10 Things All WWE Fans Should Be Thankful for in 2016

The past 11 months have been a whirlwind for WWE fans.

We have witnessed spectacular returns, phenomenal in-ring performances, broken gender barriers and breathtaking displays of athleticism.

With Thanksgiving here, it is time to reflect on everything fans of Vince McMahon's traveling circus have to be thankful for.

From individual Superstars to entire divisions, alliances to banner years, there is plenty.

These are the 10 most prevalent.

10. Shane McMahon Comes Home

Shane McMahon's return in February drew one of the loudest pops in recent memory. The prodigal son had not appeared on WWE programming in six years, and fans were more than welcoming of his return.

Sure, there was valid criticism of his use, including a high-profile WrestleMania match against The Undertaker, but the renewed energy he brought to shows was a happy addition.

When he transitioned into the role of SmackDown Live commissioner, he injected the authority position with freshness that it did not have with his sister, Stephanie, and Triple H filling it.

McMahon continues to jump into the action when the opportunity arises, as seen at Survivor Series. That willingness to return to the squared circle when he does not have to is proof of his dedication to the sport his father took to levels few could have imagined.

9. The Cruiserweight Division

For all the issues with the cruiserweight division to this point, the fact that it exists and is the subject of its own show (205 Live, which begins on Tuesday) is a major step in the right direction for a company that used to exile smaller Superstars to the undercard.

The Brian Kendrick has been a revelation—a veteran whose contributions to the division have been immeasurable. Then there is Rich Swann, whose charisma is unmatched. Factor in strong performances from T.J. Perkins, Tony Nese and Drew Gulak, and you have the nucleus for an explosive, exciting division.

There is work to be done, most notably in establishing characters and stories for the competitors, but fans of today's WWE do not fully appreciate the mere existence of the division, given the trials, tribulations and failures the company has had regarding competitors of lesser size.

8. Chris and Kevin: Best Friends

There is no telling how insufferable recent episodes of Raw would be without Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho around to provide entertainment value.

Their on-screen chemistry and comedic timing have been phenomenal, injecting the program with just enough "different" to keep it from descending into monotony.

The relationship between the two is so wildly over the top in nature that it is difficult to imagine it working with any two other Superstars. They strike the perfect balance of ridiculous and serious, and the result has been extraordinary segments and strong in-ring performances when teaming together.

At some point, WWE officials will be tempted to turn one against the other. Until then, sit back, relax and enjoy the genius interactions they are engaging in every week.

7. Shinsuke Nakamura

No Superstar on the WWE roster possesses the raw charisma that Shinsuke Nakamura does.

He exploded onto the scene in NXT and quickly replaced Finn Balor as the face of the brand. His entrance is electrifying—his theme song one of the best WWE has produced in years. He represents the Japanese Strong Style and has brought an intensity to his performances that has benefited every match in which he has competed.

The legitimacy and credibility his arrival brought to the brand cannot be understated. He was the perfect star to put at the top of the marquee when Balor, Bayley and other NXT mainstays moved up to the main roster. He attracts fans on his own and will continue to serve the brand well as long as he is there.

But at this point, a call-up to the main roster should not be out of the question as 2016 reaches its conclusion.

6. The Return of Badass Samoa Joe

The most underrated element of any Thanksgiving list in 2016 is the return of the dangerous, dominant and scary Samoa Joe.

Once the baddest man in the industry, Joe lost a great deal of momentum during his latter days in TNA Wrestling. He became a shell of himself—a former badass softened by bad booking and the ill-fated decision to remain with the promotion.

In 2015, he debuted in NXT and still lacked the killer edge that once defined him. That all changed in 2016, as he brutally attacked former partner Finn Balor and then defeated The Demon for the NXT Championship. That heel turn awakened in him the fierce competitor fans remembered and fueled him to his most critically acclaimed stretch in recent years.

The second half of 2016 has made fans thankful for the unstoppable villain they love to hate—the bad guy who makes their heroes that much more sympathetic and likable.

5. WWE Network

The WWE Network may be in the nightmares of fans, given how heavily it is promoted during the company's broadcasts, but it should also be on their thankful list.

The home of original programming, an expansive on-demand library and pay-per-view live streams, the platform is WWE's greatest asset and a fan's dream come true.

The idea that one can travel back in time to watch Starrcade 1987 and then return to current day to witness TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2016 is a phenomenal one that fans of decades past could only have dreamed of.

Yes, the hype videos are obnoxious and so is Michael Cole's incessant shilling of the network, but the value to fans should be enough to earn their thanks and investment.

4. The Women's Revolution

The Women's Revolution may have started as a self-serving pat on the back by WWE—a congratulations for its sudden interest in female wrestling. As this year has progressed, that sentiment has not changed, but the use of women has.

Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch played an integral role in the build to WrestleMania 32, an event they co-headlined alongside some of the biggest male stars the industry has to offer.

From there, Banks and Flair tore the house down in a series of matches that culminated with the first-ever women's Hell in a Cell match in October.

With Lynch and Alexa Bliss tearing it up on SmackDown and Nia Jax, Nikki Bella and Carmella figuring to play key roles as the division eyes 2017, women's wrestling is stronger than it ever has been. Fans should be thankful for that.

3. The Miz's Career Year

When The Miz won the Intercontinental Championship from Zack Ryder the night after WrestleMania, many wondered why WWE would be going down the same road with the midcard villain that it had so many times before.

Little could those critics have known that The Miz would take his latest opportunity and run with it, compiling a year-long resume that ranks as the best of his career.

The Hollywood A-Lister has consistently delivered in-ring performances few knew he was capable of. He tangled with Kevin Owens, Cesaro and Sami Zayn and never once looked out of place, despite his upbringing in the WWE style of performance.

He and Dolph Ziggler delivered a series of matches that far exceeded expectations, and they did so by injecting them with real emotion that elevated them in significance.

His constant bickering with Daniel Bryan suggests they will be waging war at some point in the near future, a showdown that would rank as one of the most important of the former Real World competitor's quietly spectacular career as a villain.

Fans should show thanks for The Miz because he is a throwback to the days of villains who did not care about being cool or hip; rather, they were only concerned with inciting venomous reactions from the audience.

2. Roman Reigns

Love him or hate him, but you can't deny that Roman Reigns has been one of the cornerstones of WWE in 2016.

The Guy has captured titles, fought intense scrutiny on the part of WWE fans and overcome his own boneheaded violation of the wellness policy. Through it all, he has remained one of the most consistent in-ring performers in the entire company.

Some will argue that he was carried by the likes of AJ Styles and Kevin Owens, with his matches being far better than they had any right to be because of the talents of his opponents. But at some point, it must be taken into account that he is the common denominator in all of those contests.

For his shortcomings, mostly involving WWE Creative's handling of his character (or lack thereof), Reigns has developed into a dependable performer whose matches are often the hottest of any card.

He can work the opening contest, igniting a red-hot atmosphere, or he can deliver the WWE-style main event brawl that fans go wild for every month. Like John Cena, Reigns is a Superstar whose work is likely to be appreciated much more when he is gone than when he is tearing it up on a nightly basis.

1. AJ Styles

AJ Styles is the best wrestler in the world, bar none.

In 2016, he not only made his WWE debut, but he also unleashed a series of classics against John Cena. He battled Roman Reigns in two straight pay-per-view bouts that helped establish Reigns' championship run. As the leader of SmackDown Live, he has been the rare heel the entire show has been built around.

The effect he has had on the company in his first 11 months has been enormous.

He has been responsible for some of the finest in-ring product all year, and he found his footing as an on-screen persona during the summer. He is the MVP on WWE's roster right now, with little credible competition for that title.

Fans should be thankful for him because another performer of his quality is not walking through the door anytime soon.