10 images that defined the WWE in 2017

The last 12 months of WWE television have provided fans with heel turns, face turns, hard-to-believe title wins and, in some cases, moments that we will never forget as long as we live.

The average WWE feud is told over the course of 3-4 months but some stories, as we’re about to find out, can be summed up with one solitary image. hg

A picture tells a thousand words, they say, and never have truer words been spoken when it comes to these 10 defining images of the year in WWE in 2017.

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#10 Jinder Mahal’s WWE Championship reign

Jinder Mahal was WWE champion from May to November

When we look back in years to come at the one standout memory from 2017, there’s every chance that we will immediately think of Jinder Mahal’s incredible rise from mid-card obscurity to WWE champion.

This picture shows “The Modern Day Maharajah” inside the Punjabi Prison moments before he defended his title against Randy Orton at Battleground in July.

#9 Vince McMahon can still get physical

Kevin Owens brutally attacked Vince McMahon in September

Fans can criticise Vince McMahon all they like about his creative decisions over the years, but you can’t criticise the WWE owner for his willingness to do anything and everything inside the squared circle.

He’s been involved in a variety of matches and bizarre storylines over the years, and 2017 saw the 72-year-old receive a headbutt, superkick and frog splash from Kevin Owens in one of the year’s most shocking segments on SmackDown Live.

#8 James Ellsworth helps Carmella win Money In The Bank

A man unhooked the women's Money In The Bank briefcase

The first-ever all-female Money In The Bank ladder match was supposed to be a history-making night for WWE and the next natural step in the Women’s Evolution.

However, after James Ellsworth – a man, “duh” – claimed the briefcase for Carmella, it caused outrage among fans and several media outlets who don’t usually cover WWE even reported on the controversy.

#7 Finn Balor and AJ Styles share a ‘Too Sweet’ moment

Finn Balor and AJ Styles are two of WWE's most popular Superstars

At the TLC pay-per-view in October, wrestling fans finally got to witness a dream never-before-seen match when Finn Balor and AJ Styles met inside a WWE ring.

The match was hastily arranged due to Balor’s original opponent, Bray Wyatt, suffering an illness. Still, it matched the expectations people had for it and we even got to see the former Bullet Club members share a ‘Too Sweet’.

#6 The women’s Royal Rumble announcement

The first-ever women's Royal Rumble will take place in January 2018

There had been rumours throughout 2017 that WWE could be looking to hold a first-ever women’s Royal Rumble match in 2018, but nobody quite believed it would happen until Stephanie McMahon’s historic announcement on Raw in December.

This picture shows the women on the Raw roster, who reportedly had no idea that the announcement was going to be made, reacting to the news.

#5 Cesaro’s gruesome injury

Cesaro wasn't a pretty sight after No Mercy

“It ain’t ballet” is a saying you often hear wrestlers repeat in media interviews when they discuss the injuries they’ve had throughout their career, and this picture of Cesaro shows exactly what they mean.

“The Swiss Cyborg” was tossed into a turnbuckle by Dean Ambrose at No Mercy in September and jammed his two front teeth up into his gums.

#4 Big Show & Braun Strowman break the ring

Braun Strowman cemented his status as "The Monster Among Men"

One of the most shocking moments of 2017 occurred on Raw in April when Braun Strowman’s middle-rope suplex on The Big Show carried so much weight that the WWE ring collapsed.

This picture was taken a couple of minutes after the incident and you can see from the looks on the fans’ faces just how incredible it was.

#3 Roman Reigns takes the torch from John Cena

Roman Reigns defeated John Cena at No Mercy

Roman Reigns vs. John Cena is a WrestleMania main-event match if ever there was one but, for whatever reason, WWE decided to go ahead with the blockbuster encounter in September at No Mercy instead.

“The Big Dog” defeated the 16-time World champion to add yet another ‘statement victory’ to his resume. This picture, symbolizing a passing – or ‘taking’, as Cena said – of the torch, will be shown in video packages for years to come.

#2 ‘How come my name’s on this?’

Don't ever open presents from Kevin Owens

The ‘Festival of Friendship’ segment between Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens in February was undoubtedly the best of the year and one of the best in the history of Monday Night Raw.

This picture shows the moment that Y2J realised that his new 'List of Jericho' – a gift given to him by his so-called best friend – contained only one name: his own. That’s when Jericho delivered the heartbreaking “how come my name’s on this?” line before turning it around to find out that he was actually holding 'The List of KO'.

#1 The Undertaker ‘retires’ at WrestleMania

Was this The Undertaker's final WrestleMania moment?

No picture defines WWE in 2017 better than the iconic image of The Undertaker leaving his hat, coat and gloves in the middle of the ring following his WrestleMania 33 defeat to Roman Reigns.

What’s even more incredible about this picture is that the WWE ring crew left the pieces of attire in exactly the same place for over an hour after WrestleMania had finished, presumably as a sign of respect to “The Deadman”.