by Stupid Ross
2022 is a good 3 years away, which means that a lot of things can happen, a lot of championships will change hands, and a lot of superstars will come and go. We could even see a change in the face of the company, and there are many superstars lined up, eager to take the opportunity.
With NXT pumping out a factory line of great talent, and the many independents feeding the machine, we live in a great time for wrestling. AEW is on the brink of providing WWE with its first real competition in a number of years which could lead to some much better competitive booking and pushing of younger talent. Thus I have compiled this list of potential future WWE Champions, the best and the brightest, who are ready to take the next big step in WWE.
Drew McIntyre
The Scottish Psychopath is on fire right now in the WWE, he has established himself as a dominant player on the scene. Since returning to the company in 2017, Drew has been unstoppable, already erasing his unsuccessful first stint in the company from peoples memory. With an imminent title run surely on the cards, I think we will see it before 2019 is out, with Drew maybe capitalising at the Money in the Bank PPV and successfully cashing it in shortly after. It is McIntyre’s time to cement himself as the companies biggest Heel on Raw and move into the main title picture, Drew would be a great Universal Champion and I can see a long, strong run with it.
Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin has been pushed pretty hard since moving up to the main roster from NXT in 2016. If it wasn’t for the supposed backstage antics, involving arguing about concussions with a WWE Doctor, I think Baron would have a had a main title run by now. This was the reason for Corbin’s unsuccessful Money in the Bank cash in, WWE was punishing him for said argument. However, Corbin bounced back and has been a main staple on WWE TV for the past 2 years, cutting his hair and donning a shirt and waistcoat, he had a run in charge of Monday Night Raw and recently was the winner of Kurt Angles final match at Wrestlemania 33. WWE management has faith in Baron Corbin, and I can see them continuingly pushing him into the main event picture in the coming years.
Kairi Sane
This Pirate Princess has just made her main roster debut as a member of the Smackdown Live team, joining forces with fellow Japanese superstar
Asuka, seemingly being managed by former Divas Champion Paige. This will see Kairi focused on the WWE Women’s Tag-Team Championships, but eventually, we will see her move into singles action, and a title run is definitely achievable. Former NXT Women’s Champion and Mae Young Classic winner, Kairi has done it all so far, all that is left is a run with a WWE Women’s Championship. Kairi is over with the fans and looks great in the ring, Becky Lynch better watch out as Kairi Sane is not your typical Princess.
Adam Cole (Bay Bay)
When Adam Cole finally gets moved to the main roster, it has to be with The Undisputed Era, one of the best and most dominant heel stables in
recent years. Each member of the Era are great in their own way, but Adam Cole is the standout leader and top guy. Seeing them run wild on
Raw or Smackdown would be amazing, O’Reilly and Fish snapping up the tag titles, Roderick Strong taking the Intercontinental or US Title, and
Adam Cole winning the big one. This would be a great booking move for their arrival on the main roster, The New Boys, taking over town. Although
not your typical Vince guy, Cole has everything else going for him, he is a Champion you could love to hate, who can give 5* performances with
one arm tied behind his back. A definite future champ, but hopefully sooner rather than later.
Big E
With Kofi Kingston winning the WWE Championship at this years Wrestlemania, it has opened up the doors to multiple storylines for The New Day. Just maybe Big E starts getting a little fed up with Kofi and his success, just maybe Big E turns on his New Day Brother, just maybe Big E defeats Kofi for the title. This could be a great storyline that people would invest into, Xavier Woods caught in the middle or maybe siding with one of them. Big E as a badass heel champ would be great to watch, someone who is very deserving of the title, he is a former NXT Champion which for some reason gets overlooked. A big New Day break up can lead to a big New Day reunion down the line.
Andrade
With Zelina Vega in tow, Andrade has just jumped ships, from Smackdown Live to Monday Night Raw. One of WWE’s best recent signings, Andrade is incredible to watch. His matches in NXT with Drew McIntyre and Aleister Black were phenomenal. He has proved that he works as a champion, he has proved that he moves better than anyone in the ring, a run as WWE Champion would be something I’d like to see. Imagine some of the great title matches we could have, Andrade vs Bryan, Andrade vs Styles, Andrade vs Roman or Andrade vs Nakamura. Zelina Vega is a great manager and does well on the mic, as well as her cunning ringside assistance, taking the pressure off Andrade’s average mic work. A talent that will eventually end up being wasted in WWE, a run as a champion should definitely be in his future.
Lacey Evans
Although she hasn’t really done much but annoyed people since arriving in WWE, Lacey had a good run in NXT. Her pretty immediate push is a sign that WWE officials have big plans for her. Never winning the NXT Women’s Title, Lacey played the mid-card well, with strong matches developing herself and the other females on the roster. Lacey is a tall, strong athlete, with a physique that would make JBL weak at the knee’s, as long as she can improve on her ring work, Lacey has a bright future, with a championship run in her future. I don’t think now is the time, and I doubt that WWE would have her defeat Becky Lynch yet, but stranger things have happened, and who knows what will happen at Becky’s first Raw title defence against Lacey.
Zack Ryder
Zack debuted with WWE in 2007 and has seen few highs, but many many lows. Zack has always been over with the crowd since his 2011 Youtube series, where Zack became WWE Internet Champion and pushed himself to the max. This did nothing to improve his TV time and Zack remained a lower mid-card player. Zack won the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania 32, before losing it the next night on Raw to The Miz, the story of Ryder’s career. With Kofi’s recent storyline as the loyal underdog, I can see WWE doing this storyline again in the next few years, and who better than Long Island Iced Z. The disgruntled employee, been overlooked for over 10 years, finally getting a push due to fan support. It’s time Zack Ryder gets his moment, a little character change and move-list update, a good storyline and Zack could have his day at the top.
Elias
This has definitely got to be on the cards, Elias has yet to win a title, or have a noteworthy title match, but is one of the most ‘over’ heels on
the WWE roster. Elias has the crowd eating out of his hands every night, despite constantly ripping it out of the hometown or sports team. Elias plays his gimmick well, and the universe eats it up. I can’t say that Elias is anything special between the ropes, as I don’t think he has wrestled all that much, mainly being the comic relief on episodes of Raw. Now he is on Smackdown, I can see him in the title picture, Smackdown is Elias’s time to shine as a wrestler. can you imagine the heat if Elias ended Kofi’s title run, or beat Roman Reigns down the line? Elias would be a great Heel Champion.
Matt Riddle
The Original Bro Matt Riddle was a superstar before even entering the WWE Performance Centre. Having a successful MMA career, and a good run on the wrestling independent scene, Riddle was a major signing to NXT last year. Matt Riddles legitimacy as a fighter will give him a great storied career, as long as he is booked right by WWE upon his main roster debut, a few championship reigns. Riddle should be pushed to the max as soon as he debut’s, showing him as a legit badass, and have him wipe through all who stand in his way. Someone who is able to take down the big men and have technical battles with the likes of AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan. Matt Riddle could be the next face of the company, taking WWE into the next generation, and we all want to see Matt Riddle vs Brock Lesnar, what an awesome match that would be. What a better way to introduce him to the big leagues, than having him go over Brock Lesnar clean, something the roster has been unsuccessfully trying to do for the last half a decade. If I was a betting man, I would be putting money on Riddle being WWE Universal Champion by 2022.
Honourable Contenders
Aleister Black
Johnny Gargano
Ricochet
Dolf Ziggler (Final Run)
Bobby Roode
Keith Lee
Ali
Chad Gable
There we have my list, who do you see as being the next WWE Champions, and who has the potential for the future?
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