18 Biggest Wrestling Stories Of 2017

In March, SmackDown Live!'s lead announcer Mauro Ranallo missed two consecutive weeks behind the commentary booth, with the company vaguely citing "travel issues" as the reason for his absence. After a fortnight passed with Ranallo away from the booth, WWE noted he was suffering from illness.

Further light was shed on the situation when it was revealed in Dave Meltzer's Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Ranallo was struggling with bipolar depression, a condition he has battled since childhood. The story took a darker twist when it further emerged that the announcer's latest episode had not been helped by persistent behind-the-scenes bullying by colleague JBL. The Texan refuted the allegations, claiming he was merely playing a character - apparently conflating on-air comments with the supposed backstage ribbing aimed at Ranallo.

In the weeks that followed, a host of names within wrestling piled onto JBL, corroborating the claims of his tormenting. With the pressure building, it seemed only a matter of time before a desk was cleared on SmackDown.

So it proved - but amazingly, it was Ranallo, not JBL, who was forced to step down. After parting ways with the company, Ranallo was quick to point out that it had "nothing to do with JBL," but few bought the line - especially after it emerged that a non-disclosure agreement had been hashed out in advance of the departure.

Ultimately, Ranallo's exit allowed the air to clear and for him to recuperate from his health issues. In July, the Bellator commentator was brought back into the company as NXT's lead announcer, and just over a month later, JBL announced his decision to step down. The grotty story had a happy ending - eventually.