Best WWE Male Wrestlers of 2017

What a year for professional wrestling, despite having a good old moan about everything we see on a weekly basis, it’s hard to deny that we haven’t been thoroughly sports entertained. This year in particular has seen an influx of top-tier talent making their WWE debuts and unlikely names headlining in the main events, so let us take a look back at five of the top male superstars of 2017.

 

AJ Styles

The Phenomenal One started off his 2017 strong, competing as WWE Champion against John Cena in a match that has been talked about as one of this year’s greatest bouts. Even though it was a losing effort on Styles’ part, he never looked stronger. Continuing as one of the top stars on the Smackdown Live roster, AJ went on to feud with GM Shane McMahon heading into Wrestlemania. Most were ready to write that opener of as a typical ‘McMahon fest’, but it’s not like AJ to put on a meh performance on such a grand stage – it so happened to steal the show.

Styles spent most of the year chasing the United States Championship, defeating Kevin Owens at a MSG live event, the first of two title wins which took everyone by surprise. Eventually losing the title to Baron Corbin, he then escalated back into the WWE title picture, defeating Jinder Mahal in Manchester to claim his second world championship.

Styles has without a doubt been the most consistent superstar on the roster this year. Almost all of his PPV matches have been rated 4*+ by various commentators and has remained a true workhorse for WWE.

 

Roman Reigns

Despite crowd resentment, The Big Dog has stayed on top of his game as one of WWE’s top draws. Even though fans are resilient against him, he’s been somewhat of an understated part of the main event scene throughout 2017. Never once winning the Universal Championship, nor being awarded a singles match with the champion past the Royal Rumble. Reigns’ biggest accomplishment this year goes to his win at Wrestlemania 33, defeating and seemingly retiring The Undertaker.

This of course generated an unearthly amount of heat on the post-mania Raw, which followed him throughout his year-long feud with Braun Strowman. Occasionally finding himself against other huge names including John Cena and Brock Lesnar, Reigns has been putting on stellar matches, which are sometimes overlooked by angsty audiences. Reigns is ending the year as Intercontinental Champion, with his best buds Ambrose and Rollins by his side again.

Whether you like him or not, Reigns is definitely a strong contender for superstar of the year. His matches with Strowman have created some of the most memorable moments of the year and the Mania main event against Undertaker will live in legend.

 

Braun Strowman

The Monster Among Men is someone I never thought I’d be praising as one of the top superstars on the roster. Most assumed that Braun was to be the next of Vince’s pet projects, with little wrestling ability to accompany his impressive physique. How wrong were we.

Braun has proved to everyone that he’s capable of being one of the companies biggest attractions, putting on memorable matches and backstage moments which can’t help but make you fall in love with his antics. The dude has flipped ambulances, resurrected himself after being crushed in a garbage truck and has made it very clear that he is not finished with his opponents. Braun has ducked in and out of the main event scene, competing against the top members of the Raw roster and holding his own in the ring against them.

Strowman is currently involved in a bit feud with Kane, but after this plays out, I can see him working his way towards his first championship. This man is the personification of getting yourself over.

 

Jinder Mahal

Another name that would have been hard to imagine this time last year. Jinder Mahal has probably had his entire career success in the space of a year, coming from the humble beginnings of jobbing to Sami Zayn to defeating Randy Orton for the WWE Championship.

The Modern Day Maharaja has been a controversial addition to the Smackdown main event scene, with many struggling to look at him as a credible champion after having such a downtrodden return in 2016. Nevertheless, its hard to argue about his improvement, refining his character into one of the best heels on the roster alongside the Singh Brothers and his in-ring work has drastically been on the up and up.

Mahal is building towards his WWE Championship rematch against AJ Styles, could this Cinderella story be reaching its second shocking twist?

 

Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho somehow became one of the most popular acts in WWE by simply making a list of names. Even though the former Undisputed Champion has been absent from WWE programming since the summer, it’s hard to dispute that he’s a front-runner for being superstar of the year.

Jericho provided one of the most memorable moments of this year via The Festival of Friendship feat. Kevin Owens, he became a two time United States Champion and broke the internet after announcing that he will be defecting to New Japan Pro Wrestling to settle a score with one of the most over men in the world – Kenny Omega.

Jericho’s far from wrapping up his career, 2018 is set to be a huge year for Y2J with not only the match at Wrestle Kingdom but also the controversial Cruise of Jericho. Will the friends of Jericho rally together to make him Cultured Vultures WWE male wrestler of the year?

Cast your votes below for this year’s Male WWE Wrestler of the Year.