10 Men who could be WWE's "Top Guy" while Roman Reigns recovers.

The Fickle Finger of Fate has shown itself, and Roman Reigns will be taking time off from the ring to fight illness.

But the question is, what is WWE going to do without its top star? The problem is akin to one that might strike a series such as Bull if Michael Weatherly took ill...and Bull were performed live in front of an audience every week, with no seasons fifty-two weeks a year.

So, the WWE must move on from Roman for the time being and fast. But who do you find to fill such big shoes?

Here are ten men who are qualified to be the next 'Top Guy' in WWE.

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1.Brock Lesnar

The Empires of the future are the empires of the past, so the saying goes. Could that ring true for Brock Lesnar?

When you talk about Lesnar, you talk about name recognition. Not just on a small scale, either. Lesnar's name is known on virtually every continent, even among people who don't watch wrestling due to his once--and perhaps future--reign as UFC heavyweight champion.

Legend has it that Vince McMahon elbowed his way through a crowd of over a hundred people just to shake Brock Lesnar's hand when he wasn't even signed to the company. To get the boss's attention just by showing up is surely a sign that you're going to accomplish great things, and Lesnar has certainly done that.

Why he might be the Top Guy: Lesnar has massive mainstream appeal, a bonafide reputation as a world-class fighter, and brings plenty of marketability to the ring.

Why he might not be the top guy after all: Lesnar is a part-timer, and you really need the star of your show to be present at least most of the time. Without Heyman, his promos are only so-so.

2. Braun Strowman

We go from the former Ultimate Fighting Championship world heavyweight title belt holder to the man he's facing for the vacant Universal championship.

Braun Strowman has certainly done well since making his debut as a member of the Wyatt family. Though he no longer wears his black sheep mask to the ring, he continues to shine on despite the stable essentially fading away.

Strowman is keen to replace Kane as the WWE's resident Monster, and it's hard to argue with his credentials. Not only is Braun huge, but he also is a former powerlifter and brings an amazing amount of strength to bear.

Why he might be the Top Guy: Braun looks the part of a wrestling Monster. His ring skills have been polished nicely and he seems to be growing into his role on both the microphone and social media.

Why he might not be the Top Guy after all: Braun's character doesn't really stand out. Other than being big and terrifying, he doesn't have much depth. While his wrestling has shown much improvement, he still lacks the polish one expects from a world champion.

3. Drew McIntyre

By now most people know the legend; Vince McMahon was participating in a golf tournament in Scotland, and there he met Drew McIntyre.

Vince "the Boss" McMahon decided then and there that he was looking at a future WWE world heavyweight champion. He even said so, giving a very rare introduction to the man on live television.

At first, Drew enjoyed a heavy push, defeating veterans like Matt Hardy with seeming ease. He continued to dominate the mid-card, but something wasn't clicking. Drew wasn't getting the type of reaction from the fans the WWE had hoped for.

He ended up in comedy act 3MB and then was quietly released. Instead of being bitter and angry, as men like CM Punk and Ryback have done, Drew rededicated himself to his craft. Drew started working the independent circuit and even had an impressive run in Impact. He made his return to WWE through NXT, quickly capturing that brand's title before an injury derailed his momentum.

Now Drew is on the 'main' WWE brand, Raw. Will he fulfil his destiny as the 'chosen one?'

Why he might be the top guy: McIntyre has the total package; Size, speed, athletic ability, and a great look. His mike skills have come a long way since his debut, as well, and let's not forget that Vince McMahon himself is heavily supportive.

Why he might not be the top guy after all: Drew McIntyre has developed a--possibly undeserved--reputation for being injury prone. It seems like every time Drew reaches for the brass ring, it slides a little bit out of his grasp.

4. Jinder Mahal

A few years ago, we'd have never dreamed of ranking Jinder Mahal among the possible top prospects to be WWE's new star during Roman's absence.

That being said, Jinder is one of the most improved talents on the WWE roster in years. While he could certainly use a little bit of brushing up on mat wrestling techniques and needs to expand his repertoire, Mahal in 2018 looks drastically different than Mahal in 2010.

The Canadian born Desi star has already been a big belt title holder, and it's not unthinkable that he could end up being the new top guy in the company--if he stays healthy and maintains his momentum.

Why he might be the new top guy: Jinder looks amazing, with a chiselled body that could be carved out of stone. His mike work as a heel has been much improved, and he is capable of getting one hundred per cent of the audience to hate his guts--exactly the attribute you want in a 'bad guy.'

Why he might not be the new top guy after all: Jinder Mahal isn't bad at any aspect of wrestling, but he's not the best at any aspect of it, either. He may need to step up his in-ring game if he wants to be the new star of WWE's television programming.

5. Rey Misterio

When it comes to former WCW talent, Rey Misterio is arguably the most successful to make the transition after the Monday Night War came to a conclusion.

A triple crown champion, Rey Misterio held literally every belt feasible during his run with the company. Rey started his career while still a teenager, eventually working his way up to being worthy to take over the mantle of Rey Misterio from his uncle, the first man to wear the mask.

Rey's performances on Nitro were a huge highlight of the Monday Night War. His feuds with Eddie Guerrero and Juventud Guerrera were the stuff of legend. But when he made his debut with WWE, no one ever expected him to go beyond the mid-card.

Rey, of course, became one of the most popular WWE champions of all time and is still beloved and an icon to fans of Lucha Libre around the world.

Why he might be the top guy: Rey is no stranger to the limelight, and has proven himself a credible and worthy world champion. With his reputation around the world, the WWE could do a lot worse than building their show around him.

Why he might not be the top guy after all: Rey is ageing past his prime, and it's unknown just how long he plans to stay in WWE and dealing with their punishing road schedule.

6. Samoa Joe

If there's a criticism to be made of Samoa Joe's WWE run, it's that he's been too often portrayed as a man and not the monster he truly is.

Fortunately, his heel turn and feud with AJ Styles seem to have alleviated that. Joe is capable of being fearsome and downright sinister on the microphone. So long as Joe believes in Joe, he is a nigh-unstoppable force both on the mic and in the ring.

He was an early pioneer of mixing MMA influences into pro wrestling, and still trains heavily in that style, eschewing the more common bodybuilding techniques most wrestlers at least spend some time on.

Why he might be the top guy: Joe's been the top guy in TNA/Impact, and did a fine job so long as the company was behind him. He has the size, the presence, and the reputation to be the star of WWE programming.

Why he might not be the top guy after all: Joe is a monster, but he's a little slower and more cautious of a monster these days. His intensely physical style takes a toll both on himself and his opponent, so he may not have many years left to wrestle.

7. Andrade Cien Almas

When Almas made his debut on NXT, he seemed a little awkward. For one, he had just begun to wrestle sans a Lucha mask, which threw him off his game a bit.

For another, WWE couldn't seem to decide what to do with him. Was he an exciting new babyface with acrobatic acumen, or a snide and arrogant heel in an Alberto Del Rio vein?

Fortunately, he found his muse in Zelina Vega, who acts as his mouthpiece and manager. Almas seems focused, driven, and absolutely on point in his performances. He was fast-tracked to the main roster from NXT shortly after his association with Vega and now stands as one of the fastest rising stars in all of WWE.

Why he might be the top guy: Almas is so at home in the ring it's almost scary. He practically floats during his aerial manoeuvres but has plenty of strength and mat wrestling ability if he needs it. And with Vega on the mike, he has no flaws in his game.

Why he might not be the top guy after all: Andrade is a seasoned veteran but is still new to the WWE. The company may see him as a mid-carder at the current time and won't elevate him for another few years.

8. AJ Styles

It doesn't matter if he has Soccer Mom hair, or once wrestled a match wearing a turkey suit. AJ Styles is the best performer in WWE today, period end of story.

A rarity in the sports entertainment world, AJ has wrestled for WCW, TNA, New Japan, ROH, PWG, and finally WWE. Considered an innovator who has influenced the ring style of a whole generation of pro wrestlers, AJ is also possessed of a keen sense of timing. He's always where he needs to be in the ring, and rarely makes mistakes.

There was a lot of queries as to whether AJ would be able to thrive in the WWE's more entertainment driven environment. Those questions have been answered, as AJ has become a megastar in WWE. As it turns out, fans appreciate high levels of skill and athleticism, and AJ certainly has those in spades.

Why he might be the top guy: AJ has already been the 'top guy' in a number of promotions, and does so quite well. He's one of the most popular wrestlers in WWE and sells a lot of merchandise, meaning fans are emotionally invested in him. Also, he is the rare breed of wrestler that appeals to fans of all ages and types, from the casual to the nuanced.

Why he might not be the top guy: Really, the only thing holding him back is how far the WWE wants to push him. He's unabashedly the top star on Smackdown, but is he going to be presented as the top guy in the entire company while Roman recovers?

9. Seth Rollins

Rollins was in a lot of danger of becoming the 'also ran' member of the Shield until he betrayed the group.

The CrossFit Jesus has proven that he can perform at the highest levels of the sport and has created a compelling character. Rollins has a great all round wrestling game. He can strike, fly over the top rope, wrestle scientifically, and engage in hardcore brawls.

The only thing that Rollins seems to have been unable to defeat is the long shadow cast by his Shield mates. Reigns is bigger and had been the top star of the company. Ambrose is far better on the mike and has a more compelling anti-hero character. But Rollins is the best wrestler of the three, and that shows during his matches.

Why he might be the top guy: The defacto top babyface in Reigns's absence was either going to be Ambrose or Rollins--and Ambrose just turned heel. Rollins could be seen as a good 'placeholder' for Roman while he is out with the illness.

Why he might not be the top guy: Rollins was already the WWE champion once, and his reign was a bit lacklustre and ended with an injury. WWE seems to see him as a solid mid-card performer, not a main eventer.

10. Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose cut his teeth in the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion. If you've ever been privy to the type of insanity that occurs during their events, you'll know why Ambrose is by default the toughest man on the WWE roster.

Dean has been wrestling so long he's quite comfortable in the ring and on the mike. He knows he belongs in the top levels of the sport and has earned his spot, and that shows. Of the three Shield members, he always had the most presence and charisma. Seth is a better wrestler, Roman has a better look, but Dean checks all the boxes of a superstar performer.

Why he might be the top guy: Dean was placed firmly in the mid-card until it was discovered that he was selling out more arenas than his main event former Shield brethren. From there he was given a reign as Smackdown's champion, and WWE was pleased with the results. Dean is a solid performer, and his new heel turn could make him this generation's Ric Flair or Triple H.

Why he might not be the top guy after all: Deserved or not, Dean has a reputation for being injury prone. This might make WWE reluctant to make him the biggest star in the company.

There you have it: Ten men who might be the top guy while Roman Reigns recovers. Who do you think will emerge at the top of the pile? Please comment below the article, and thanks for reading!