Best of WWE so far in 2018

As June comes to a close, we are now halfway through 2018. Awarding members of the main roster with certain accolades is a good method for measuring how well the WWE is currently doing. The WWE have gone into a holding pattern since WrestleMania and while story-lines do progress and new feuds keep popping up, the Creative team only seems to fire on all cylinders around the time of the big four pay-per-views.

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Regardless, we have had some great shows and fantastic wrestlers who have made WWE programming a joy to watch. However, there are others who have been operating on the other end of the spectrum. Let's check out the WWE Half-Yearly Awards for 2018.

(Note: This only includes the main roster and not NXT)

#6 Best Tag-Team: The Usos

The tag-team has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in recent years and with the main roster enjoying more depth than it has in decades, everyone is facing stiff competition. If this article was written before WrestleMania 34, The Bar would have been strong contenders for this award, but after their defeat to Braun Strowman and a child, they have floundered and have been unable to muster up any momentum whatsoever.

So far, the best tag-team has undoubtedly been The Usos. The team has established itself as the cornerstone of the SmackDown Live tag division. The Usos have had great matches and have taken their mic work to another level. Their wars with The New Day will live long in our memories and even though they are now in the shadow of The Bludgeon Brothers and appear to be heading into a feud with SAnitY, there is no denying how fantastic the duo has been in 2018.

Runner-up: The New Day

The New Day will go down as one of the greatest factions in WWE history. But in recent months, the trio has become a pancake-peddling parody of itself and it is only a matter of time before they all go their separate ways.

#5 Best Gimmick: Samoa Joe

The real Samoan bada** — The real Samoan bad-a**

Samoa Joe is everything the WWE wishes Roman Reigns could be. While Reigns' character appears put-upon and you remain astutely aware that you are seeing a character, Samoa Joe has mastered the art of making everything he does appear so believable; a rare gift in today's programming.

Joe doesn't just talk, he backs up everything he says in the ring as he has put on numerous stellar performances and his mic work is one of the best in the WWE. He is the perfect balance between exaggerated and believable.

Runner-up: Elias

Elias' gimmick should not have worked on the main roster. It is a testament to Elias' ability to be effortlessly entertaining that has allowed him to morph into one of the best acts in WWE. He holds audiences in the palm of his hand and he can get whatever reaction he wants from them, without fail.

#4 Best Pay-per-View: Royal Rumble

The Baddest Woman on the Planet made her big debut

The Royal Rumble has been largely hit-and-miss for the last few years, but there is no denying that this year's Royal Rumble was a triumph for the company. The card was stacked from start to finish and the marquee matches themselves had the right person standing tall in the end. In addition to all of that, Ronda Rousey debuted!

The undercard was a little unbalanced overall, with only the WWE Championship Match being of any consequence, but the show was immensely enjoyable overall, gave us some great matches and sent the fans home happy.

Runner-up: Money in the Bank

Besides the nonsensical stuff involving James Ellsworth, Money in the Bank was a fun show, filled with good matches and insane spots, but it wasn't good enough to be crowned the best.

#3 Best Match: Johnny Gargano vs. Tomasso Ciampa at NXT Takeover Chicago II

The list was only meant to include the main roster, but exceptions can always be made. The Gargano-Ciampa feud is one of the greatest feuds of all time, if not the greatest. The two faced-off in a Chicago Street Fight in the latest chapter of their rivalry. We ended up with a violent and emotional thing of beauty.

Both Superstars put each other through hell and Ciampa solidified his position as one of the best heels in professional wrestling. A hero is only as good as the villain he is up against and Ciampa's work has pushed Gargano's popularity through the stratosphere (Gargano is fantastic either way). We are witnessing something special and these two men are at the centre of it.

Runner-up: Men's Royal Rumble

This match was a runaway success by virtue of the fact that people weren't on the verge of rioting by the end of it. In addition to giving us a crowd-pleasing winner in the shape of Shinsuke Nakamura, the match was a joy ride from start-to-finish and will definitely be discussed in any conversation involving the best Royal Rumble matches ever.

#2 Best Female Superstar: Charlotte Flair

Charlotte Flair has greatness in her genes. She is one of the best technical wrestlers in WWE and one of the company's best performers overall. She is the definition of a true Superstar and will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest performers of all time. Her brightest moment in 2018 was arguably defeating Asuka at WrestleMania 34, in a match that stole the show. No one holds a candle to Charlotte Flair, at least not so far.

Runner-up: Alexa Bliss

There will definitely be some detractors, but Alexa Bliss has been great. She has been the cornerstone of the Raw and Smackdown Live's Women's Division and has held both titles. Her mic and character work are second to none in the division, but The Goddess was just not good enough to dethrone The Queen.

#1 Best Male Superstar: Seth Rollins

Jason Jordan's injury resurrected Seth Rollins' career. Rollins was playing the role of a mentor in an uninspired pairing with Jordan that was taking him nowhere. But his injury placed Rollins in a program involving the Intercontinental Title that eventually led him to become Raw's leading man.

Rollins has been spectacular ever since. His IC Title Open Challenge matches were the highlight of Raw for weeks on end and while it hurts to see him lose it to Dolph Ziggler, hopefully, there are bigger and better things in store for The Kingslayer (perhaps a run with the Universal Championship?).

Runner-up: AJ Styles

AJ Styles is arguably the best wrestler in the world. However, he takes his place as the runner-up because he has been embroiled in a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura since WrestleMania. While that has been a dream pairing for a lot of people, their matches failed to live up to expectations, with only their Last Man Standing match at Money in the Bank living up to its billing.

Who do you think is deserving of these accolades? Share your views in the comments below!

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