10 Most Improved Wrestlers Of 2017

4. EVIL

Braun Strowman Survivor Series
NJPW1972.com

While EVIL has never been a slouch between the ropes, he was little more than a solid midcard hoss with a goofy gimmick at the start of 2017. He was well positioned in Los Ingobernables De Japon, but overshadowed by their charismatic leader Tetsuya Naito, heavyweight prospect SANADA, and the unhinged Hiromu Takahashi, leaving him with little to do other than fill a spot in New Japan's many undercard tag bouts.

A spring feud with company legend Hiroshi Tanahashi hinted at what would follow, but EVIL's year didn't truly gather steam until July, when he emerged as one of the G1 Climax tournament's standout performers. Great matches with Kenny Omega, Juice Robinson, and especially Kazuchika Okada highlighted his in-ring growth. Suddenly, EVIL felt like a performer on the same level as even his most celebrated opponents, and it was clear that he'd leapfrogged SANADA by the competition's end.

EVIL fought the biggest match of his career at King of Pro-Wrestling in October. He fell in the night's main event, but delivered another stiff, hard-hitting performance against Okada, proving once again that he belongs in the same conversation as the IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Here's hoping he drops the plastic scythe in 2018, though.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.