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With TLC done and dusted, the year is coming to an end, leading to the next pay-per-view, Royal Rumble. The Rumble is where the road to WrestleMania officially begins. Royal Rumble is one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year in its own right, so the big titles should certainly be on the line, especially the WWE Championship, which wasn't defended at TLC. It will be interesting to see who issues a challenger to the reigning WWE Champion, Brock Lesnar.
The Beast Incarnate became the WWE Champion on the season premiere of SmackDown on Fox, beating Kofi Kingston in a few seconds. Since winning the belt, Lesnar defended it twice, once at Crown Jewel and soon after at Survivor Series. RAW has a big roster with a number of talented Superstars who could be in line to face Lesnar at Royal Rumble. However, WWE may want to avoid having some Superstars challenging Brock Lesnar, just yet, as a loss could halt their momentum.
Let's talk about two Superstars who should challenge Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship and two who shouldn't.
#2 Should: Ricochet
Arguably one of the most deserving names of the RAW roster, Ricochet should be a front runner for the WWE Championship match at Royal Rumble. WWE's Resident Superhero has been on a roll since making his main roster debut earlier this year, and it might be the right time for him to chase the most coveted prize of the Red Brand.
Even though Ricochet has been part of the main roster for just ten months, he has achieved a lot of success in a short period. He's a one-time US Champion, and had notable feuds with both Samoa Joe and AJ Styles. The high-flyer has won more often than he has lost this year, proving WWE has big plans for him.
Ricochet and Brock Lesnar have never faced each other, and so this would be a fresh feud for the fans. Brock is known to deliver stupendous matches against smaller opponents, and it shouldn't be different against Ricochet, deeming in-ring dexterity of the latter.
#2 Shouldn't: Randy Orton
Being in WWE for years, Randy Orton and Brock Lesnar are no strangers to each other, but have only faced each other a twice in televised contests, once on TV in 2002 and again at SummerSlam 2016. While it would certainly not be overkill to see them have another match, right now is not the time, as Orton is better off working lower on the card at this point in his career.
Orton recently moved to RAW and turned babyface for the first time in a while. The fourteen-time WWE Champion is currently having a feud with AJ Styles, who he wrestled on TV this week.
Having turned face, Orton is slowly building momentum and it is certainly not the ideal time for him to challenge for the WWE Championship, as he could lose any momentum he has started to build up as a good guy with such a quick loss. He is one of the biggest names in the company, and since he never did get revenge for his destruction at Lesnar's hands at SummerSlam 2016, he could be a great opponent for The Beast at WrestleMania 36.
#1 Should: Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez, Lesnar's old foe from the UFC, and now a rival in WWE, could be a great choice to face Lesnar. They met in a very quick match at Crown Jewel, and they could definitely do something even better. The feud is interesting for the fans due to the aforementioned switch from MMA to wrestling and the long history the men have.
Making his first WWE appearance on the FOX debut of SmackDown, Velasquez made a huge statement, attacking Lesnar after his victory over Kofi Kingston. With an intense build-up, Lesnar and Velasquez crossed paths for the first time since fighting each other at UFC 121. Unlike their UFC bout, the result was different at Crown Jewel, where Lesnar beat Velasquez within a few minutes, retaining the WWE Championship.
Since losing to Lesnar, Velasquez hasn't been on TV, but he could show up soon and get himself a rematch at Royal Rumble. Stretching the feud from Crown Jewel, Rey Mysterio faced Lesnar at Survivor Series, but the former failed to beat the latter. Therefore, Velasquez could renew the exciting rivalry if he faces The Beast again in a rematch.
#1 Shouldn't: Seth Rollins
There is no denying that Seth Rollins has had a memorable year, as he has achieved a number of incredible feats. From winning the men's Royal Rumble match to grabbing the Universal Championship twice, both times from Brock Lesnar, Rollins has done it all. Furthermore, he recently turned heel, which was a brilliant move to reinvent himself and rekindle the reactions from the fans.
While Rollins has been the face of the Red Brand, he is certainly not the best pick for the brand's champion, as they already had a lengthy feud. That's not the only reason he shouldn't challenge Lesnar.
After joining up with the Authors of Pain, Rollins is looking like a serious threat as a heel, and he needs more time before entering the WWE Championship picture. If Lesnar holds the belt for a long time, he might collide with Rollins in the latter part of 2020. Right now, however, while he is feeling much fresher as a heel, it's simply too soon.
