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2016 was the year of the new generation in WWE, and with the current crop of NXT Superstars waiting for their shots at the main roster, 2017 will be no different. WWE has done an amazing job overhauling its developmental system into one of the best training grounds in all of sports. In a few short years, NXT has become a must-see brand all on its own. The TakeOver specials never get old because we only get them every few months, and feuds are given a long time to mature because the show can only feature so many storylines with one hour ...

The new year brought with it strong episodes of both Raw and SmackDown. Perhaps it was the focused build to one of WWE's most prestigious events, Royal Rumble. Maybe it has to do with the beginning of the march to WrestleMania 33. Or maybe the new year brought with it an air of freshness and possibility that motivated WWE Creative enough to pen two strong shows. Whatever the case may be, this week in WWE TV was a compelling one for fans. Raw featured the continuation of the saga involving Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho and Seth Rollins, and Smackdown countered with ...

Tag team wrestling was at the heart of the Jan. 4 episode of NXT, a show taped in Melbourne, Australia. Countrymen TM-61 challenged DIY's Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano for the NXT Tag Team Championships in the night's main event, but it was another Aussie, Buddy Murphy, who may have stolen headlines with his superb performance in another tag bout. Murphy, teaming with Tye Dillinger, threw caution to the wind as he combated Bobby Roode and Elias Samson. The Revival, still looking to avenge its loss from TakeOver: Toronto, looked to get back to its winning ways as it squared off with upstart ...

Anger permeated much of the first WWE SmackDown of 2017. Dolph Ziggler responded to his latest loss with a violent outburst. Not being intercontinental champion anymore left The Miz incensed. And Natalya infuriated Nikki Bella by bringing her boyfriend into their fight. Where will all this rage lead? How much of a change will Ziggler undergo? Where will The Miz channel his fury? These, along with the continuing secret of La Luchadora, are among the biggest unknowns to emerge from Tuesday's SmackDown. Read on for a full dive into each of these questions from the blue brand's latest effort.             ...

WWE SmackDown fans caught a flash of a future star when Aliyah made her main-roster debut. The NXT Superstar popped in on the blue brand for a surprise visit. She took on Carmella on Tuesday's show in Jacksonville, Florida.  This wasn't meant to be a call-up to the main roster—rather, a test run. WWE often welcomes NXT prospects when it visits Florida, the home of its developmental system. Fans didn't get to know Aliyah much from this contest against Carmella. Less than three minutes into it, the bouncy, black-clad athlete tapped out to Code of Silence. So who is Aliyah? How did she arrive at this ...

1. More Marquee than Midcard WWE SmackDown treats the Intercontinental Championship as it should be: as a coveted prize over which gladiators furiously fight. The blue brand has offered the leather-and-gold strap the spotlight it deserves. It has made it a key part of the show and an integral part of The Miz's being. As a result, it has steadily renewed its prestige. As LaToya Ferguson of the A.V. Club wrote, "The Intercontinental Championship has been treated with reverence since the brand split." Dean Ambrose snatched away the IC title from The Miz on Tuesday's SmackDown to end the self-proclaimed A-lister's latest reign. Signs of how significant the championship ...

The new year brought with it several rumors and bits of pro wrestling speculation surrounding some of the most popular and celebrated Superstars in WWE. There is the beloved female competitor in line for the biggest push of her career, The Showoff, whose actions Tuesday on SmackDown Live signified a change in character, and a legend of the squared circle who will take his rightful place among the immortals this coming spring.                           Bayley: The Female Daniel Bryan? Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio reported Monday night that Bayley is in line ...

The first SmackDown Live of 2017 not only continued the brand's streak of outstanding television shows but also provided several matches and moments that will shape the coming weeks and months for the blue brand. A championship changed hands, a dark-horse contender to wrestling's top prize made his presence felt and a popular babyface turned heel in a moment that should rejuvenate him creatively. Who emerged as the biggest winner of the night, though? On the other hand, who was the most prominent loser of a broadcast without an abundance of them?           Biggest Winner: Dolph Ziggler Dolph Ziggler had a ...

On the face of it, the winners list of WWE's annual Royal Rumble match is like a condensed look at the greatest men ever to enter the squared circle. Names like Hulk Hogan, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H and Ric Flair have all lasted the distance and emerged victorious in the 30-man bash, which returns again for the 2017 edition on Jan. 29. But sadly, there are some legends and icons of the wrestling business who, despite competing in the match, never got the chance to taste victory. Some of them are either current or future members of WWE's Hall ...

WWE 205 Live ended 2016 with Neville in the main event, and it kicked off 2017 with Neville in the exact same position. One month ago, Neville was an afterthought in the minds of most WWE fans. He was barely ever featured on television, and when he was, it was usually in a losing effort against a heel who needed an easy win. Turning heel and moving to the cruiserweight division has given his career a complete 180. Now, he is seen as the most dangerous man on the show. 205 Live—and the division as a whole—is still a fresh concept. It has ...