15 Ups & 13 Downs For WWE In 2017

5. Beast Meets Destroyer

Samoa Joe Brock Lesnar
WWE.com

One of only a handful of NXT call-ups to truly prosper on WWE's main roster in 2017, Samoa Joe came within a hair of shooting to the top of the pile at Great Balls Of Fire. Him and Brock Lesnar wrestled one of the year's most breathtaking sprints that night. The six-minute runtime suggests a squash, but far from it: 'The Beast' was portrayed as lucky to escape Joe's onslaught, and won only via desperation F5, putting the former NXT Champion over huge in defeat.

The feud was one of Raw's finest in 2017, with Joe's June 5th assault of Paul Heyman a notable highlight. Brutal, searing, and utterly uncompromising, it was everything that has made the ex-TNA man so compelling in 2017, with his performances so strong that many fans were clamouring for him to take Brock's Universal Title.

Now several years removed from his athletic peak, Joe's promos and presence have never been stronger, and he has cultivated a genuine aura of intimidation on Raw. He may never wrestle another five-star classic again, but who cares? His character work is among the best in the world, and that's what matters most in the land of sports entertainment.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.