10 WWE storylines in 2017 that made wrestling better

4. Kevin Owens vs. Chris Jericho

The storyline between Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho was a rollover from 2016 but that doesn’t mean it still wasn’t one of the most entertaining programs of this year, especially seeing as it lasted for the first few months of 2017.

The entire arc of the saga between Owens and Jericho was done so beautifully. With Jericho assisting KO in multiple WWE Universal Championship matches and Jericho winning the United States Championship only added to the story. The tension between the two was teased on multiple occasions and as it is with so many tag teams and friends over the years, we all knew the split was inevitable but it was just so enjoyable to watch everything unfold. Throw in “The List of Jericho” and both men’s abilities on the microphone and this was gold.

Things got complicated when Goldberg decided that he was up for one more title run and Jericho accepted the match at Fastlane on Owens’ behalf, which KO certainly wasn’t happy with. Determined to make it up to Owens, Jericho hosted a “Festival of Friendship” on the February 13 episode of Monday Night RAW, a segment that was one of my favorite non-wrestling segments of the year.

Jericho showered Owens with creepy art gifts and fed him a returning Gillberg, all of which were so hilariously wonderful, and promised that he would help his best friend defeat Goldberg at Fastlane, much like he’d done with Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and anyone else that tried to take the Universal title. However, things kicked up a notch when Owens reciprocated the gestures and gave a gift to Jericho.

Y2J opened the small box and revealed a new list but his smile quickly faded as he so perfectly asked why his own name was on it and then held it up to reveal “The List of KO.” Owens then brutally attacked Jericho, eventually powerbombing him on the apron of the ring and slamming him through the Jeritron. This led to Jericho distracting Owens at Fastlane, giving Goldberg yet another squash victory and the title.

Owens and Jericho would meet at WrestleMania 33 for the United States Championship with KO coming out on top. Jericho would regain the title at WWE Payback before dropping it back on an episode of SmackDown Live before being written off of television as KO gave him another beatdown. Jericho will kick off his 2018 in Japan with a dream match against Kenny Omega but it’s a pretty solid bet that he’ll return to WWE at some point and it wouldn’t shock me to see these two cross paths again.