11 Best Elements Of WWE TV In 2016 (So Far)
Chris Jericho was gold, even if WWE creative were a bunch of stupid idiots.
WWE television in the year 2016 may not be the red hot programming it has been in years past, ratings tanking for the July 4 episode of Raw to levels never before seen, but that does not mean everything about the company's flagship show and SmackDown are doom and gloom.
The in-ring product is as good as it has ever been with talent from every walk of professional wrestling having the opportunity to display their skills on a weekly basis.
The company has initiated a New Era and several of the fresh, young and exciting acts to come out of it have captivated viewers and left audiences excited about their prospects. Not to be outdone, several veterans of the mat game have reinvigorated their careers through strong in-ring performances or simplistic catchphrases that have struck a chord with the WWE Universe.
There have been dream matches and epic journeys to greatness, making for an emotional start to what could very well prove a banner year for Vince McMahon's company when all is settled.
As we embark on the second-half of 2016, enjoy this look back at the elements that kept you glued to WWE television...even when the rest of creative sucked.
11. Becky Lynch: WWE's Purest Babyface
The wrestling landscape is a very different one than it was in the mid-1990s, when there were very clearcut babyfaces and heels. The heroes were instantly recognisable while there was no denying who the villains of the live-action morality play were.
Over time, an attitude took over WWE and rendered the idea of good and bad guys meaningless, a sentiment that carries over to today's product where Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho are more likely to draw positive reactions than lead protagonists like John Cena and Roman Reigns.
Still, there is one babyface that remains pure in WWE's New Era: Becky Lynch.
The Lass Kicker is an old school babyface, an honourable competitor who never cheats, who works hard and is consistently either screwed out of victories or betrayed by her closest friends. Case in point: the recent double cross endured at the hands of Natalya.
Like Sting did during his days as the lead hero in WCW, Lynch generates such sympathy from audiences as a result of her treatment at the hands of those closest to her. She is a classic heroine whose ultimate triumph will generate a thunderous ovation and could very well catapult her past her peers and to the top of the women's division in WWE.
That is, as long as WWE creative can resist any urge to turn her heel.