With 2016 coming to a close, we look to what 2017 may bring.
In the world of wrestling, we look for those who might reinvigorate the sport. Not just new faces in the main event scene, but veterans who deserve to be in the spotlight for their years of service. Those who deserve a main event title push to not only break the mold, but to relight the passion for many who have been watching for years.
Love him or hate him, The Miz went through a major renaissance in 2016. The night after Wrestlemania was the beginning: He defeated Zack Ryder for the Intercontinental Championship, with help his wife Maryse, making her return to WWE. Unlike in his other title runs, The Miz upped his in-ring game and turned his boring promos into must see TV. The day he went after Daniel Bryan on Talking Smack showed the fire was back. His rivalry with Dolph Ziggler has to be one of the top three rivalries of the year – they put on 5-star matches every time. The Miz is destined to be a world champion again and 2017 is the year he will be one.
Another star with a bright future who will probably win world championship gold in 2017 is Baron Corbin. The winner of the 2016 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal has come a long way from squashing jobbers weekly on NXT. He had a somewhat forgettable feud with Dolph Ziggler after debuting on the main roster, but found his true footing after being drafted to Smackdown. His rivalry with Kalisto was much more memorable than the one with Ziggler. Their Chairs Match at TLC showed how the big man can dish out punishment and take some as well. His crowning achievement this year actually wasn’t the battle royal win – it was the performance he had in the triple threat with Ziggler and AJ Styles. In that match, he showed he was ready to play with the big boys and is ready to dominate the blue brand. If gold isn’t in this man’s future, then a polar bear isn’t white.
The final man on the list who deserves to be a world champion in 2017 is Sami Zayn. With his surprise return to the main roster at the Royal Rumble, Sami had a roller coaster year. He was in a high profile match with Shinsuke Nakamura that was Match of the Year. He challenged for the Intercontinental Championship and ended his rivalry with Kevin Owens, for now. Up until the Draft, Sami looked like a major player on the WWE roster. But the brand extension has not been as kind to Sami as it was to Corbin. His high profile match with Chris Jericho at Night of Champions has been the only real highlight. Hopefully after he’s recovered from Braun Stroman, Sami will be the ultimate underdog in the Royal Rumble. He’s in line for a high profile match at Wrestlemania this year, and hopefully, it’s for a major title that allows a boyhood dream to come true.
With a lot of young talent ready to step up and put on 5-star matches, 2017 has a bright future for WWE. With the likes of youngsters, like Zayn and Corbin, and veterans, like The Miz, the WWE could be in for one of their best years yet. The ball is in the court of Vince McMahon and creative to give the fans what they deserve!
Jay Mackle
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