12 Ups And 15 Downs For WWE In 2017 (2nd Opinion)

2. Braaauuuuunnn!

OK, here’s one guy who had a bigger 2017 without capturing any titles.

Braun Strowman could have become another generic big guy in WWE, a lumbering lunk who looked intimidating but moved like a tank. Instead, Strowman showed over the course of the year that he was learning and expanding his moveset almost weekly, disproving many critics and winning over fans as he went along.

His ongoing feud with Roman Reigns – highlighted by a truly memorable night when he tossed a stretcher-bound Roman off a loading dock and then flipped over an ambulance he was in – turned Braun into an instant cult hero.

Some believe WWE should have pulled the trigger on Strowman against Brock Lesnar for the Universal Championship, and while that might be true, it feels more like a matter of time before Braun is holding gold, not a question of “if.”