Jinder.