10 Reasons To Be Cheerful About WWE In 2017

10. Braun Strowman

What's not to love about Braun Strowman?

After his unjust omission from the WrestleMania card, the 'Mountain of a Man' shared the stage with Brock Lesnar on night one of his post-'Show of Shows' rehabilitation.

Electing not to fight 'The Beast' on that night, Strowman erased any doubts over his top line contention with a relentless and memorable beatdown of Roman Reigns the following week.

His lengthy assault on 'The Big Dog' (which saw Roman first hurled off a platform whilst strapped to a stretcher, then tipped over alongside the ambulance he was inside of) was week one of a path of rage that ultimately led to a pinfall victory over a still-injured Reigns at the Payback pay-per-view.

A character with clear motivations and a knack for causing entertaining chaos, his follow-up destructions of The Big Show and Kalisto were similarly riotous and adequately established an unstoppable aura around the former Wyatt Family heavyweight.

Proof that WWE can rapidly establish a bonafide headliner in short order with enough effort and a performer's chops to match, the Strowman push has been a resounding success. Less than a year on from his Raw selection in the 2016 Draft, Braun has positioned himself as a legitimate threat to Brock Lesnar's Universal Title, with a match between the two over the summer months appearing the most tantalising new option for 'The Beast'.