10 Reasons To Be Cheerful About WWE In 2017
9. NXT Turnaround
Though some distance from their TakeOver: Dallas peak, NXT's television product has shown marked signs of improvement in recent weeks following a much-needed recruitment drive bolstering the depleted roster.
Defeated by its purpose, the brand became too strong to sustain such a high level of action, as more and more talent were plucked from the ranks to fill out cards following the 2016 Brand Extension.
The lack of serviceable superstars for high level feuds in every division was painfully apparent, with the San Antonio and Orlando supershows falling short of the phenomenal standard set by years of genuinely epic Network specials.
Bobby Roode's prominence atop the card following back-to-back victories over Shinsuke Nakamura provided the bedrock for a revitalised NXT, with new talent, title belts, storylines and opening credits all underscoring a committed attempt to reinvigorate the show for the next crop of emerging Performance Centre graduates.
A Chicago TakeOver event on Backlash weekend will see Roode battle the returning Hideo Itami, who will be looking to make a renewed impact after some horrifically timed injuries.
Elsewhere, weekly show quality has seen an immediate upswing with new arrivals Drew McIntyre and Aleister Black bringing their star quality to the broadcasts, whilst Asuka's record-breaking NXT Women's Title reign shows little sign of slowing as she embarks on a heel turn designed to protect her status atop a new selection of insurgent challengers.