’Best Of…’ Series: WWE Year In 2016

Honorable mentions

*Finn Balor moves to the main roster to become the first-ever WWE Universal Champion at WWE SummerSlam (August 22nd, 2016).

*Shinsuke Nakamura becoming the new ‘Face of NXT’ by defeating Sami Zayn in a MOTY (Match of the Year) candidate match at NXT Take Over: Brooklyn.

*Cody Rhodes post-WWE career matches against, Kurt Angle, Zack Sabre Jr., Steve Corino. Rhodes would also be later announed as the newest member of the famed stable Bullet Club.

*Matt Hardy becoming ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy and practically evolving his entire career and part of pop-culture with the term “DELETE!”

*Bobby Roode makes NXT “GLORIOUS” again during his debut on August 3rd, 2016.

*Asuka demolishes the NXT women’s division and defeats Bayley to become the NXT Women’s Champion.

*The CWC (Cruiserweight Classic); it brought some of the greatest athletes under 205lbs and provided for some great memorable moments from TJ Perkins, Rick Swann, Kota Ibushi, Tommaso Ciampa, The Brian Kendrick, and Johnny Gargano.

*Goldberg’s return the WWE and win against Brock Lesnar

*The Year of Miz; since the WWE Draft The Miz has consistently evolved his character first with the captivating promo with Daniel Bryan and keeping the focus of the Intercontinental Championship relevant.

*Daniel Bryan’s Retirement Speech; it was the saddest moment in the WWE as we seen a young athlete’s career come to an end.

*Neville’s return and heel turn at Roadblock: End of the Line (December 18th). Neville would cut a promo with a message to the WWE Universe, “You can take your cheers, and you can stick ’em!”

1. The Phenomenal World Capture

If you would have said, AJ Styles was going to sign with the WWE full-time in 2016 given the circumstances of him being comfortable competing in NJPW with being the leader of the Bullet Club and having stellar matches in Japan I would say you’re dead wrong. However, after much speculation and rumors, it was true that AJ Styles would be coming to the WWE. After the ovation he got at the Royal Rumble there was no denying the aura of Styles. He would compete at WrestleMania against WWE veteran, Chris Jericho although it was a losing effort he never lost his step. Styles would slowly fit into the WWE with his dynamic personality only to feud with Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback & Extreme Rules. Even through those losing efforts, Styles would look PHENOMENAL (all puns intended). His rivalry with John Cena would ultimately further Styles being the top athlete he proved to the be around the world. Having put on an amazing display of resiliency, innovation, and determination, Styles won over the fans quickly becoming the first ever WWE Superstar to maintain a level of success whether it was him being heel or babyface. In the late Fall and the WWE did with the re-draft, Styles was placed on SmackDown Live, where he’d entered a feud with Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. After his 5-star match with John Cena at SummerSlam, Styles would re-enter the WWE World Championship title picture and received a shot at Backlash against Dean Ambrose. Styles would capture the ultimate prize and become the WWE World Champion by defeating Dean Ambrose with a low blow and a Styles Clash. The Phenomenal One would quickly rise to the top of the mountain in a matter of 9 months. For the past three months, Styles has successfully defended the title against, Ambrose, Cena, Ziggler, Corbin, and Ellsworth to become one of the great champions of 2016. For almost 20 years, AJ Styles has made a splash in the professional wrestling world. Styles would travel all over the world to compete in the wrestling industry’s biggest promotions. You can see his evolution from being a student of the squared circle to commanding the ring with some of wrestling’s best. From his early days debuting in WWE; leaving the company to NJPW, and finally coming back to WWE, AJ Styles has amassed some of the best matches of his 20-year career that simply is PHENOMENAL!