Top 25 WWE Superstars of 2017 (Part 1)

2017 was a spectacular year for many WWE Superstars. While we saw some superstars carry on their momentum, we have also seen the rise of numerous other Superstars.

Love them or hate them, these Superstars have had an incredible run in 2017. Which Superstars left a significant mark in the WWE, in 2017. These include superstars, both of the men's and women's division. So, who have made it in the top 25? Let us find out!

#25 Bayley

Key Highlights:

Won her first WWE Raw Women's Championship
Handed Charlotte her first Pay-Per-View loss.
Debuted WrestleMania as Raw Women's Champion and retained in the event.

On the February 13th edition of Raw, Bayley defeated Charlotte in the main event to win her first WWE Raw Women's Championship. At Fastlane, she retained the title against Charlotte, and as a result, gave Charlotte her first Pay-Per-View loss in the WWE.

Moreover, Bayley made her WWE WrestleMania debut as WWE Raw Women's Champion, where she again retained the title in a Fatal 4-way elimination match.

In addition, Bayley was also a part of Team Raw that beat Team SmackDown in a traditional Survivor Series match, at WWE Survivor Series.

#24 Sami Zayn

The Angel for Kevin Owens? — The Angel for Kevin Owens

Key Highlights:

Lasted over 47 minutes at the WWE Royal Rumble match, second longest in the match.
Shock Heel Turn at WWE Hell In A Cell, helping Kevin Owens beat Shane McMahon.
Allying with his former rival, Kevin Owens.

In the 2017 WWE Royal Rumble, Sami Zayn entered at #8, and lasted for over 47 minutes, before being eliminated by none other than The Undertaker.

Sami Zayn was then traded to WWE SmackDown, after WWE Wrestlemania, during the Superstar Shake-up. He was victorious at WWE Backlash, where he defeated "The Lone Wolf" Baron Corbin. He also emerged victorious at WWE Battleground, where he defeated Mike Kanellis.

Zayn's biggest turn came at WWE Hell In A Cell, where he saved Kevin Owens from an elbow drop by SmackDown Live Commissioner, Shane McMahon, from the top of the cell, and helped Owens pin Shane for the victory. This was the first time Sami Zayn turned heel in his career.

Zayn also played a huge role in the main event of WWE Survivor Series, along with Kevin Owens, by attacking Shane McMahon of Team SmackDown. Zayn also emerged victorious in the tag team match along with Owens at WWE Clash of Champions, where a loss would've got him fired from the entire WWE.

#23 Samoa Joe

Key Highlights:

Main Roster debut at Raw, attacking Seth Rollins.
Won the Main Event of WWE Extreme Rules to become the #1 contender to Brock Lesnar's WWE Universal Championship.
Main Event matches at WWE Great Balls of Fire and WWE SummerSlam for the WWE Universal Championship.
Part of Team Raw that beat Team SmackDown at WWE Survivor Series.

Samoa Joe made his official main roster debut in the WWE on January 30, 2017 episode of Raw, where he attacked Seth Rollins from behind, and aligned himself with "The Game", Triple H. He then made his Pay-Per-View debut at WWE Fastlane, where he defeated Sami Zayn by submission.

Joe's major Pay-Per-View victory came at WWE Extreme Rules, where he won the main event, in a Fatal 5-Way Extreme Rules match to become the number one contender for Brock Lesnar's WWE Universal title at WWE Great Balls of Fire, which he eventually lost. He also went on to main event WWE SummerSlam in a fatal 4-way match for the WWE Universal title.

Joe was also a part of Team Raw that won the traditional Survivor Series match against Team SmackDown at WWE Survivor Series.

#22 Naomi

Key Highlights:

Became SmackDown Women's Champion for the first time in her career at WWE Elimination Chamber.
Won the SmackDown Women's Champion at WWE Wrestlemania at her hometown in Orlando, Florida.
Held the SmackDown Women's Championship for 140 days before losing it at WWE SummerSlam.

Naomi started of 2017 with a tag team victory at the WWE Royal Rumble. At WWE Elimination Chamber, Naomi emerged victorious against Alexa Bliss and became the SmackDown Women's Champion for the first time in her career. The following Tuesday, she had to relinquish her title due to an injury sustained by her.

Naomi then made her in-ring return at WWE Wrestlemania, where she regained the SmackDown Women's Champion, at her hometown in Orlando, Florida. Naomi went on to defeat Lana and retain her championship at WWE Money In The Bank.

In July, Naomi debuted a customised title belt with glow-in-the-dark lights of various colours. Naomi held the championship for 140 days before dropping it to Natalya at WWE SummerSlam.

#21 John Cena

Key Highlights:

Won the WWE Championship at WWE Royal Rumble, defeating AJ Styles, in probably the Match of the Year.
Tied Ric Flair's 16-Time World Championship record.
Proposed to girlfriend Nikki Bella, in the ring, at WWE WrestleMania, after their victory.
Cost Baron Corbin his Money In The Bank contract.
Launched some of the best promos of the year during his feud with The Miz, and Roman Reigns.

The man to tie Ric Flair's 16-time World Champion reign! John Cena achieved a remarkable feat in 2017. On January 29, 2017, Cena defeated Styles at the Royal Rumble to tie Ric Flair for the most world title reigns at 16.

At WWE WrestleMania, John Cena then teamed up with girlfriend Nikki Bella to defeat The Miz and his wife Maryse, in a mixed tag-team match. After the match, Cena then proposed to Nikki in a Wrestlemania moment to remember.

John Cena then went on to win at WWE Battleground, where he beat Rusev in a Flag match. He then went on to feud Baron Corbin and cost Corbin his Money in the Bank briefcase, and further went on to beat him at WWE SummerSlam.

Cena then went on to feud with Roman Reigns for a Wrestlemania-worthy feud with terrific promos against The Big Dog. After a break, he made his return at WWE Survivor Series for Team SmackDown in the main event.

#20 Bray Wyatt

Key Highlights:

Final 3 at the WWE Royal Rumble match.
Won the WWE Championship for the 1st time in his career, at WWE Elimination Chamber.
Significant part of the House of Horrors match, where he emerged victorious.
Dark feud with The Demon, Finn Balor.

At the WWE Royal Rumble, Bray Wyatt entered at #21, and lasted until the final three. He then went into WWE Elimination Chamber and won the Elimination Chamber match to capture the WWE Championship for the first time in his career and his first singles title in WWE.

After losing the title to Randy Orton at WWE WrestleMania, he then went on to face Orton in a House of Horrors match at WWE Payback where he emerged victorious.

Upon moving to Raw, Wyatt defeated Seth Rollins in a singles match at WWE Great Balls of Fire. He then went on to feud Finn Balor and a long rivalry with the Demon King, which lasted from WWE SummerSlam to WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs.

#19 Natalya

Key Highlights:

Won the WWE SmackDown Women's Champion at WWE SummerSlam.
First woman to hold both the WWE Divas Championship and the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship.
Held the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship for 86 days.

The Queen of Harts had a memorable run in 2017. Natalya opened up the year with a short rivalry against Nikki Bella. Her match with Nikki, at WWE Elimination Chamber, ended in a double count-out.

At WWE Battleground, Natalya won a five-way elimination match, to earn an opportunity for the SmackDown Women's Championship. She then went on to defeat Naomi, at WWE SummerSlam, and became the SmackDown Women's Champion. With this victory, Natalya became the first woman to hold both the Divas Championship and the SmackDown Women's Championship.

Natalya held the title for 86 days, until she dropped the title to Charlotte on the November 14 edition of SmackDown Live.

#18 Sasha Banks

Key Highlights:

Won the WWE Raw Women's Championship at WWE SummerSlam.
Became a record-tying 4 time WWE Raw Women's Champion.
First female wrestler, alongside Alexa Bliss to fight in the Middle East.

The four-time Raw Women's Champion had a year to talk about in 2017. At WWE Fastlane, Sasha Banks defeated Nia Jax, and then went on to help Bayley to retain her Raw Women's Championship.

On the June 26 edition of Raw, Banks scored a victory in a Gauntlet match to become the number one contender for Alexa Bliss' Raw Women's Championship. At WWE Great Balls of Fire, Sasha Banks defeated Alexa Bliss, via countout, but as result, the title did not change hands.

At WWE SummerSlam, Banks defeated Bliss to become a record-tying four-time Raw Women's Champion.

In addition, at WWE Survivor Series, Banks was a part of winning Team Raw in the traditional Survivor Series match versus Team SmackDown.

Sasha Banks also became the first female wrestler in WWE, along with Alexa Bliss, to fight in the Middle East.

#17 Cesaro and Sheamus

Key Highlights:

Begin 2017 as the WWE Raw Tag Team Champions.
Turned Heels at WWE Payback, attacking the Hardy Boyz.
Regained the WWE Raw Tag Team Championship at WWE Extreme Rules, becoming 2-time Raw Tag Team Champions, handing the Hardy Boyz their first loss since their return to the WWE.
Won the Raw Tag Titles again at the November 6 episode of Raw, in Manchester, England, making them record-tying 3 time Raw Tag Team Champions.

Cesaro and Sheamus started 2017 as the WWE Raw Tag Team Champions. However, they lost the titles to Gallows and Anderson at WWE Royal Rumble, ending their reign of 42 days. At WWE Fastlane, Cesaro defeated Jinder Mahal, in a singles match. Cesaro and Sheamus went on to challenge for tag titles at WWE Wrestlemania in a ladder match, but lost to the returning Hardy Boyz.

The following night on Raw, Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Enzo and Big Cass to become the #1 contenders for the Raw Tag Team Championship at WWE Payback. However, they lost at WWE Fastlane and turned heels immediately. They then won a tag team turmoil to earn another opportunity for the tag titles.

At WWE Extreme Rules, The Bar defeated the Hardy Boyz in a Steel Cage match, to win the Raw Tag Team Championship for the second time, making Cesaro a 3-time champion and Sheamus a 2-time champion whilst also marking the first loss of The Hardys since their return to WWE.

The two defended the titles against the Hardy Boyz on the June 12th episode of Raw in a 2 out of 3 falls match, where the two teams tied at 1-1 after being counted out. At WWE Great Balls of Fire, Cesaro and Sheamus defeated The Hardy Boyz 4-3, thus retaining the titles.

However, at WWE SummerSlam, the duo lost the titles to Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose, thus ending their second reign at 77 days. Cesaro and Sheamus lost their rematch at WWE No Mercy, in a match where Cesaro pushed his two front teeth into his gums, requiring implants.

On the November 6 episode of Raw in Manchester, Cesaro and Sheamus defeated Ambrose and Rollins, following a distraction from The New Day to win their record-tying third Raw Tag Team Championship, while also marking Cesaro’s record-tying fourth individual reign.

#16 Baron Corbin

Key Highlights:

Won the 2017 WWE Money In The Bank briefcase.
Won the WWE United States Championship at WWE Hell In A Cell.
Defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion, The Miz at WWE Survivor Series in an interbrand Champion vs. Champion match.

At the WWE Royal Rumble, Baron Corbin entered the Royal Rumble match at #13 and lasted over 32 minutes, notably eliminating Braun Strowman, before being eliminated by The Undertaker. He went on to have a brief feud with Dean Ambrose, which lasted shortly after Wrestlemania. Corbin then fought Sami Zayn at WWE Backlash, where he was victorious.

Baron Corbin notably won the 2017 WWE Money In The Bank briefcase. However, the Lone Wolf was unsuccessful at his cash-in against WWE Champion Jinder Mahal after an interference by John Cena.

Corbin's journey didn't end there. His next milestone was the WWE United States Championship, which he won by defeating AJ Styles and Tye Dillinger in a Triple Threat match at WWE Hell In A Cell. He even defeated AJ Styles the following episode of SmackDown Live to retain the title.

Prior to WWE Survivor Series, Corbin had a brief feud with Sin Cara and defended the title against him as well. At WWE Survivor Series, he defeated WWE Intercontinental Champion, The Miz in an interbrand Champion vs. Champion match. He held the title for 70 days before losing it to Dolph Ziggler at WWE Clash of Champions.

#15 Charlotte

Key Highlights:

Begin 2017 as WWE Raw Women's Champion.
Became the first woman in WWE history to compete in the main events of Raw, SmackDown Live and a pay-per-view.
Won the WWE SmackDown Women's Championship in her hometown on the November 14 episode of SmackDown Live to become the first ever wrestler to win the Divas, NXT, Raw and SmackDown Women's titles.
Defeated Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss at the Champion vs. Champion match, at WWE Survivor Series.

Charlotte began 2017 by retaining her Raw Women's Championship over Bayley, at WWE Royal Rumble. However, soon after that she dropped the title to Bayley and was handed her first pay-per-view singles match loss (16 victories prior to that) at WWE Fastlane.

Following the superstar shake-up, Charlotte was traded to SmackDown Live. She defeated Naomi the following week and was granted a match for the SmackDown Women's Championship which ended in a no-contest. This match made Charlotte the first woman in WWE history to compete in the main events of Raw, SmackDown Live and a pay-per-view.

On the May 2 episode of SmackDown Live, Charlotte began to transition into a fan favourite. Charlotte was handed three more pay-per-view losses, after that, at WWE Backlash, WWE Money In The Bank and WWE Battleground.

Charlotte then returned on the September 19 edition of SmackDown Live and later that night, won a fatal four-way match, in the main event, to become the number one contender for the SmackDown Women's Championship. At WWE Hell In A Cell, Charlotte defeated Natalya by disqualification and thus did not win the title.

However, Charlotte defeated Natalya in her hometown on the November 14 episode of SmackDown Live to become the first ever wrestler to win the Divas, NXT, Raw and SmackDown Women's titles. Charlotte then went on to beat Raw Women's Champion Alexa Bliss at the Champion vs. Champion match, at WWE Survivor Series.

Charlotte also managed to retain her SmackDown Women's Championship, at WWE Clash of Champions, in a lumberjack match, against Natalya.

#14 Neville

Key Highlights:

Won the WWE Cruiserweight Champion for the first time at the WWE Royal Rumble, thus marking his first title win on the main roster.
Held the title for a record-setting 197 days.
Regained the WWE Cruiserweight Title at WWE SummerSlam, making him a 2-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

Neville was indeed the King of the Cruiserweights. He dominated the Cruiserweight division for more than half the year. He became the WWE Cruiserweight Champion for the first time at the WWE Royal Rumble, where he defeated Rich Swann, thus marking his first title win on the main roster. Neville then successfully defended his title against Jack Gallagher at WWE Fastlane.

At WWE Wrestlemania, Neville would go on to successfully defend his title against Austin Aries. He managed to retain the title again, against Aries, at WWE Payback, as a result of a loss by disqualification. However, he would go on to defeat Aries in a submission match at WWE Extreme Rules, and retain the title once again.

Neville then began a feud against Akira Tozawa and successfully defended his title against him at WWE Great Balls of Fire. However, Neville's record-setting reign ended at 197 days when he lost title to Tozawa at the August 14 edition of Raw. However, he would regain the title again at WWE SummerSlam, making him a 2-time WWE Cruiserweight Champion.

Neville would eventually drop the title to Enzo Amore at WWE No Mercy, but nonetheless, his contribution to the Cruiserweight division, this year has been immense, and one that will not go forgotten.

#13 Randy Orton

Key Highlights:

Won the 2017 Royal Rumble match.
Entered the Wyatt compound and set the entire compound on fire.
Won the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania, marking his 13th World Title win.
Defeated Rusev at WWE SummerSlam in about just 10 seconds.

Orton was the winner of the 2017 Royal Rumble match, making it the 2nd Royal Rumble victory of his career. On the February 28 episode of SmackDown Live, Orton turned on Bray Wyatt where he was seen entering the Wyatt compound and setting the entire compound on fire.

At WWE Wrestlemania, Randy Orton defeated Bray Wyatt to win the WWE Championship. This was his 9th WWE Championship win and 13th World Title win. Orton would lose the title eventually to Jinder Mahal, at WWE Backlash.

Orton would then start a feud with Rusev. At WWE SummerSlam, The Viper defeated Rusev with an RKO in about just 10 seconds. The feud would end at WWE Hell In A Cell, where Orton would go on to defeat Rusev. Orton was then involved in Team SmackDown at WWE Survivor Series, where he was the second last member to be eliminated before Shane McMahon.

In a nutshell, the Viper had a memorable 2017, with his ultimate prize being winning the Royal Rumble and going on to win the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania.

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