15 Ups & 13 Downs For WWE In 2017
2. Best In The World?
AJ Styles' excellence goes without saying. He is, at the very least, the second best wrestler in the world, with only NJPW ace Kazuchika Okada fit to rival him for the crown. Even in WWE's infamously restrictive in-ring environment, 'The Phenomenal One' has affirmed his status among the elite with blow-away performance after blow-away performance, and after a stunning debut year in 2016, he continued the theme in 2017.
AJ's calendar kicked off with a barnstorming all-action spotfest against John Cena at the Royal Rumble. He then wrestled a great TV bout with Dean Ambrose two nights later, played a starring role in one of the greatest Elimination Chamber matches ever, and engaged in a fun trainwreck of a bout with Shane McMahon at WrestleMania. Sure, the Kevin Owens series was disappointing, but Styles followed it up with great performances against Finn Balor and Brock Lesnar, and closed the year by dragging not one, but two good bouts from the lowly Jinder Mahal.
2017's second and third quarters didn't offer AJ as many high-level opportunities as fans would've hoped, but he has rebounded nicely. His stock is so high that his foray in the US Title division felt like an elevation for the belt, not a demotion for the current WWE Champion, who is as good as he's ever been, even at 40 years old.