10 Wrestlers Whose Stock Has Risen In 2017
8. Tyler Bate
2017 has been Tyler Bate’s breakout year. Those with a close eye on the British independent scene have been aware of his talents for a while now, but he shot to international prominence through the WWE UK Title Tournament in January, and while he no longer has the belt, Bate’s good work over the past four months has solidified his popularity among the WWE faithful.
Tyler won the Championship following a thrilling tournament final versus Pete Dunne, then took it around the world, mounting successful defences against the likes of Mark Andrews and Trent Seven. He has appeared on several episodes of NXT, and at TakeOver: Chicago, he and Dunne produced one of the best WWE matches of the year, drawing a standing ovation from the ravenous crowd.
At 20 years old, Bate has become one of the faces of WWE’s UK brand. His youth, skill, and inherent likeability mean he’ll likely remain in the spotlight for the foreseeable future, even if he doesn’t get the belt back. Tyler has made a running start to life as a superstar, and this year should serve as the springboard to a long, successful career.