14 Ups & 14 Downs For WWE In 2018
2. Ronda Rousey
With comparisons already being made to Kurt Angle's revolutionary rookie year on the main roster, Ronda Rousey could and should consider her first year with WWE as one of the great success stories of the era.
Bottled, her WrestleMania tag victory alongside the fellow former Olympian would have been enough of a hill to die on, but Rousey's done the total opposite since shining brighter than half the established talents on her first night in.
With charisma to spare and already mastered, Ronda improved her in-ring game with every passing match to the point she could credibly compete with any opponent rather than requiring a carry from outstanding baggage-handlers Charlotte Flair or Nikki Bella. She gave Nia Jax her best match, Alexa Bliss a cathartic kicking, and the aforementioned 'Queen' one of the best main roster singles matches of the year.
The only way to top her first 12 months would be to headline WrestleMania to kick off her second. And it'd be foolish to rile it out, considering everything else that has come to pass since her incandescent arrival...