Sportskeeda WWE Awards 2017: Babyface of the Year

Great stories have always focused on the conflict between good and evil. Every time the world is enveloped by darkness, a hero comes along to save us all. Every time an antagonist rears his/her head, the protagonist stands tall. WWE is the land where superheroes live.

While it has become fashionable for the IWC to cheer for the heels in modern wrestling, babyfaces have a very important role to play, as well. They abide by the rules, and do not stray from the path of righteousness. They constantly remind us of the goodness in all of us.

Now that 2017 is in the rearview mirror, we look at all the babyfaces who have been critical players across the length and span of the year. These four men and one woman have been extremely vital players in their respective brands.

Without further ado, we present the 5 top WWE Babyfaces from 2017.

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#5 Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair narrowly edges out Finn Balor and Randy Orton, in this particular list

Had this been last year's list, Charlotte Flair would have fared significantly better than she has. Unfortunately, the Superstar Shake-Up and the subsequent move to SmackDown Live, pushed her away from the title picture.

The year began with Charlotte Flair as the RAW Women's Champion, undefeated on pay-per-view. She would lose the Championship to Bayley on RAW, and her momentum would never be the same. The move to SmackDown Live and the subsequent face turn, also dimished much of her aura.

Lest we forget, Charlotte is a Flair, and wrestling is in her blood. Charlotte Flair embraced her brand new role and became the top babyface on SmackDown Live, shortly before she became the SmackDown Live Women's Champion, in her hometown of Charlotte, NC.

In doing so, she also became the first woman to hold the RAW, SmackDown Live and NXT Women's Championships, during her highly impressive career.

Currently, she's the pivot that the entire Women's Division on SmackDown Live is built around, and we're certain that she'll be a definite main-event level player in the year 2018.

Long live the Queen of WWE!

#4 Braun Strowman

The only reason this man isn't any higher, is because he's a pretty recent babyface

Braun Strowman spent much of the year as a heel. While he did get monstrous reactions, no pun intended, he would behave like a heel in all his matches and programs. This is until WWE TLC came along. The monster became a good guy.

Strowman's allies- The Miz, Kane, Cesaro and Sheamus would dump him in the back of a garbage truck. Strowman would return as a babyface as he would unleash a reign of terror. With due apologies to Asuka, nobody was ready for Strowman.

One may make the argument that Strowman was also the babyface during his feud against Brock Lesnar. Almost everyone in the audience wanted him to upset the Beast Incarnate, and take away his gold, for good.

We're certain that some gold awaits him in the year 2018.

#3 Dean Ambrose

It's hard to argue with the statistics

Dean Ambrose kickstarted 2017 by becoming the Intercontinental Champion for the second time. He would go on to defend it successfully at WrestleMania 33. Upon his arrival at RAW, he had a fantastic feud with The Miz, reunited with The Shield and won the RAW Tag Team Championships too. A great year in every respect.

That's not all. Ambrose became a Triple Crown and Grand Slam Winner this year, as well. What's more, he also got married to the love of his life, Renee Young, this year. Talk about having a great 2017.

Unfortunately, he's been ruled out for approximately 9 months due to an injury. 2018 does not yet appear to be nearly as good as 2017 was, for The Lunatic Fringe.

Sportskeeda Wrestling wishes him a very speedy recovery indeed.

#2 Roman Reigns

It really was the year of The Big Dog

Except for the fact that he missed The Shield's reunion at TLC, it's been Roman Reigns' year. How can it not, when the company's creative plans revolve around the man. Not only is he the reigning Intercontinental Champion, he beat The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33. Let that sink in, folks.

He's one of two men in history to have done so. Moreover, he had the feud of the year with Braun Strowman, featuring some exceptional matches. Considering that rumours are rife that Reigns will beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34, it seems that 2018 will be just as good for him.

Reigns has grown in confidence and has slowly become a worthy top babyface on RAW. Little wonder then, that John Cena symbolically passed on the torch to Reigns, following their recent match.

#1 AJ Styles

Let's close out the list, in style!

It's easy to forget that AJ Styles started the year as a heel. Quite a despicable one at that. A man that rammed Shane McMahon's head through a car window. And then went on to have a classic with Shane McMahon.

There's no performer on the roster who gets the kind of reaction that AJ Styles does. The current WWE Champion is always great in the ring, and invariably brings out the best in his opponents. Why, he even had a great match with Jinder Mahal on SmackDown Live.

So, we're proud to announce that AJ Styles is 'SK Babyface of the year'. You win all our love and admiration.

Here's wishing all our readers a Phenomenal New Year!