10 Reasons To Be Cheerful About WWE In 2017
1. AJ Styles
WWE have so often fumbled the ball with the simplest of professional wrestling plays that it's vitally important to celebrate the times when they execute the basics so well.
AJ Styles is probably the best all-rounder in the world right now, and if there's any debate to be had whatsoever, he's still in the top three. The company, subsequently, are booking him as such.
His 'House that AJ Styles built' mantra on SmackDown Live! since the 'Superstar Shake-up' is more than just an eventual t-shirt seller for the blooming babyface he has gradually morphed into. It's a weighted truth that has positioned the 'Phenomenal One' as the franchise player of the blue brand, effectively presenting him as the best (or joint-best) the company has to offer, regardless of titles.
Backing it up in the ring has always been the easy bit for Styles, but his mic work has improved exponentially since leaving TNA, with a confidence-boosting run in New Japan Pro Wrestling that completely redefined his swagger and panache and proved he belonged on the biggest stage.
WWE remarkably put faith in Styles as their heel champion just month into his stint with the company, and milked it as long as they could get away with before his cockiness was adjusted to confidence in tune with the overwhelming crowd support that necessitated a babyface turn.
A fresh run with the brand's top title cannot be far away.