10 Biggest Wrestling Controversies Of 2016
1. Roman Reigns' Suspension
Undoubtedly, Roman Reigns' suspension was the most newsworthy topic of the year.
It shook the wrestling world because many felt, cynically, that stars of his standing were curiously exempt from testing; there are stars bigger in both physique and standing who have yet to violate the policy, after all. The banned substance has not been identified, but rumours persist that Reigns ingested illegal fat burners and or amphetamines. Regardless, he was suspended - but he was not removed from the WWE Heavyweight Title match at Battleground.
He ate the pin, but his trip to the doghouse was a temporary one. A hastily cobbled together feud with Rusev followed, from which Reigns emerged victorious. Almost inevitably, he will end the year in contention for RAW's top title. The perception of Reigns as a man unjustly fast-tracked to main event success was not helped by his taking a shortcut. Many felt that Reigns' suspension was serendipitous - that his standing as a real-life cheat could be mined, in this reality-driven era, to orchestrate a heel turn. Sadly, WWE has reverted to the status quo.
The list of wrestlers who have achieved lasting stardom by turning heel is endless. Let's hope Reigns' name is added to it in 2017. If it isn't, the controversy of his unjustified high card positioning will rage on.