Here are my selections for the best performers and performances in U.S.-based pro wrestling in 2016:
(For Part I, click here.)
Feud of the Year: Charlotte Flair vs. Sasha Banks
When WWE's "Divas Revolution" in 2015 started as a war among three factions of women wrestlers, it was apparent the money ultimately was in a rivalry between NXT standouts Flair and Banks. That rivalry played out in 2016, and it raised the profile of women's wrestling to unprecedented heights, as Flair and Banks fought each other in matches that were every bit as athletic, hard-hitting and compelling as most men's matches. It all began at WrestleMania 32 April 3, where Flair defeated Banks and Becky Lynch in a Triple Threat Match to crown the inaugural WWE Women's Championship. In June, Flair and Banks began a singles program over the championship that would last six months and feature six title changes.
