The Complete A-Z Of Wrestling In 2017
3. X - Xavier Woods
Undeniably gifted in creative aspects of an industry he's clearly deeply in love with, Xavier Woods took to also carrying the in-ring heavy lifting for The New Day in what turned out to be their most critically acclaimed year yet.
Things looked a little bleak for the trio at the start of 2017, with the December 2016 termination of their record-breaking Tag Team Title reign seemingly signalling the beginning of the end for the group. A post-WrestleMania switch to SmackDown Live! had an implausible impact on their matches though, with the group reborn in world class battles with The Usos.
Woods was at the beating heart of all the best bits. The constant in their Battleground, SummerSlam and Hell In A Cell show-stealers, the UpUpDownDown doyen played integral roles both as underdog babyface and a high impact high flyer.
Inadvertently becoming the beating heart of the group rather than just the chest-beating cheerleader, Woods didn't sacrifice his trombone-loving trouble-making in promos and segments on television. His new position as the triumvirate's total package presents a completely new spin on how the company may one day frame their break up though, should that still even be an avenue worth exploring.