Well, that's a wrap for 2016! This past year was a very eventful one for the WWE, leaving fans with plenty to look forward to in the New Year. Today's style of sports entertainment has evolved into something much different than what the forefathers of the industry had envisioned for the future of the business.
Wrestling has become sports entertainment, just as wrestlers have become superstars. It's a totally different ballgame today, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, some of us miss those older, nostalgic days, but today's style is centred around pure entertainment value.
Essentially, the idea is for each fan is to feel as if the company is offering them a worthwhile return on their investment into the product, via entertainment through storytelling and personally, I'm okay with that.
Yes, I miss the Golden Era and I also enjoyed the Attitude Era, but the reality of the situation is very simple... neither are coming back.
One thing about the sport which will never change is the desire by each and every superstar to become a champion. Regardless of the angle they might be involved with, everyone wants to win a title.
This past year, the WWE gave fans some incredible title reigns, the most notable ones were that of The New Day and of course AJ Styles. Some may argue that wins and losses don't matter anymore, which is the most ludicrous notion anyone could make of the industry.
Of course wins and losses matter. In fact, that brings me to the topic of this article. We have taken a look back at each superstar’s wins and losses from the entire year of 2016 and have finalised the list of the top 10 Superstars, according to their winning percentage.
It's important to note the that we are not including wins and losses from house shows, only televised events, such as Raw, Smackdown and of course, the pay-per-view events.
#10 Charlotte
28 wins/19 losses/0 DQ
60% Winning Percentage
Charlotte had a year that legends are made of. While her win/loss record on Raw was nothing to write home about, she dominated in pay-per-view competition, with a PPV record of 12 wins and 1 loss.
While in NXT, the jury was still out on whether or not Charlotte would be able to live up to the high standards associated with her last name. However, once she arrived on the main roster, something magical happened, resulting in a completely different Charlotte.
Also read: 5 Mainstream records of WWE superstars
She now truly has a complete package. One of the primary elements of her arsenal that she has improved on the most, is her confidence. Charlotte sometimes looks like a mirror image of how her father used to carry himself in the business.
She has certainly inherited her father's charisma, which gives her an edge that is almost untouchable. Charlotte Flair now has the potential to have a career that will have fans talking about her decades from now.
#9 Big E
31 wins/18 losses/0 DQ
63% Winning Percentage
Much of Big E's success comes from the unbelievable run by The New Day. For 483 consecutive days that they ruled tag team wrestling and smashed records along the way. However, Big E also had his fair share of singles wins as well, while his squad was simultaneously running the tag team division.
His efforts in singles competition are proof enough that once this run with The New Day is over, he will be able to transition back into the singles scene with ease.
The New Day changed the entire tag team division in the WWE. They not only broke Demolition’s record, but they also brought back the exciting element called the Freebird Rule.
Despite losing the tag titles to Sheamus and Cesaro, these guys have truly transcended the tag team division into a realm no one ever expected with the current era. Big E himself has been the muscle behind this incredible trio, giving The New Day the edge they've needed all throughout their historic run.
#8 Baron Corbin
18 wins/7 losses/2 DQ
67% Winning Percentage
Out of all the NXT call-ups from 2016, Baron Corbin has been by far, the most improved superstar. Coming onto the main roster, many people had serious doubts regarding Corbin's ability to perform on the big stage.
Throughout his time in NXT, Corbin had numerous issues with his lack of respect for authority, as well as overall self-discipline. However, it appears that he's turned over a new leaf since arriving on the Smackdown roster.
I'm not sure if maybe some of the veterans have talked sense to him, or maybe he just feels like he's finally vindicated by being out of the developmental system. Either way, Corbin’s growth is very visible, it was also the biggest need in his total body of work.
2017 could be the year where Baron Corbin adds a big chunk of gold to his wardrobe.
#7 Dean Ambrose
38 wins/16 losses/3 DQ
67% Winning Percentage
The Lunatic Fringe had an amazing year as a singles competitor. Ambrose has been a consistent main eventer for the Smackdown brand, helping Shane-O-Mac get the Blue Brand right into the driver’s seat as possibly the current front-runner in weekly WWE programing.
Dean has proved that he's equally as valuable as a babyface or a heel. 2016 was definitely a defining year for Ambrose, as he carried the WWE World Championship for over 80 days before dropping it to the current champion, AJ Styles.
2017 has started off with a bang for Ambrose as well. Dean just captured the WWE Intercontinental Championship by defeating The Miz on Smackdown.
It's also worth noting that The Miz has elevated the status of the Intercontinental Title by leaps and bounds during his reign with the strap. Now that Dean has the belt, it gives him a perfect opportunity to continue the trend left by The Miz.
#6 AJ Styles
37 wins/17 losses/0 DQ
69% Winning Percentage
2016 was the year of AJ Styles, without a doubt. Starting with his incredible debut at The Royal Rumble, continuing all year long with complete domination, finishing as the reigning WWE World Champion. It was a long road to get to the WWE for Styles.
As we know, AJ had a tremendous career prior to coming to the company. With a tonne of success in Ring of Honor, NJPW, and every major independent promotion in between, Styles was battle tested and proven long before his WWE debut.
Many of us expected a big run with The Club, but the brand-split stalled those plans. However, if the brands merge in 2017, we could see a major shift in the way things are run, starting with a potential Club takeover.
No matter what happens with that faction, AJ Styles is sitting pretty as the current top guy for the WWE, with no signs of slowing down.
#5 Roman Reigns
31 wins/11 losses/3 DQ
69% Winning Percentage
No matter how hard they try, no matter what angles they take, WWE creative officials cannot get Roman Reigns over with the fans. Sure, there's a small remnant of fans who stick with Roman, no matter what, but this guy was initially thought to be the second coming of his own relative, The Rock.
Needless to say, that's not happening in this lifetime. However, Roman has not let the hate affect his performance, because despite the criticism, Reigns continues to get better.
Reigns had a strong finish to 2016 and now 2017 is shaping up in his favour as well. At this point, the best thing that could happen for him is a Shield reunion. Regardless of the situation, the fans will always pop for a Shield comeback and that would be good news for Roman Reigns.
#4 Sasha Banks
25 wins/9 losses/2 DQ
70% Winning Percentage
Sasha Banks and Charlotte have been the cornerstones of the revamped women's division in the WWE.
These ladies have proved to the world that not only can they keep up with the boys... but they can do better. Seeing Banks and Charlotte in the ring main eventing shows was a clear sign that the Women's Revolution that everyone talked about, was finally here.
Banks has a flawless body of work. She has only improved since joining the main roster, and if 2016 was an indicator of things to come in 2017, then this could be one of the greatest years in women's wrestling history.
#3 Bray Wyatt
19 wins/7 losses/0 DQ
73% Winning Percentage
Being a Bray Wyatt fan can be a frustrating duty. We know his potential, yet we get slapped in the jaw continuously by nonsensical losses. Well, that was until 2016. Regardless of how we feel now, the numbers don't lie. 2016 was a huge year for Bray, compared to previous years.
I'm sure you'll recall that one of the most aggravating issues we had as fans, were all the pay-per-view losses Bray was sustaining. In 2016, Wyatt carried a much improved PPV record of five wins, with only one loss. This alone is a huge step in the right direction for the patriarch of The Wyatt Family.
Adding Randy Orton to his cast of henchmen made Bray even stronger. Towards the end of the year, Randy and Bray hit another milestone by capturing the Smackdown Tag Titles. This was great news for die-hard Wyatt fanatics.
However, they would drop the titles only a few weeks later to American Alpha, which was extremely disappointing for their fans.
Nonetheless, Bray Wyatt appears to be headed in a promising direction as one of Smackdown's premier talents. A singles title run for his future would really ignite an already anxious crop of fireflies.
#2 American Alpha
15 wins/5 losses/0 DQ
75% Winning Percentage
Jason Jordan and Chad Gable are two of the most promising athletes on the WWE’s payroll. These guys came together in NXT, just as fate would match two stellar, former amateur wrestlers, with similar pedigrees.
Since the team’s inception, they have worked tirelessly to make their way from the very bottom of the developmental system to the absolute top of their profession, performing at the highest possible level, with the top company in the world. Talk about a success story!
American Alpha did the impossible recently, by defeating The Wyatt Family and becoming the new Smackdown Live Tag Team Champions. These two have unbreakable chemistry, matched with unparalleled showmanship that most people don't achieve until they've compiled many years in the sport.
Jordan and Gable were destined to be tag team wrestlers, just as they were destined to be champions.
#1 Braun Strowman
19 wins/6 losses/0 DQ
76% Winning Percentage
Less than two years ago, Braun Strowman was dressing up as a giant cheeseburger, or some other cartoonish goof, as a part of The Rosebuds for Adam Rose. Today, he is the most intimidating, menacing, destructive force in the WWE.
Braun is someone who has minimal experience, yet has adapted seemingly easily. Strowman competed in Strongman competitions prior to stepping into a wrestling ring. However, Braun listened well and had a relatively easy transition to being a successful professional wrestler from his former Strongman career.
2016 was undoubtedly the year of Braun. Drafted to Raw, Strowman was forced to split from The Wyatt Family. This could have damaged his career severely, but Braun embraced his new direction, and completely dominated the Raw roster.
Now that people are discussing who the winner of the Rumble match should be... Braun Strowman should be a name that everyone is considering as a heavy favourite to come out as the last man standing, heading to main-event Wrestlemania.
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