10 Reasons To Be Cheerful About WWE In 2017

Held in front of rabid Full Sail fans to the tune of Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo's ultra-enthusiastic commentary, 2016's Cruiserweight Classic was unlike anything the company had ever promoted, especially in how lauded and well-respected the smaller stars were upon simply entering the tournament.

Acutely targeted at Network subscribers, it was over-indulgent fan service designed to build anticipation for a relaunched Cruiserweight Division that ultimately flattered to deceive.

As soon as the 205-and-under crew took to the Monday Night Raw stage, the wrestlers appeared stripped of the freedom to fly and the propensity to perform. Shoehorned into WWE's rigid televised heavyweight style, the highspots were squashed into finishing sequences that played out to virtual silence from crowds bored by the preceding ten minutes of inaction. Furthermore, little attention was paid to characterisation, with the revolving door of above average flyers struggling to inspire.

And then there was Neville.

Stomping into the division in December with a wicked heel turn on then-Champion Rich Swann and TJ Perkins, the self-anointed 'King of the Cruiserweights' took the title in short order, amassing a series of show-stealing contests that relied on his refreshed demeanour more than his former flights of fancy.

His performances have elevated the entire division, seemingly taking talented colleagues at a time and bringing their persona up to his level. Stories alongside Jack Gallagher, Austin Aries and Perkins have lifted all three, and the pattern looks set to continue with anybody aiming to dethrone the muscled titleholder.