5 Possible challengers for new WWE Champion Drew McIntyre's title

Arguably the most historic and unique WrestleMania of all time ended with Drew McIntyre winning the WWE Championship.

After a Boneyard Match, a wild tag team title ladder match, a Firefly Fun House Match, and Otis finally getting his girl, McIntyre stood tall at the finale of it all, having finally dethroned Brock Lesnar and becoming the first British WWE Champion in history.

The Scot made good on his promise to down Lesnar, having initially left his mark on The Beast at January's Royal Rumble. Undoubtedly, Lesnar won't take the defeat lying down and will no doubt come for some retribution.

But that should be the least of McIntyre's worries. WWE will almost certainly book him as a fighting champion, needing a contrast to the part-time schedule of the previous incumbent. That means he could likely be a very busy man indeed.

Challengers will likely come from all quarters, and here we've outlined just five of the possible contenders for new WWE Champion Drew McIntyre's title.

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#5. Brock Lesnar

There's no getting away from the fact that as WWE's highest-paid star, Brock Lesnar isn't going away any time soon. And, it's equally as unlikely that they'll want to book him in anything other than a top-level feud. That likely means that he'll come searching for revenge against McIntyre, meaning the two will need to meet at least once more to settle a rivalry that's already four months in the making.

That Lesnar already has a combined eight reigns as Universal and WWE Champion might suggest he's due a break on that front. But, if any two Superstars are likely to define 'relentless,' then it would be this hard-hitting duo. There is probably plenty more that can be done between the pair.

#4. Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley may have tasted a fairly comprehensive defeat at the hands of Aleister Black at WrestleMania. Still, WWE has a real history in moving stars to relative obscurity, right before propelling them into the main event picture.

Might that be what happens with Lashley? The man himself admitted in an interview before WrestleMania that he hadn't exactly enjoyed the last few months of sensationalist storylines with Lana and Rusev, preferring to focus more on his size, physicality, and intensity.

A feud with McIntyre would more than tick each and every one of those boxes. It would also bring some real legitimacy back to the career and character of Lashley, a man who himself has a rich history as a former world champion and top-level athlete.

He has two Intercontinental Title reigns to his name already as well as a stint as US Champion, not to mention his career as a professional footballer before joining WWE.

Lashley would certainly not look out of place in battling McIntyre for the WWE title - is this fresh-looking challenge the right way for Drew to kick off his reign?

#3. AJ Styles

AJ Styles may seem the furthest possible candidate for a crack at the WWE Championship right now, but, in my opinion, that's precisely why he should be considered for that very storyline.

The Undertaker comprehensively and decisively beat him at WrestleMania 36 in the first-ever Boneyard Match. However, there's little doubting the credentials of the Phenomenal One, who is still one of WWE's most talented in-ring performers.

I wrote recently about the fact I felt Styles was about to challenge for and possibly win the WWE title again, and the events of both Saturday and Sunday have only served to compound that theory in my mind.

Styles rose from relative mid-card obscurity to win the WWE title from Jinder Mahal in 2016, and him defeating McIntyre would indeed be springing another surprise.

I don't think Styles needs to win the gold - rather that he should just be in the title picture. His in-ring style would be the ideal contrast to that of McIntyre, and it's a match I'm sure plenty of fans would be keen to see

#2 Seth Rollins

While some candidates in this list seem unlikely or improbable while nonetheless fascinating, there's probably no more straightforward or a better fit for Drew McIntyre's WWE title than the Monday Night Messiah, Seth Rollins.

In terms of styles, the match would be perfect. Rollins would be there, or thereabouts in the argument for WWE's best in-ring performer of the last few years. There would, therefore, be no worries as to whether or not he could go toe-to-toe with McIntyre as he bids to solidify his hold on his newly-won WWE title.

Better than that, though, the timing is just about perfect. Having finished up his rivalry with Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 36 on the losing side after being beaten by the Canadian, Rollins needs a clean break and to get into something new.

What's more, what better place for the Monday Night Messiah than at the top of the mountain on RAW and in WWE as a whole as its Champion? It would give him even more reason and opportunity to preach about his powers and strength of leadership if he stood in the middle of the ring with the gold draped around his shoulder.

Whatever does come McIntyre's way, Rollins will likely be involved sooner rather than later.

#1. Randy Orton

We've already discussed the idea of some WWE Monday Night Raw Superstars challenging for Drew McIntyre's gold by rising from defeat to kickstart their current stints with the company. Still, there's perhaps no better fit for that very scenario than Randy Orton.

Some might argue that Orton's stock is low given he's just suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Edge at WrestleMania 36 in their Last Man Standing match. If there's one argument to counter that, though, it would be that the Orton-Edge rivalry was one of the hottest and most talked about before Mania. And, Orton's involvement and heel antics played a significant part in that.

In spoiling Edge's remarkable return to the ring, the former Evolution member made himself the most hated man on the RAW roster and. Speaking objectively, nobody can deny Orton's credentials and abilities, either. He's one of the most accomplished WWE stars in history and always slots in comfortably in the main event scene.

So maybe, just maybe, like all good RKOs, Drew McIntyre's first challenge for his WWE title will come Outta' Nowhere...