Top 5 WWE Matches of 2017

by Matt George – Sports 1140 KHTK Reporter

2017 was an incredibly progressive year for WWE, implementing new wrestlers, new storylines, and revamping their women’s division with all-new matches and events. Here are KHTK’s top five matches of the year.

5. The New Day vs The Usos – SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match (SummerSlam August 20^th)

The Usos may have had the best 2017 out of anyone else in the WWE. They had so many incredible matches along with their badass new attitude. Of all the matches to choose from, their bout with the New Day at SummerSlam was the best. But here’s the crazy part, this match took place on the pre-show. The Usos took the belts, stole the show, and the rest of SummerSlam had to accept that their main event wasn’t even on the main card.

4. Charlotte Flair vs Bayley – RAW Women’s Championship Match (RAW February 13^th)

Hard to choose just one women’s match for this list. This was a momentous year for the Women’s wrestling division (so long Divas). Stephanie McMahon ended 2017 with the monumental announcement that the 2018 Royal Rumple will feature a 30-women match for the first time in history. But, in the ring itself, Charlotte & Bayley delivered a match for the ages on RAW that had all the men in the locker room on their feet. The match also put Bayley on the map, as she earned her first RAW Women’s Championship.

3. The Miz vs Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor – #1 Contender Triple Threat (RAW May 1^st)

Some hometown bias on this one. Monday Night RAW returned to Sacramento and the WWE Universe inside the Golden 1 Center was treated to one of the greatest main events in a long time. Finn Balor’s insane kicks, the number of near-falls, and interference by both Samoa Joe and Bray Wyatt, left the entire crowd (including yours truly) buzzing the whole ride home. Miz would win, and go on to defeat Dean Ambrose for the Intercontinental Championship. Safe to say, it was “awwwwesome”!

2. Finn Balor vs AJ Styles (WWE TLC October 22^nd)

The match that everyone wanted to happen, that wasn’t supposed to happen, and then, all of the sudden, happened. With Finn Balor on RAW and AJ Styles on SmackDown, fans were expecting it to be a while before they got the privilege of seeing the two step into the ring together. However, thanks to a locker room sickness that put Bray Wyatt on the shelf, Styles was a last-minute sub at the TLC pay-per-view. Fans were losing their mind before the match even began and, after a magical fight, were left begging for more. WWE knows they have a monster money-maker trump card up their sleeve with these two, that they can use at any time.

1. AJ Styles vs John Cena – WWE Championship Match (WWE Royal Rumble January 29^th)

John Cena is the face of the WWE. Easily the most popular and polarizing superstar since The Rock and Stone Cold. AJ Styles is above and beyond the best in-ring performer and wrestler in the company. So, when these two faced off, magic was guaranteed. More impressive than his already incredible skillset, Styles brought the best out of Cena, who showed a couple new moves in his arsenal. Even the most hostile Cena-haters showed their respect to the massive babyface’s performance. Cena got the belt, Styles got the push, and we got the best match of the year.

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