5 Current WWE Superstars worthy of challenging for the Universal Title

The WWE Universal Championship has quickly become the premier title in professional wrestling. While the title itself has not been around very long, the high profile names that have adorned this title have given it relevancy.

The Universal Championship was officially established on July 25, 2016. It is believed that the title was introduced after the brand split to level the playing field, so-to-speak. Originally, the Universal Title was intended to be the top title for the RAW brand. However, as time has passed, both main rosters have essentially infiltrated one another as it appears we may soon see another roster merger looming shortly.

The few names that have carried the big red belt thus far, include Brock Lesnar, Goldberg, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, and of course, Seth Rollins. Because only a select few have held the title, it increases the overall status of the Universal Championship. With that said, in this column, we will take a look at 5 WWE Superstars who are currently worthy of becoming Universal Champion soon.

#5 Cesaro

The Swiss Superstar deserves one true push!

With nearly 20 years of pro wrestling experience under his belt, Cesaro has reached a crossroads in his career. Because Cesaro is nearly 40-years-old, it's safe to say that his best years could be behind him. But, with that said, Cesaro is probably in better shape than 95% of all wrestlers, so he probably still has enough fuel left in his tank.

Cesaro became popular among fans during his early years on the independent scene with promotions such as Chikara, CZW, Ring of Honor and PWG, just to name a few. Cesaro would sign his WWE contract in 2011 and within one year, he was on the main roster, holding the United States Championship.

But, beyond that mid-card push, Cesaro has yet to get a true opportunity to prove his full potential. Don't get me wrong, his partnership with Jack Swagger and Zeb Colter had its moments and I really enjoyed the duo of Tyson Kidd and Cesaro, but there is still much more the Swiss Superstar has left to offer the WWE Universe.

Cesaro has long talked about those ever-elusive brass rings and he is more than capable of handling those very rings. Is it possible the brass rings come in the form of a shot at the WWE Universal Championship?

#4 The Miz

I'll be the first to admit, I am a hardcore, die-hard fan of The Miz. However, I haven't always been too keen on the Awesome One. As most of us know, The Miz was first noticed due to his appearance on the MTV reality series - The Real World. The Miz was a cast member on the 2001 edition of the show, which was the "Back to New York" season. One of the things he was best known for on the show, was his love and passion for professional wrestling.

Following his reality television stint, The Miz eventually found his way onto WWE's Tough Enough in 2004. The Miz was a very charismatic and often loud competitor on the show and in mid-2007, The Miz made his main roster debut. Following his debut, it didn't take long until he won his first title, which was the WWE Tag Team Titles that he captured alongside his former partner John Morrison.

The Miz would move up the ladder quickly and even found himself in the main event at Wrestlemania 27, where he defeated John Cena, retaining his WWE Championship. While some will suggest that The Miz was ordained with the title way too soon, it's important to note that he has always been able to rise for the occasion and has never failed under pressure, especially with the title in tow.

The Miz is one of the most reliable and consistent Superstars on any WWE roster, ever. His career has seen him go from the ultimate underdog to the consummate premier star of the show. It's about time to consider him for another top spot run. He hasn't let us down in the past and I don't see him doing so anytime in the future.

#3 Ricochet

It's hard to believe Ricochet has been involved in the professional wrestling scene for nearly 17 years now. Of course, he was an independent journeyman for most of his career, but better late than never, he is now one of WWE's top guys at the moment and he's just getting started.

Before joining the ranks of the WWE, Ricochet cut his teeth first with well-known promotion Chikara before enjoying a wealth of success with other premier independent promotions such as Dragon Gate, NJPW and PWG, just to name a few.

Since being elevated to the main roster, Ricochet has embraced this rare opportunity and has been one of the most consistent Superstars on either main roster. Ricochet has captured the NXT North American Championship, as well as the WWE United States Title so far. His time is quickly approaching for him to move up the ladder, which is where he will find the elusive WWE Universal Championship.

#2 Drew McIntyre

Is Drew McIntyre is on the verge of a major push?

I'll be honest, I have become a huge fan of Drew McIntyre over the past 2 years or so. I cannot help but think back at his career and the obstacles he has had to overcome. If you recall, there was a time, early on in his WWE career, where Vince McMahon himself dubbed Drew as "The Chosen One."

That was a moniker that went over like dust in the wind. Before we knew it, McIntyre was mastering the art of the air-guitar as a member of 3MB, also known as 3-Man-Band. It was a humiliating time for Drew McIntyre fans and for those who knew he simply deserved better. But, Drew never let that ridiculous gimmick stop him from working his way to the top.

In June 2014, WWE released Drew McIntyre and for most fans, we thought that was probably the last we would ever see Drew in a WWE ring. However, Drew himself had other plans. He would leave the company an go on to dominate everywhere he landed, all around the world. Drew would gain a significant amount of attention when he went to Impact Wrestling and captured the TNA World Title, en route to completely taking over that promotion.

Needless to say, WWE officials took notice of how far McIntyre had come and they knew it was time for him to come back home. Since returning, McIntyre has been on a roll, becoming one of the most dominant and feared heels on the roster. If the current trend continues, WWE will have no choice but to put him in the title picture, which is exactly where the Scottish Psychopath belongs.

#1 Bray Wyatt "The Fiend"

When the WWE history books are rewritten, we will look back at the career of Bray Wyatt and it will tell a story of a WWE Superstar who refused to quit. Despite the struggles of poor booking decisions and gimmick assignments by WWE's powers-that-be, Bray Wyatt continued to ride out the storm and it appears he is finally reaping his reward.

Bray Wyatt was destined to be a success. With a legendary family lineage which includes Hall of Famer Blackjack Mulligan, Mike Rotunda, and Barry Windham, it's safe to say wrestling runs through the veins of this this-generation star.

Wyatt has been patient and allowing "the process" to play out and it does look like Bray is on the verge of a monumental push. While Bray may not be featured on television every single week, the build continues to what appears to be a WWE Universal Title opportunity. Wyatt is a Superstar who doesn't need to be on TV each week. He has become a feature attraction, so-to-speak and having him on television every week might prove to be too much, thus watering down his monstrous image.

As we previously reported, the venue that is hosting this year's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view has posted what appears to be a spoiler regarding a potential title shot between whoever holds the Universal Title at that time, versus Bray Wyatt.