Top 10 Feuds of 2017
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Everyone likes a good, old fashioned feud. Hell, that’s what wrestling is based on. Good thing 2017 was chock full of them.
While there were hundreds of bad ones (let’s be honest, MOST of them made no sense), these ten were the best petty feuds I could find.
10. Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg
I’m starting with this one because there was really no substance behind it, but it was entertaining nonetheless. After putting on one of the worst matches in the history of WrestleMania, Bill Goldberg decided he had one last run in him. Well, I enjoyed the run (even though his matches only came out to a combined 10 minutes), and his interactions with Lesnar were always must-see TV.
9. Brock Lesnar vs. Braun Strowman
This one could have been No. 1 if WWE did it right. Strowman will eventually take over as the ultimate beast in WWE, and this feud should have been the passing of the torch. But what we got was a lackluster match at No Mercy where Strowman fell to a single F5. However, the buildup to this match was great, and that’s why it’s on my list. Isn’t any buildup with Paul Heyman involved automatically thrusted into the top 10?
8. Chris Jericho vs. Kenny Omega
While they won’t have their match until 2018, this feud has escalated as high as NJPW can get it. From the initial bombshell announcement of Jericho challenging Omega, to the attacks from behind, this match should be one for the ages.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiV4Mwfp24w
7. Aleister Black vs. Velveteen Dream
Honestly, I thought this feud made no sense when it first started. It felt like just a stepping stone for Black on his way to the NXT Championship. Boy, was I wrong! Velveteen Dream solidified himself as a force on the NXT roster and their match at NXT Takeover: War Games is one of the top matches of the year. I hope these two meet up again because you bet my eyes will be glued to the TV.
6. Brock Lesnar vs. Samoa Joe
This match was one that I was looking forward to for years and we finally got it in 2017. The Beast from WWE versus The Beast from TNA. For the first time in a long time, we saw Lesnar meeting his match in Joe. Going into Great Balls of Fire, there was a legit thought that Joe could pull it off. Of course, that didn’t happen, but we got a great match, anyway (and great Lesnar matches are hard to come by). I’m really hoping these two lock up again in 2018.
5. The Usos vs. The New Day
Damn, this one was good. From the promos, the high quality matches, and quite possibly the best in-ring promo of the year with that rap battle, watching these two teams go at it was just down right fun. I love this new Usos persona and I hope it sticks going into 2018. I knew The New Day could be entertaining, but the Usos surprised me with how good their promos were.
4. Roman Reigns vs. John Cena
We all saw this one coming – the passing of the torch between the present and the future “franchise players” of WWE. While their match at No Mercy was what I expected it to be, the promos beforehand are the reason this is on the list. Breaking the fourth wall over and over again, Cena acknowledging Roman’s struggles to get over, Roman belittling Cena with his Hollywood dreams. Yes, the feud felt a little rushed and this should have been a WrestleMania or SummerSlam match, but I was entertained all the way through.
3. Triple H vs. Seth Rollins
This feud felt like it went on for years, but we finally got the payoff at Mania this year. Fans were scared that Rollins wouldn’t be able to go due to a late injury, but he somehow went on and the match was actually not too bad. The lead up was even better with great promos between the two and WWE finally putting the Rollins/Authority angle in the rear view.
2. Roman Reigns vs. Braun Strowman
You know this one isn’t over with. The many times these two have faced off have been hard hitting, and sometimes even crazy, to the point where Roman tried to KILL STROWMAN WITH AN AMBULANCE. These two guys are the clear future of WWE and you bet they’ll lock up again, and you know it’s going to be insane.
1. Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho
Feud of the year goes to two of Canada’s finest. KO and Y2J had maybe the best angle of 2017 with their partnership, and you could sense the end was near a few weeks before the actual end happened at the Festival of Friendship. WWE played the long game with getting this feud off the ground and boy, did it pay off. The match they had at Mania was solid but nothing beats Jericho costing Owens his title at Fastlane. Who knows if these two will meet again in a WWE ring, but I, along with every other WWE fan, will be waiting.
Now, I didn’t put this on my list, but I have to somehow get this out in the open with the real wrestling feud of 2017…
Wrestling Promotions vs. Wrestling Fans
That’s right fans, you made the list! Your constant bitching online finally paid off. Pat yourself on your acne-filled back.
Some may think that no one listened to you, but I sure did. Even though WWE doesn’t give a shit about what you internet trolls have to say, I have taken a vested interest in your complaints. Keep complaining you pepperoni faced virgins…I love it.
Here’s to a fun filled and weird 2018 in the world of wrestling!
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