10 Ways 2018 Was WWE's Craziest Year EVER

2. Becky Lynch: The Man

Becky Lynch's SummerSlam heel turn was a kayfabe moment of clarity for the 'Irish Lass Kicker', but muddied WWE's waters in ways most unexpected.

Her post-turn promo on SmackDown Live was pathetically misguided. The company - as they always do - sent her out to lambast an audience that had never abandoned her. The "WWE Universe" are often made surrogates for the organisation in that regard, but their loud refusal to accept any responsibility for her babyface failings were simply too apparent.

In frustratingly familiar fashion, the cheers grew louder the more obnoxious she became. Attacking Charlotte Flair from behind put her on the front foot. Taking count-out losses made her look a wiser winner. WWE refused to join their audience, but they couldn't beat them.

'The Man' is the current creative compromise. Lynch dropped any disdain for the audience, instead pouring unfiltered scorn on her rivals via scathing promos and Tweets that embodied "straight fire" far more than her old babyface comebacks ever did. Like her chief rival's own Father, she's bled, sweat and paid the price to get there, and has galvanised that fan respect into something greater than WWE could have ever concocted themselves.

Comparisons with Stone Cold Steve Austin cannot end here - few deserve a WrestleMania 'Rattlesnake'-like anointment more.