Post by CMWaters on Dec 29, 2023 23:48:10 GMT -5
Well, with Smackdown behind us, and NO chance of a title change happening before the new year unlike last time, it's once again time to grade the end of the year champions!
Here is last year's version.
Also if anyone reading this wants to do an AEW one, be my guest.
Anyway, let's see who we have:
WWE UNDISPUTED UNIVERSAL CHAMPION ROMAN REIGNS
REIGN START: August 30, 2020 (Universal), April 3, 2022 (WWE)
Well, another year done, and Roman still has the title. He's done a lot less with it IMO than last year, even if he did suffer his first pin loss since coming back. That said, the well is getting dry even after having the opponents he's had this year, so fingers crossed that this is the last full year he stays at the top.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION SETH "FREAKIN'" ROLLINS
REIGN START: May 27, 2023
An interesting idea to have a second World Title so it could be defended more than Roman does these days, but while we have gotten Rollins appearing all the time, some here have thought he should have lost the title by now to establish it more and further differentiate it from the Undisputed. That isn't a knock on Seth's performance in the ring, where he still seems to put in the best work he can for his matches though.
WWE UNDISPUTED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS FINN BALOR & DAMIEN PRIEST
REIGN START: October 16, 2023
With the end of the Usos reign, the Tag Titles are slowly getting into a groove again of more teams having a chance at the titles, with a few changes this year leading up to this current reign for the second time of Balor and Priest. The Judgement Day story overall has a cloud over what they are doing with the titles, but that hasn't stopped them from having decent enough defenses, including most recently on Raw against The Creed Brothers. I don't see them going too far into 2024 with the titles though, especially with Priest still holding Money in the Bank at the moment.
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION GUNTHER
REIGN START: June 10, 2022
Gunther has continued his reign in a way that I feel has worked better than Roman's long reign: great matches, looking vulnerable enough that he could lose than still picking up the win (Gable and Miz especially helping this point). Downside of his reign for me is the messing with his Imperium brethren, which doesn't add anything to it. Hats off for him for pushing through though, and congrats on being a dad now though!
UNITED STATES CHAMPION LOGAN PAUL
REIGN START: November 4, 2023
Well, the guy may be an ass-hat, but he's good in the ring at least. Probably saved Rey's career from ending in the match even if he was partly at fault. Still though, we haven't really seen much of him after he won the title, have we? Maybe his feud post this tournament for a shot at him will do him some good...
WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPION RHEA RIPLEY
REIGN START: April 1, 2023
Plus side, she beat Charlotte clean for it at WrestleMania. Minus, she hasn't really had a defining defending feud since she's won the title. Raquel came close, but that always ended with help. With that and her mostly sticking with helping out the rest of the group, her reign hasn't been as good as it could be. We'll see if 2024 can change that.
WWE WOMEN'S CHAMPION IYO SKY
REIGN START: August 5, 2023
I think a lot of us are surprised Iyo has held on to the title as long as she has, having had defenses against Bianca and Charlotte in that time. I feel her defenses have been more back and forth than Rhea's have been, ignoring the interference in them. We'll see how the Damage CTRL story plays out and how it factors into her reign from this point onwards though.
WOMEN'S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS KAYDEN CARTER AND KATANA CHANCE
REIGN START: December 18, 2023
The only ones on this list a second year in a row but NOT with the same titles they had this time last year! They didn't really do much in 2023 until the end, but let's see if this Women's tag reign is more memorable for them than their NXT one was.
NXT CHAMPION ILJA DRAGUNOV
REIGN START: September 30, 2023
No offense to Rollins, but I think Ilja is my favorite "top champion" right now in WWE. Great matches, professional presentation, a different kind of intensity, it just all fits well for me. We'll see how long it lasts into 2024 with the very popular Trick Williams being the next defense, but even if he loses it he had a good short run with it I feel.
NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS TONY D'ANGELO & CHANNING "STACKS" LORENZO
REIGN START: November 14, 2023
I do like how the NXT Mafia have gotten the chance to work together and be a tag team, and how they are a different way of being fighting champions. That said, I do have a slight annoyance with them as I did wanna see Chase U hold on to the titles longer than they did. There seems to be something building with that so we'll see where that goes, but I can't fault the matches they have had in their two reigns thus far.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION DRAGON LEE
REIGN START: December 9, 2023
First off, I feel bad for Wes Lee as this was probably a reign that was meant for him before his injury. That said, it was a smart enough idea to utilize another foe of Dominik Mysterio as a substitute, and in the short time he's had the title he's gone on to have a few defense already so good on him. Don't know if he'll keep it long as he was on Smackdown, but they may have moved him back to NXT given Wes' injury. Still, don't mind him with the gold.
NXT WOMEN'S CHAMPION LYRA VALKYRIA
REIGN START: October 24, 2023
Potentially a surprise win this year by having her go over Becky Lynch clean for the title, but was a great match to put her over with. We'll see how well she can carry on into the new year with a few challengers seeking her, as well as whatever the hell Tatum Paxley wants with her. Glad she has proven me wrong as I thought she would have been seen as too weird in her mannerisms to be a serious contender.
Here is last year's version.
Also if anyone reading this wants to do an AEW one, be my guest.
Anyway, let's see who we have:
WWE UNDISPUTED UNIVERSAL CHAMPION ROMAN REIGNS
REIGN START: August 30, 2020 (Universal), April 3, 2022 (WWE)
Well, another year done, and Roman still has the title. He's done a lot less with it IMO than last year, even if he did suffer his first pin loss since coming back. That said, the well is getting dry even after having the opponents he's had this year, so fingers crossed that this is the last full year he stays at the top.
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION SETH "FREAKIN'" ROLLINS
REIGN START: May 27, 2023
An interesting idea to have a second World Title so it could be defended more than Roman does these days, but while we have gotten Rollins appearing all the time, some here have thought he should have lost the title by now to establish it more and further differentiate it from the Undisputed. That isn't a knock on Seth's performance in the ring, where he still seems to put in the best work he can for his matches though.
WWE UNDISPUTED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS FINN BALOR & DAMIEN PRIEST
REIGN START: October 16, 2023
With the end of the Usos reign, the Tag Titles are slowly getting into a groove again of more teams having a chance at the titles, with a few changes this year leading up to this current reign for the second time of Balor and Priest. The Judgement Day story overall has a cloud over what they are doing with the titles, but that hasn't stopped them from having decent enough defenses, including most recently on Raw against The Creed Brothers. I don't see them going too far into 2024 with the titles though, especially with Priest still holding Money in the Bank at the moment.
INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPION GUNTHER
REIGN START: June 10, 2022
Gunther has continued his reign in a way that I feel has worked better than Roman's long reign: great matches, looking vulnerable enough that he could lose than still picking up the win (Gable and Miz especially helping this point). Downside of his reign for me is the messing with his Imperium brethren, which doesn't add anything to it. Hats off for him for pushing through though, and congrats on being a dad now though!
UNITED STATES CHAMPION LOGAN PAUL
REIGN START: November 4, 2023
Well, the guy may be an ass-hat, but he's good in the ring at least. Probably saved Rey's career from ending in the match even if he was partly at fault. Still though, we haven't really seen much of him after he won the title, have we? Maybe his feud post this tournament for a shot at him will do him some good...
WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPION RHEA RIPLEY
REIGN START: April 1, 2023
Plus side, she beat Charlotte clean for it at WrestleMania. Minus, she hasn't really had a defining defending feud since she's won the title. Raquel came close, but that always ended with help. With that and her mostly sticking with helping out the rest of the group, her reign hasn't been as good as it could be. We'll see if 2024 can change that.
WWE WOMEN'S CHAMPION IYO SKY
REIGN START: August 5, 2023
I think a lot of us are surprised Iyo has held on to the title as long as she has, having had defenses against Bianca and Charlotte in that time. I feel her defenses have been more back and forth than Rhea's have been, ignoring the interference in them. We'll see how the Damage CTRL story plays out and how it factors into her reign from this point onwards though.
WOMEN'S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS KAYDEN CARTER AND KATANA CHANCE
REIGN START: December 18, 2023
The only ones on this list a second year in a row but NOT with the same titles they had this time last year! They didn't really do much in 2023 until the end, but let's see if this Women's tag reign is more memorable for them than their NXT one was.
NXT CHAMPION ILJA DRAGUNOV
REIGN START: September 30, 2023
No offense to Rollins, but I think Ilja is my favorite "top champion" right now in WWE. Great matches, professional presentation, a different kind of intensity, it just all fits well for me. We'll see how long it lasts into 2024 with the very popular Trick Williams being the next defense, but even if he loses it he had a good short run with it I feel.
NXT TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS TONY D'ANGELO & CHANNING "STACKS" LORENZO
REIGN START: November 14, 2023
I do like how the NXT Mafia have gotten the chance to work together and be a tag team, and how they are a different way of being fighting champions. That said, I do have a slight annoyance with them as I did wanna see Chase U hold on to the titles longer than they did. There seems to be something building with that so we'll see where that goes, but I can't fault the matches they have had in their two reigns thus far.
NXT NORTH AMERICAN CHAMPION DRAGON LEE
REIGN START: December 9, 2023
First off, I feel bad for Wes Lee as this was probably a reign that was meant for him before his injury. That said, it was a smart enough idea to utilize another foe of Dominik Mysterio as a substitute, and in the short time he's had the title he's gone on to have a few defense already so good on him. Don't know if he'll keep it long as he was on Smackdown, but they may have moved him back to NXT given Wes' injury. Still, don't mind him with the gold.
NXT WOMEN'S CHAMPION LYRA VALKYRIA
REIGN START: October 24, 2023
Potentially a surprise win this year by having her go over Becky Lynch clean for the title, but was a great match to put her over with. We'll see how well she can carry on into the new year with a few challengers seeking her, as well as whatever the hell Tatum Paxley wants with her. Glad she has proven me wrong as I thought she would have been seen as too weird in her mannerisms to be a serious contender.
