10 Best WWE Gimmicks Of 2017
1. Braun Strowman
Sports entertainment is an abysmal concept.
Contrived, sanitised, hollow, in which cosmetic moments take precedent over "prehistoric" concepts like continuity and meritocracy, Vince McMahon's vision of pro wrestling is, ultimately, as infuriating as it is impossible to believe in.
Enter Braun Strowman.
From a garbage truck, like an inhuman monstrosity impervious to sharp, churning machinery. From the mind's eye, like the most terrifying of talking horror movie villains. From inside of an ambulance, rematerialised through his very being like the f*cking Terminator.
And into absolutely jaw-dropping set-pieces of backstage destruction, into schadenfreude-tastic murder scenes in which he tosses mere mortals around like the sacks of sh*t that they are. Into stupendously entertaining matches that have single-handedly, and mercifully, rendered the plodding style of a Big Cass or a Mojo Rawley extinct before their time. Into superb top-line programmes that have made fools of the "Roman Reigns Can't Wrestle" crowd. Into the exhilarating demolition derby that was the best WWE main roster match of the year, in which he was cast as and performed as the biggest star in the company.
The Braun Strowman character couldn't exist in a traditional pro wrestling league. He is the perfect distillation of WWE's approach to pro wrestling.