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EditorialMy End of The Year Awards For WWE: OMG Moment/Return of The...

My End of The Year Awards For WWE: OMG Moment/Return of The Year

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For the third straight year, I’ve decided to host my own annual awards for what WWE has had to offer in the calendar year of 2017. More often than not, a lot of people were left saying “meh” and we had the feeling that WWE was not horrible, but nothing great either, making 2017 a relatively average year for WWE. However, we were left with some bright spots and positives to take into the new year, so with that said, here are my categories. As a disclaimer, there will be no NXT here, because I consider them to be a separate entity from the main roster. As another aside, because I don’t want to cram everything into one long article, I’ll be posting different articles throughout the day for more detailed analysis for each. I’ll start here with the first two on this list.

OMG Moment of the Year – Given to the single most shocking or surprising moment in all of WWE this year. Genuine shock factor is stressed here.

Return of the Year – Given to the best return of a superstar(s) that no one saw coming.

Tag Team of the Year – Given to the most consistent and best performing tag team of 2017.

Promo/Segment of the Year – Given to the best promo or segment in all of WWE.

Newcomer of the Year – Given to the superstar either new to the main roster or put in a different role who’s performed the best in 2017.

Rivalry of the Year – Given to the best rivalry between two opposing entities in WWE this year. The rivalry has to span at least two matches in order to qualify.

Superstar of the Year (Men’s) – Given to the best overall performing superstar on the men’s roster.

Superstar of the Year (Women’s) – Given to the best overall performing superstar on the women’s roster.

Match of the Year – Given to the best overall match of the year in 2017.

Now, let’s get started!

 

OMG Moment of the Year

And the nominees are….

1. The Hardy Boyz win the RAW Tag Team Titles at WrestleMania

Gallows and Anderson were due to defend their RAW Tag Team Championships in a triple threat ladder match against the teams of Cesaro and Sheamus and Enzo and Cass. Right before the match was about to start, however, the hosts of WrestleMania, The New Day, came out before the match to announce in a last-minute breaking decision, the match would be changed into a Fatal-Four Way. When that was said, everyone’s heart started to collectively beat faster. Could The Revival be called up? Could the rumors saying The Hardy Boyz were backstage actually be true? Or is WWE just trolling us and will The New Day simply be just walking down the aisle and joining to have a match at WrestleMania?

Immediately as the music hit, the WrestleMania crowd became unglued, as one of the greatest tag teams in the history of the division made their return as a tag team for the first time in about a decade. With Matt hitting a Twist of Fate on Karl Anderson from the top of the ladder and Jeff Hardy hitting a Swanton Bomb onto Cesaro and Sheamus like the old days, the Hardy Boyz would win their 8th WWE Tag Team title together and win their first WrestleMania match as a tag team in a moment of pure nostalgia.


2. Jinder Mahal Upsets Randy Orton At Backlash

             

Now here’s something I’m sure no one saw coming. One night on Smackdown, Jinder Mahal, who hadn’t won anything in the previous 2 years, all of a sudden became the number 1 contender for the WWE Championship. Then, at the Smackdown-exclusive PPV show of Backlash, Jinder Mahal defeated future Hall of Famer Randy Orton to become the new WWE Champion. This was a moment that didn’t feel real at all, as this was the definition of throwing caution to the wind. Randy Orton wasn’t going anywhere with the WWE Championship and WWE appeared to show interest in going in a different direction. Putting the title on Jinder Mahal in the moment was a complete shock, simply because of who everyone knew him to be to that point. We’ll get into the nitty-gritty of his title reign in the future, but in that moment, that was something that would make anyone say OMG.


3. The Shield reunites

             

“Who said anything about rumors?” This was a long time coming, and made even more apparent it would be happening once Dean Ambrose came over to RAW after the Superstar Shake-up. It all started with the reunion Seth Rollins made to Ambrose, apologizing for his past transgressions and asking if he’ll help him take down the likes of The Miz, Cesaro, and Sheamus or if he’d remain bitter about the past and refuse to move on. They let bygones be bygones, and together the two put aside their differences and won the RAW Tag Team Championships at Summerslam from Cesaro and Sheamus. However, after a series of ambushes from The Miz and company, Roman Reigns found himself in a bind until he was joined by his former Shield brethren. Then, one night, Roman Reigns found himself side by side with the Hounds of Justice once again. They destroyed the set of Miz TV and put aside any doubt that The Shield, at least for that moment, was back in action as one.


4. Kevin Owens attacks Vince McMahon

             

The feud Kevin Owens had with Shane McMahon reached its tipping moment when the Chairman of the Board, Vince McMahon, inserted himself into the proceedings. Vince proceeded to rip Kevin Owens apart on his appearance, his behavior and attitude towards Shane McMahon. However, the two came to an agreement, saying that if physically provoked, Kevin would be justified in attacking a McMahon. Little did Vince know, he forgot to check his last name, and KO proceeded to headbutt Vince and brutally assault the decrepit, arrogant Chairman. While I’m sure most of us kind of saw that something was about to brew, I think we didn’t expect Vince to get busted open (blade or not) and for KO to absolutely destroy Vince. For the longest time, we all knew that KO had the look and feel of a guy that Vince McMahon didn’t like. Hell, even after his WrestleMania match against Chris Jericho, Vince told him to his face that it wasn’t what they were looking for. So you can imagine how it must have felt for KO to put the old man out to pasture.


5. Braun Strowman destroys Roman Reigns

               

The origination of now the famous phrase, “I”M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU” comes here. After WrestleMania, Roman Reigns declared that RAW was his yard now, but Braun Strowman had something to say about that. After a backstage interview, Braun proceeded to ambush Roman and utterly destroy him throughout the backstage area. Shoving carts into his lifeless body and shoving him off a crash cart wasn’t nearly enough to sate the monster among men’s appetite. Nay, he wouldn’t be satisfied until he did something catastrophic. After Roman Reigns was unloaded into the ambulance, he closed all the doors, and proceeded to (fake or not), lift the entire ambulance with Roman in it, and flip it over, much to the delight of the post-WrestleMania crowd. This was the act that would grow Braun into the monster that he became today and set the stage for the heated back and forth that the two would have for most of 2017.

 

AND THE WINNER IS…….

 

 

For so long people kept saying to not hinder Jinder. He was hindered not this night no longer. For better or worse, nothing had the shock factor of Jinder Mahal winning the WWE Championship. Even months after he won, many people still couldn’t believe this guy held WWE’s most prestigious title.

 

Return of the Year

 

And the nominees are….

 

1. Finn Balor

               

Finn Balor was off to a hot start as the fifth overall pick in the 2016 WWE Draft. As a top pick on the RAW brand, Balor defeated Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Rusev and Roman Reigns all on his first night on RAW. He then proceeded to defeat Seth Rollins to become the first Universal Championship. Unfortunately, he would lose the title as quickly as he won it, due to a torn labrum he suffered at the hands of a turnbuckle powerbomb gone awry. Rumors of Finn Balor’s return permeated the internet for months upon months after his return. Would it be at the Royal Rumble? Would it be at this particular RAW? Would it be at WrestleMania? When would the Demon King make his anticipated return? Of course, he led the WWE Universe on constantly posting pictures of the set of RAW, teasing that he may return, but alas patience proved to be a virtue because the day of his arrival came at the night after WrestleMania 33. Chris Jericho was attacked by Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe, leaving Seth Rollins without his partner for that night. At that point, we all had a good idea of who that man returning would be.


2. Shelton Benjamin

             

Originally Shelton Benjamin was supposed to return in late 2016, but unfortunately, an injury derailed his return and many started to speculate whether or not he’d actually return to WWE. Fortunately, one night on Smackdown LIVE, it was revealed that he would be taking Jason Jordan’s place as Chad Gable’s tag team partner on Smackdown LIVE. While his return hasn’t amounted to much as of yet, it would appear as though the two are primed to be tag team champions in 2018. While Shelton Benjamin isn’t a Hall of Famer, he was one of the most exciting athletes to watch in WWE at his physical peak, and he returned to WWE for the first time since 2007.


3. Kurt Angle

The wrestling world was turned on its head when it was revealed that former WWE Champion Kurt Angle would be headlining the Hall of Fame Class of 2017. Kurt Angle was arguably the best technician WWE had ever signed and he had the perfect combination of charisma, wrestling ability and other intangibles that made him such a special talent for WWE. The relationship between him and WWE soured due to injury, drug issues and conflicts over his schedule and he would take his leave of absence from WWE in 2006 after a brief, unfruitful run in WWE’s watered down version of ECW. Many were confident that would be the last we’d see of Kurt in WWE in any capacity.

However, the never say die attitude remained, Kurt cleaned himself up, and we enjoyed a reunion that was highly emotional. It’s been a very eventful return for Kurt, as he was inducted into the Hall of Fame, made the general manager of Monday Night RAW and made his in-ring return, joining The Shield as a last minute substitution for one Roman Reigns. While Kurt obviously isn’t the athlete he once was, he sure looked good in his return and with all the talent on the WWE roster, one has to wonder what kind of dream matches may be in store for the Olympic gold medalist.


4. Paige

             

From failed drug tests to chronic neck injuries to online leaks and an unhealthy relationship with Alberto Del Rio, it’s safe to say that Paige has been through a great deal over the past year. Paige was drafted to the RAW brand, but she hadn’t appeared for WWE in over a year. Despite what many were saying about her, she insisted she wasn’t done in WWE yet and that she would be training and rehabbing hard to make her return in WWE. Eventually, she lived up to her promise and she returned just a few weeks ago on Monday Night RAW with a little entourage from NXT by her side. Simply saying, “I’m back”, she returned as a heel much to the delight of a shocked crowd. Not only that, she will be taking part in the first ever woman’s Royal Rumble match, and needless to say, these were the kind of moments Paige didn’t want to miss out in the Women’s Revolution. She may have suffered a minor setback after suffering a stinger from Sasha Banks at a recent live event, but I think she’s come too far to allow her career to get derailed any further.


5. The Hardy Boyz

             

The WrestleMania crowd’s reaction is all you need to know about this. The Hardy Boyz returning at WrestleMania was one of the best highlights of 2017, and if you want to talk about a nostalgia trip, it doesn’t get any better than this. The Hardy Boyz returned after a long hiatus from WWE and did what they do best, which is entertain.

 

AND THE WINNER IS…….

 

Bottom line is that no return in WWE this year got as many people out of their seats or jumping for joy than the return of the Hardy Boyz.

 

Hope you enjoyed this edition. I’ll be picking the next two later throughout the day. Stay tuned!

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