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Drew McIntyre defeated Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank to retain the WWE Championship, but it was no easy feat. He had to work for it through an intense 20-minute match. It was great, characteristic of McIntyre's excellent form in 2020. He has been booked like an unstoppable beast throughout the year, winning the Royal Rumble and ultimately, the main event of WrestleMania 36 against Brock Lesnar.
The Scottish Terminator has been great as the WWE Champion so far, despite the declining ratings. However, for the momentum to continue, WWE must continue to tell stories with the Champ. McIntyre must be given some good opponents to defend the title against.
Monday Night RAW is home to several interesting names. Some who have been on the show weekly, some who have returned recently, and some who are set to return. There are several options for WWE to choose from, for McIntyre's next challenger.
With Money in the Bank out of the way, here are five Superstars who could face Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship.
#5 Seth Rollins
Yes, Seth Rollins just faced and lost to Drew McIntyre at Money in the Bank. But WWE could feasibly book the feud to continue, even with the post-match handshake between the two of them. Rollins could very easily retract his show of respect on RAW and further challenge the Scotsman to a rematch at Backlash.
Both McIntyre and Rollins put on a spectacular effort, with both men capable of even more together. If given the chance, they could have an even better match than the one at Money in the Bank. The lack of Murphy during this match could also lead to a rematch where the Australian plays a large role.
There are various directions a potential extension of Drew McIntyre vs Seth Rollins could go. His new entrance music might suggest that the 'Messiah' isn't going away.
#4 Randy Orton
Randy Orton is set to return on the post-Money in the Bank episode of RAW, possibly to help improve the ratings. He will face off against Edge, whose return has also been advertised. The Viper has not been seen since that exhausting Last Man Standing Match at WrestleMania 36.
Despite losing at 'Mania, Orton remains one of the top heels on RAW. He is still one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all-time. He would pose a very strong threat to Drew McIntyre and his WWE Championship for sure, with a potential encounter guaranteed to produce some great segments.
It has been well-documented that if Randy Orton is interested in a program, he will be brilliant in it. And right now, there are fewer spots more interesting than a WWE title feud against the Scottish Terminator.
It would make for a great dynamic, with the Viper remaining a threat despite not winning a world title for 3 years. If McIntyre defeats Orton, it would be another notch on his decorated belt.
#3 Edge
As mentioned earlier, Edge is making his return on tonight's episode of RAW alongside Randy Orton. It does not make sense for their feud to continue any longer, so both Superstars could drift into different rivalries. And while Orton would be a great opponent for Drew McIntyre, seeing Edge challenge for the world title tops it.
The Rated-R Superstar had to relinquish the World Heavyweight Championship he was holding when he was forced to retire. It is only fair that he gets a title shot in the near future. Despite it being a double babyface bout, both Edge and McIntyre can bring up the intensity.
The Last Man Standing Match against Orton at WrestleMania 36 brought out a dark side of Edge that nobody knew he still had. He could use some of it to try and combat McIntyre's immense ability. It would be another blockbuster pay-per-view main event.
Having a WWE Hall of Famer put Drew McIntyre over in the ring would be a real statement from the company, proving that they can push full-time stars to the moon.
#2 Jinder Mahal
This may seem like an odd pick, but it makes sense. Not every WWE Championship challenger needs to be in a pay-per-view main event. Sometimes, the story is simple. Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal are good friends in real life, dating back to their 3MB days.
The Modern-Day Maharaja recently returned, looking great as ever. He is getting a steady push on RAW and could be built enough to have a short WWE title program with McIntyre. The two have a ready-made story, with only one piece missing. Heath Slater.
And while it is a shame that Slater wouldn't be the referee of a potential match between McIntyre and Mahal, the idea of it sounds interesting. Just in case you forgot, Jinder Mahal is a former WWE Champion.
Another interesting point is that WWE's next pay-per-view, Backlash, is the same event where he won the WWE title. It is written in the stars. Who would have thought that a WWE Championship match between two members of 3MB was a possibility?
#1 AJ Styles
Carrying forward the incredible momentum AJ Styles has earned for helping The Undertaker to a spectacular Boneyard match, the Phenomenal One might be the best choice to challenge for the WWE Championship after Money in the Bank.
Styles returned on last week's episode of RAW, winning a Last Chance Gauntlet Match to qualify for the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. He was probably the funniest male competitor in the match, besides Otis. The former leader of The OC had some hilarious moments throughout the "mini-movie".
AJ Styles also literally had the Money in the Bank contract in his hands before it slipped away into the grasp of Otis. For climbing the ladder and unhooking the briefcase, Styles should be afforded a world title match. Also, he came back from the dead. How is that not impressive!?
A WWE Championship match between Drew McIntyre and AJ Styles would be great, likely playing out similar to the match between McIntyre and Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank. The former year-long Champion has proved through his performances that he should return to the very top of the card.
Expect a WWE title program McIntyre and Styles in the near future. It will produce great results.
