Journalism of Courage
In a moment that was described as "The End of the Era", The Undertaker signalled an end to his career at this year's Wrestlemania in April 2017. "The Phenom" who has been associated with WWE for past 27 years, left behind his signatorial hat and cape behind as he left the ring after suffering a defeat against Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania, "the yard" where he had a record of being 21-1. His only other defeat at Wrestlemania came in 2014 against The Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar. The next day Reigns felt the wrath of the audience who were angry at him for "retiring" The Undertaker as the "Big Dog" announced said,"It is my yard now!" (Source: WWE)
In one of the most shocking returns of 2017, the 6-time Tag-team champions, The Hardy Boyz made a return - and that too on the biggest stage of them all, the Wrestlemania. The original rockstars of WWE were added to the triple-threat tag-team match between Seamus and Cesaro, The Club and Enzo and Cass, where the duo went on to defeat the other teams to take the tag-team gold for the 7th time in WWE. (Source: WWE)
It was a truly heart-breaking moment when the "Best Friends" Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho had a massive fallout. Jericho organised a grand function for Owens titled "Festival of Friendship". But the former WWE Universal Champion betrayed Y2J and beat him to a pulp. The most shocking moment of the entire scene was when Owens gifted a piece of paper to Jericho with his name written on it. Behind the paper, there was a cardboard which read "The List of KO". Jericho's expression on seeing it became the highlight as he realised what was about to happen. The two never became friends again. (Source: WWE)
For most part of his career in WWE, Indian-born wrestler Jinder Mahal had been an ignored participant. Till he made his way to Smackdown Live in April. The "Modern Day Maharaja" was put in a six-man match where he defeated Luke Harper, Erick Rowan, Sami Zayn, Dolph Ziggler and Mojo Rawley with the help of Samir and Sunil Singh (now known as Singh brothers) to become the title contender to take on Randy Orton at Clash of Champions. While many expected it to be a quash fight, Mahal shocked the world by beating the Viper and winning the title. (Source: WWE)
It is hard to keep John Cena away from giving an OMG moment in a year and in 2017, he created history by tying with Ric Flair's record of becoming a 16-time World Champion. At Royal Rumble in January, Cena squared off once again with the Phenomenal One AJ Styles. In spite of Styles having plenty of opportunity to take the victory, he could not fend off his opponent and suffered a huge defeat, squashing his hopes of entering the Wrestemania as the Champion. (Source: WWE)
After teasing for weeks, WWE Universe finally got what they have wanted for past three years - The reunion of Hounds of Justice- The Shield. The trio joined forces again after being put to a corner by the team of Miz and Seamus and Cesaro. (Source: WWE)
It was an epic moment when the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar faced off against Monster Among Men Braun Strowmann in a fatal-4 way match for the WWE Universal title. Strowmann shocked the world as he absolutely demolished Lesnar by picking him up and throwing him for a powerslam on the announcer's table. It was the most vulnerable Lesnar has ever been throughout his career as he was taken upon a stretcher in the middle of the match with a shocked Paul Heyman screaming curses. (Source: WWE)
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon's daughter Stephanie McMahon announced on an episode of Raw that for the first time in history, there will be a 30- Women's Royal Rumble at Royal Rumble 2018 where the winner will take on the WWE Champion at Wrestlemania. (Source: WWE)
WWE Smackdown Live commissioner Shane McMahon again defied gravity this year when he took on Kevin Owens in a Hell in a Cell match. McMahon jumped off from the 30-feet steel structure on top of the table where he had put Owens. But, Owens was saved in the nick of time by his friend-turned-foe Sami Zayn, who then later, picked him up to let him pin McMahon and give victory to Owens, adding shock to the entire scene. (Source: WWE)
The two former ring leaders of the NPJW faction "Bullet Club", Finn Balor and AJ Styles faced off against each other at WWE TLC 2017. But it was not the Balor which Styles has known all his life. It was the Demon Finn Balor who provided an extra punch to defeat the Phenomenal One. But the moment of the match came after the fight as the two joined their hands and shared yet another "Too Sweet" moment as the crowd chanted "This is Awesome" (Source: WWE)
