Who REALLY Carried WWE Every Year (1985-2026)

2017 was a tough one, because Kevin Owens nearly got this spot. In the end, it's burly 'we forgive you for leaving to follow your NFL and UFC dreams' Brock Lesnar that gets the nod; if for no other reason than his brilliant rematch vs. Goldberg at WrestleMania 33 and his underrated mini-feud vs. Samoa Joe in the summer.

Also, and this is well worth pointing out, Brock refusing to work with Jinder Mahal ended that disastrous WWE Title reign and gave us the majesty of Lesnar vs. AJ Styles at Survivor Series instead. Someone should've stuck Brock on their Christmas card list just for that. Here's hoping he got a cracking secret Santa present that year from someone backstage. Some new MMA gloves, perhaps.

In total, Lesnar only worked 14 matches throughout the year, but every single one of them felt important. He was part of the 30-man Royal Rumble in January (just his second appearance in the titular match since 2003), then worked some house shows vs. Big Show and Kevin Owens before that colossal tussle with Goldberg in Orlando at 'Mania.

His sojourn with Joe was worth seeing in spite of a horrendous Great Balls Of Fire event title, and SummerSlam's riotous Fatal-4-Way with Joe, Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns was action-packed fun. Matches vs. Strowman and Styles rounded out a fine 2017 for 'The Beast Incarnate'.

2017 wasn't quite as miserable as 2019 for most of the roster, but it was hard to determine a true out and out winner better than Lesnar during that 12 month span. Brock takes it.