Liam Hoofe with his top 10 WWE Superstars of 2020…
We are a few days into 2021 and everyone is hoping it will be a significant improvement on 2020. Throughout what was one of the toughest years in recent memory though, one thing still managed to keep us all entertained – the WWE. Vince McMahon and Co. continued to put on shows throughout the year, not missing a single beat and still managing to provide us with some entertaining moments when we needed them most.
While there has certainly been some creative duds this year, the company deserves credit for keeping the show alive and manages to entertain us all. The superstars themselves are worthy of a lot of praise and while the whole roster deserves credit, these are the 10 superstars who really did a fantastic job in the WWE in 2020.
Honorable Mentions
MVP: Who would have thought that MVP would turn out to be such a huge asset to the WWE in 2020? The Hurt Business has been one of the best things on Raw this year and they will no doubt continue to shine under his tutelage.
Walter: Walter may have been away for most of the year but his match with Ilya Druganov was nothing short of incredible.
Sami Zayn: Sami Zayn’s run as IC Champion this year has been a lot of fun and he has also not been too shabby between the ropes. His triple threat match with AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy was easily one of the finest outings of the year.
Seth Rollins: Seth Rollins is never far from a great match and he has been in some of the strongest outings of 2020. His feud with Rey Mysterio provided some great matches but it outstayed its welcome and took the wind out of both superstars’ sails in the end.
10: Edge
Let’s be real for a moment – 2020 sucked. There have been very few things worth celebrating this year and that’s why Edge has made this list. His return at the start of 2020 was easily the highlight of the wrestling year, and while unfortunate injury at Backlash put the fairytale return on hold, we still got a glimpse that he was more than capable of delivering in the ring.
9: AJ Styles
AJ Styles has been one of the best performers in WWE since he made his debut and 2020 was another fine outing from the phenomenal one. While there may not have been one stand-out encounter, he has managed to deliver regardless of who he has ended up in the ring with. His match with the Undertaker was easily the best cinematic match of the year, while his TLC match with Drew McIntyre was a great way to reintroduce him to the main event scene and to top off another solid year from the former WWE Champion.
8: Adam Cole
Adam Cole has become the face of NXT in recent years, and while the brand has not been quite as good this year as it has in previous, Cole and the Undisputed Era have still managed to shine bright. His feud with Pat McAfee turned out to be one of the most surprisingly enjoyable programs of the year, and his early year as NXT Champion managed to produce some great matches as well.
7: Randy Orton
Randy Orton has had one of his best years in a very long time. In a year when the WWE has really needed its performers to step up, Orton proved why he has been sat near the top of the card for nearly two decades. His feud with Edge and the subsequent revival of the Legend Killer gimmick was one of the most entertaining runs of the year. His feud with Drew McIntyre started strong but was handled badly in the end. His feud with The Fiend has been divisive but Orton is still one of the most entertaining superstars on the roster at the moment.
6: Io Shirai
We all knew how good Io Shirai was but this year she has really been allowed to shine in NXT. Her run as NXT Women’s Champion has been great and she has been the staple of what is once again establishing itself as the strongest women’s division in the world. The next 12 months are full of potential for Shirai and more matches with the likes of Rhea Ripley and Co promise to continue to cement her role as one of the best in the world right now.
5: Asuka
Last year was such a miserable one in so many ways but there was one thing that was guaranteed to make me smile every week – Asuka. She has been one of the most consistent performers on the roster all year round and has grown from a great heel in the Kabuki Warriors into one of the most lovable babyfaces in the entire industry. She has consistently delivered in the ring and has finally become the superstar we all knew she was capable of becoming.
4: Roman Reigns
The Big Dog was absent from WWE for most of the year but he more than made up for it in the final four months. Reigns’ return and his heel run as the Universal Champion have been nothing short of sensational and 2021 could easily be his strongest year yet. His matches with Jey Uso were excellent examples of WWE storytelling done right, and his on-going with Kevin Owens has seen him end the year very strong.
3: Sasha Banks
2020 has really been the year where Sasha Banks has become the star of the women’s division. Her feud with Bayley was one of the standouts of the year, and while the big conclusion felt a bit rushed, their Hell in a Cell match more than delivered. Her character work, alongside her in-ring work, has been impeccable and she has easily been one of the runaway stars of 2020.
2: Bayley
Sasha Banks has had an exceptional year, but her friend turned rival, Bayley, slightly edges her out here. For the past several years, Bayley has felt like the forgotten one of the four horsewomen, but since turning heel in 2019 and adopting her new look, she has been on fire. Her aforementioned feud with Sasha provided one of the hottest matches of 2020 and her early year work as a dual-champion was nothing short of fantastic. Her mini-feud with Belair at the end of the year has also been great and 2021 is sure to be another fantastic year for her.
1: Drew McIntyre
It’s hard not to feel sorry for Drew McIntyre. The Scottish born superstar has finally had the breakout year he has been waiting for, and he has done it in mostly empty arenas. His Rumble performance was one of the highlights of the year, and his run as WWE Champion has been great. His matches with the likes of Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins, and AJ Styles have been great. His feud with Orton was dragged out he has bounced back with no problem and is heading to the new year flying high once again. 2020 has been a breakout year for Drew and I personally can’t wait to see him get the great reception he deserves from the fans when arenas open back up again.
Liam Hoofe
