10 Most Improved Wrestlers Of 2017

9. The Velveteen Dream

Braun Strowman Survivor Series
WWE.com

Patrick Clark never got off the ground in NXT. A competitor in the most recent season of Tough Enough, he debuted in June 2016, but was used primarily to put guys like Austin Aries and Rich Swann over.

Having disappeared by the end of the year, he re-emerged with a victory over Sean Maluta this February, but Clark's push didn't truly take shape until 24 May, when The Velveteen Dream was born.

Equal parts Goldust and Prince, Dream was (and still is) completely unlike anything else in the company. Clark has thrown himself into the character, and immediately became one of NXT's most intoxicating personalities, though his ring work was still lacking.

That all changed from late summer onwards. Dream became increasingly comfortable between the ropes, and no longer felt like a guy playing pro-wrestler, but one of WWE's hottest prospects. This culminated with a show-stealing performance against Aleister Black at TakeOver: WarGames. A perfect slab of wrestling storytelling, it showed the world that Dream's in-ring chops are now every bit as well formed as his character, with his green early days now firmly in the rear-view.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.