7 Hopes For 2017

Well it's the beginning of the year, time to start a new!

The proverbial clock has been reset and we can all start looking towards the new year with a whole new batch of optimism. Considering the year that had 2016 wrestling wise, one can only hope that 2017 at the very least can live up to what went on during the course of 2016. Wrestling is on the verge of another boom and it's exciting to see the results of a lot of hard work pay off for these wrestlers. There is a lot of great wrestling going on outside the walls of the WWE and a lot it was shown to me this past year.

This column series is going to be a yearly deal where there will be a reflection piece attached to it at the end of the year. I chose to do seven simply because that's what the year ends with and that seems like a great trend going forward. So, expect to this series at the top of every single year, right around the first or second post of the first week. Seems about right to have it then, it's going to follow right after the review of each year typically. But enough of that, into the 7 hopes we shall dive!

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7. No Draft, But Rather A Trade Night | I don't think the WWE should do another draft, it's kind of pointless. I don't want NXT mixed up with the main roster like that for the simple fact that there are already plenty of talent on the main roster that's getting the short end of the stick already. Another draft where they select NXT "rookies" could risk someone being called up prematurely and them not being ready or not having a spot for them like the curious case of Apollo Crews. Instead I would just create a trade night where the GMs get together and make a series of trades throughout the night. Now this could also double as a two-night thing so that both shows can get some shine and a ratings bump.

Either way I don't want another whole deal where draft night would consist of a whole bunch of matches to see who is going to get a pick and then draft someone. Trade night(s) would be the perfect opportunity to move some major parts around and get some stars on the opposite side of things to see where their characters would go given a little more leeway or some reinventions. Sami and Cesaro come to mind immediately and would benefit immensely from a trade night sort of deal. But whatever the brain trust goes with, I'm just hoping that it doesn't consist of another draft night, but rather a trade night and leave it be at that.

6. Roman Turns Heel | This is kind of low on the totem pole for one main reason, we've already seen Roman as a heel. This would be higher up the list if he came into the WWE as a face, but since we know what he could do as a heel and how bad ass he was when he wasn't worried about the children's safety, this is one of the things I'm least hopeful for in 2017. None the less, seeing him turn back to heel would be an awesome thing simply because he would have that whole intimidation factor about him. That was his whole bread and butter while being a member of the Shield; he wasn't there to talk, he was there to kick ass.

There are a couple of things that I have I want to say about Roman and WWE's creative mishandling of him, but that's for a later time and date. Personally, I think his matches with the likes of AJ, Seth and Kevin have elevated his wrestling abilities to greater levels, (and simple solo time in the ring), I'm ready for him to fully embrace that whole "THE" guy persona. I was more excited about seeing him being that character more so than the one we're seeing now. I mean it worked for his cousins, why not give it a spin on him and see how we'll the crowd will react to him. I hope that in 2017 Roman will finally get a chance to be that wrestler he naturally is; a bruising, cocky and hard hitting bad ass.

5. Ring of Honor Finally Becomes A Household Name | The wrestling industry is in need of a solid number two in America. Now let's be pretty clear about something, the wrestling business isn't hurting globally at all. Most fans who watch just the WWE, (or even TNA sparingly), would never know this because they are just casual viewers of the product. Unknowing to them, wrestling is a way of life in a lot of these countries. But as a lot of these wrestling promotions know and understand, having a number two promotion that competes with WWE is invaluable to them and getting more of their stars stateside to represent for their promotion abroad.

WWE can't be everywhere at one time, (even though they are trying their hardest to be). Having that second promotion offers a bunch of different reasons for being able to be successful. There is room to literally do everything the WWE doesn't do, due to the fact they are a family oriented brand; while also answering to corporate sponsors. So, in a sense, WWE is handcuffed in certain aspects on what they can and can't do creatively. When TNA was doing just that before they started doing the same old stuff that made most fans loathe the WWE in some aspects.

While Ring of Honor isn't on the level production wise that WWE and TNA are on, they still have the second-best roster in the country to me. While TNA has tried to be that promotion which could offer wrestlers and fans alike, as an alternative to WWE, they just couldn't live up to their end of the bargain. Ring of Honor not only has the history of big names competing on their brand before they were big globally, they also have the luxury of saying that the best big names came to actually compete with the best in the world when WWE couldn't offer it. Their library is simply amazing and could be highlighted easily.

With news of WWE trying to add Indie shows to their network, I really hope that they don't bite the bullet and join them. While not perfect at all themselves, I believe that Ring of Honor could be the alternative to WWE programming. They've made some great strides and I hope that in 2017 they start to scratch the surface of becoming something big in the United States.

4. The Club Forms On Both Brands | This is probably the most ambitious hopeful point on this whole entire list for the simple fact that WWE doesn't like to acknowledge anyone who doesn't fall under their umbrella. They also don't really like wrestlers with their own identity working for them under said identity due to them not being able to control the character on their own terms; (see the whole Rhodes debacle). But it says a lot that WWE has gone out of their way to at least subliminally acknowledge the Bullet Club in the WWE. That also speaks volumes on the reach of the actual Bullet Club in New Japan has over the industry as a whole.

WWE has slowly inched towards that formation with the whole Bálor Club thing and the duo of Gallows and Anderson being referred to as the Club on the Raw brand. There was also that teaser of those three, plus AJ Styles, backstage throwingup the sign at SummerSlam 2016; which the fans popped for immediately. This isn't a matter of an if thing, but more so a when thing as far as I'm concerned. WWE isn't stupid about what sales and with everyone centering themselves towards both AJ and Finn, the club will eventually make their way to the WWE. Especially since there is a rumbling that Kenny may sign with WWE at some point this year. The Bullet Club has learned a lot from the failings of the NWO and that's where they will succeed the most.

I'm just hoping that happens in 2017.

3. NXT Stars TakeOver The Main Roster | Between Shinsuke, Joe, The Revival, Asuka, Tye and so many more other guys, I'm hoping that they are all positioned for better roles. This is more important to me in the sense that this generation of superstars will lead the charge in re-surging the main roster. Earlier I stated that I didn't want a draft again, instead settling for a trade deadline type of thing. I cited that I didn't want WWE messing up the flow of NXT, the matriculation process in learning the WWE style of things and how they debut on the main roster. I would prefer those guys and gals just stay on the brand until it's clear as day that they're ready to make the jump to the main roster. You could do this by "recruiting" or signing them as free agents; way better deal.

In addition to those mentioned above, you still have a lot of NXT products on the main roster, waiting for those handcuffs to come off of them so they can show the world what they can do. I still think that's a byproduct of Vince wanting to control who becomes a star and creative just sucking most of the time, but I do sense the change on the horizon. You almost have to be blind not to see that the overall dynamic is changing in WWE for the better in terms of wrestling and storylines. I feel as though they're starting to a get a lot of former wrestlers into valuable positions backstage so that they can usher in this new Era.

Make no mistake, NXT is already here, but in 2017 I hope they really kick the door open.

2. Triple H Finally Takes Over | Speaking of NXT, I might as well throw in there the main hope that a lot of us older and more seasoned fans have; Triple H's eventual full time running of the show. It's no secret that Vince is getting older and things are starting to change a lot for him. Let's be clear on this point, this is nothing reported or speculated, simply a man making an observation about what he sees. And that thing that I see is Vince slowly teaching Triple H the ropes and giving him more room to do things on his own. Make no mistake about it, the changing of the guard is already happening, we're just being impatient for it to fully come through.

Triple H is literally everywhere now for WWE. Whether it be backstage with NXT during its tapings, on Raw / SmackDown walking wrestlers through matches beforehand and giving help with promos and things n that such, or overseas, securing the next endeavor for the network. Triple H is really putting his foot into managing the day to day operations of the company; which he's doing a pretty great job at. One can say that his rise to the top is similar to Vince's in the sense that he's working with the indies to get more fans interested in the product that has the major TV deal. Just like how Vince started the WWF and got the territories together, (or pushed them out of the way).

Triple H is going to eventually run the show and we'll see him less and less in the ring, (which has already happened), and more and more in front a monitor in the back. 2017 is going to be a big year for Triple H and I'm really hoping that's a result of him finally getting the reigns and reinventing the brand as whole in his image.

1. Kurt Angle's Last Run | While 2017 is surely bringing in a lot of hope and optimism for the future with the signing of big names and more leeway when it comes to the creative aspect of things, it's an ode to the not too long ago old school way of things. We've seen it Ultimate Warrior, Sting and Bill Goldberg, the next should ultimately be the man who carried a great deal of matches and feuds to high degrees of success. To be completely honest, Kurt Angle should have made his return to the WWE years ago, but you know how the petty beef they have in the back when a wrestler does something for himself and his health.

While the way that Kurt left was a bit murky at best, it fits into the narrative of his return. Both Ultimate Warrior and Goldberg came back to fanfare and was loved every bit of it. Sting was the guy that was said to never be in a WWE ring for as long as he was alive. But all of these things changed for the simple fact that Triple H was able to go and sit down with each man and work something out. Now Kurt has gone on record as saying there was nothing there with WWE after meeting with Triple H, but I won't believe it until it's too late for a return to happen. Because you simply never say never with the WWE.

Kurt can still go, as proved many times over on the indie scene and in TNA. With the brand extension happening and the eventual Goldberg vs. Brock III and Cena vs. Taker match happening on the same WrestleMania card, WWE will need something big going into 2018's show. That's where I would bring Kurt back after WrestleMania season and have him feud with SmackDown's biggest stars, (of course I'm putting him back on the blue brand in which he helped build). Kurt has way more than enough gas in his tank to make one last run his hall of fame career. Putting this feather in his cap would not only cement his legacy, notching him in the top five wrestlers ever, it would bring everything back full circle for him.

I'm hoping that in 2017, The All-American Hero can make his way home.

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And there you have it, seven of my hopes for 2017. As I said before, as the years get higher, the more hopes I'll have on the list. This coming year is going to be a defining year for WWE in the sense that a lot of turnover is going to start to take place. A lot of moving parts will begin to shift around for the better and we'll get to see some real exciting things take place not just on that brand, but the wrestling industry as a whole. Kurt coming back tops my list simply because I'm ready for him to come in and tear it down one last great time before he can finally ride into the sunset happily and on his own terms.

Blog wise I just hope that in 2017 at least one person reads something I post haha. But no seriously, I'm just hoping that my columns reach people and wrestlers alike and they like what I say. I do this for fun, so if one person tells me they feel my work, then my whole year will be made. I'm just looking forward to writing a whole bunch of columns, meeting other great columnists and going to a few wrestling shows live. I hope that in 2017 everyone remains healthy; no major injuries occur and that we will have an even more amazing year than 2016 was.

Until next time!