Neville's Return as Heel Gives WWE Cruiserweight Division Vital Legitimacy

When WWE looks back at all the crucial decisions it made throughout 2016, the company may find that one of the most significant came in the year's final few shows.

Since it debuted earlier this year, the cruiserweight division has undergone a fairly unspectacular start to life in WWE.

There's been precious little storyline depth—the same few guys tussling at the top of the division and few, if any, genuine surprises. 

However, that all changed on Sunday at Roadblock: End of the Line when Neville made his return to WWE TV.

The Englishman and the cruiserweight division are a perfect fit right now—so much so that, for once, the whole division has been given a real lift by the presence of just one man. Heading into 2017, bank on Neville to become the undisputed star of the cruiserweight clan.

Neville had, without being too blunt, gone stale on the main roster prior to this return. He was so polished in the ring and showed precious little in the way of personality that the thought of him dominating a whole bunch of wrestlers—as a heel—was unthinkable.

The fact that it was all a surprise made his return more appealing—not to mention that it added some vital legitimacy to the division.

Seeing him take down Rich Swann and instantly become a pivotal part of a division which has stuttered along in its early weeks was the kind of twist the cruiserweights have craved. 

What also makes this a smart bit of business from WWE Creative is that he gives the division something nobody else has—he's a current face fans already know about. Sure, The Brian Kendrick is a veteran in WWE, but he's been away from the company for so long that newer fans will know little about his exploits with Paul London last decade.

So with Neville coming in and embarking on a new chapter in his career, the casual WWE fan instantly has someone to get invested in—someone they know.

And with his athletic ability and talent inside the ring, Neville has the potential to become a well-rounded star in WWE at long last. He looked like such an obvious babyface with the way he worked—daring, athletic and risk-taking—that this run as a heel may never have emerged had it not been for the return of the cruiserweight division.

But this heel turn has already shown promise. Whether it was the way he attacked Swann and TJ Perkins at Roadblock: End of the Line, the way he spoke so passionately on Raw this past Monday or his impressive showing in the ring on 205 Live this week—which continues to show more and more potential—this could be the smartest decision WWE has made in a long time.

At first glance, Neville has the chance to be something special in WWE—he showed as much in NXT a few years ago. This could be the big break he needs. A strong few months in the cruiserweight division, and his WWE career could yet ascend to new, impressive heights.