8 WWE Storylines That Must Happen Before 2017

Character makeovers! Dream matches! First-time champions!

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The brand extension and WWE draft have created several opportunities for exciting storylines, feuds and match-ups as the company attempts to create competition within itself.

In the process, it has opened up possibilities for some of its most popular Superstars to undergo character makeovers, wage war in dream matches and capture championships they previously would not have had the chance to run with.

To say that 2016 has not been the most creatively successful year for WWE to this point would be an understatement the size of Dana Brooke's chest. One could even suggest that the company has been creatively bankrupt for the majority of the first seven months of the year, an abundance straight-forward booking and repetition dooming the product to mediocrity.

With an air of freshness and intrigue surrounding the product, now is the time for WWE Creative to flex its muscles and close out 2016 with these eight storylines to reward fans' faith in Raw and SmackDown, and ensure a healthy start to the new year.

8. Paige And Her Papi

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After being drafted to separate rosters, it would take a bit of maneuvering to bring Paige and Alberto Del Rio back together. Concocting some sort of explanation for the rule-bending would certainly be worth it, though, once interest was renewed in the characters.

Neither the former world champion nor his Anti-Diva girlfriend have done much of note in WWE through the first-half of 2016. They have become afterthoughts, trotted onto television for meaningless defeats before being summoned back to the deep, dark abyss of the company's undercard where they wait for something creative to come their ways.

With nothing else to lose, why not pair them up on television, Paige selling out for the sweet affection of her papi?

We have seen in the past what an on-screen relationship based in reality can do for two performers lost in the shuffle. Edge became an enormous star for WWE after Lita became his heater. Together, they achieved great things, including championship runs and main event pushes that ultimately landed both in the Hall of Fame.

SmackDown is devoid of credible main event stars at this point and a rejuvenated Del Rio, with an evil Paige by his side, could prove to be exactly what he needs to return to relevance in sports entertainment's greatest promotion.

Considering recent reports suggesting Del Rio could be on his way out of the company this October, disenfranchised by his use in go-round number two with WWE, the on-screen pairing and subsequent push would likely be the one thing to convince him to stay.

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Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.