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Times have changed and the entire WWE landscape has changed as well. No longer do we have the same 2-or-3 Superstars rotating the top titles around. In this era, anyone on the roster has a shot at the ever elusive brass rings. Not to mention the evolution of the NXT brand has taken things to an entirely new level.
For nearly 500 days now, Brock Lesnar has held tightly to the WWE Universal Championship and while he is a definite money-maker and guaranteed to put butts in seats, some may argue that his part-time status has grown a bit old and tired, especially when you consider the fact that AJ Styles had held the WWE Championship roughly half as long and has worked probably triple the dates.
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The moral to this story is simple- fans want to see their champion. Sure, it adds suspense when Lesnar only makes sporadic appearances, but that's something he could do without the title and still draw huge numbers without the strap. With that said, it is time for a change and we need an active, full-time champion.
As we take a look at the current WWE rosters, there are a select few who have what it takes to conquer The Beast. It'll take more than just size and brute power to take the WWE Universal Championship, it will also take top-notch ring work. Here's a look at 5 Superstars who have the necessary tools to end Brock Lesnar's long reign and become the new WWE Universal Champion.
#5 Lars Sullivan
As we witnessed at NXT Takeover: Chicago, the guys on Team Yellow are just as strong as ever. These guys are hungry and it translates through their performances inside the ring.
Lars Sullivan has been a key component to NXT's continued success. Lars provides the monstrous presence that any quality roster needs. Not only is Sullivan an intimidating presence for his opponents, but he has the skills to pay the bills as well. His progress and overall improvement throughout his developmental process have been amazing.
Prior to signing with the company, Lars Sullivan had no professional experience whatsoever. Fast forward four years full of dedication, blood, sweat, and tears...Sullivan is ready to take the next step and if WWE creative officials really wanted to make a statement, they could throw Lars into the ring against the Beast and watch the chaos ensue.
#4 Jinder Mahal
2017 is and will forever be known as the year of the Modern Day Maharaja. At the 2017 WWE Backlash pay-per-view, Jinder Mahal went into the main event as a huge underdog against 9-time WWE Champion Randy Orton. But with a little assistance from The Singh Brothers, it was Mahal who stood victorious at the end of the contest, winning his very first WWE Championship.
Jinder Mahal is a Superstar with a very unique story, a story where someone who had spent most of his career in the lower-mid card did the unthinkable and became the Champion of the biggest wrestling company in the world.
After meeting Jinder in person, I could easily see what might make him such a popular performer amongst his constituents. Jinder has evolved into a very impressive Superstar. He looks and performs better now than ever before and yes, in the right situation, Jinder Mahal could very well get the win over Brock Lesnar. This could happen especially if Lesnar went into the match taking Mahal lightly.
#3 EC3
EC3 is a much different person than he was when he first arrived in WWE's developmental process roughly a decade ago. Since that time, EC3 has become a well-travelled and accomplished professional wrestler. When EC3 made his return to the company, things were much different than they were when he left. With NXT being considered more than just a training brand, EC3's presence was a welcomed addition to the already strong roster.
While he is still a member of the NXT roster, it's probably safe to assume that his time with Team Yellow will soon be cut short as his skills are certainly worthy of being put on display at the highest level, which of course is the WWE main roster.
#2 Drew McIntyre
After a roller coaster run during his first stint with the company, Drew McIntyre was officially released in 2014. After his release, many of us, including this writer, never really expected to see Drew back in a WWE ring again. However, Drew himself had other plans.
Following his departure, Drew McIntyre set out with a major chip on his shoulder, hoping to prove the wrestling world wrong and show everyone that he was indeed worth more than a comical run as an air-guitar player for 3MB. So, after several trips around the world and multiple major title victories, WWE officials finally realized what they once had and to be honest, they wanted their "Chosen One" back.
Now that Drew is back, he is in the absolute best shape of his life and he is dominating everything in his path with ease. With that said, you may not see McIntyre as a formidable opponent for Brock Lesnar, but if you just take a look at what he has accomplished in the past 3 years or so, you'll see that he is a different person than he was before, with a much stronger in-ring arsenal and he is, in fact, ready for the challenge.
#1 Braun Strowman
Before landing on his feet in the WWE, Braun Strowman cut his teeth as a professional Strongman, competing against the biggest and the strongest from all over the world at competitions such as The Arnold Classic and other major Strongman events. But, in 2014, Strowman turned over a new leaf and embarked on a new career, as a WWE Superstar.
When Strowman emerged as the muscle for The Wyatt Family, there were many unanswered questions remaining. However, in time, everything made sense and the whole world eventually discovered just exactly the Monster among Men was capable of.
Now that Braun has gone out and gained some quality in-ring experience, he appears to be ready for anything and anyone. Not too long ago, the thought of Braun Strowman taking on Brock Lesnar was almost laughable. But oh how things have changed. Braun Strowman is not only ready for the challenge, but he actually may be a favourite going into this potential match. This is a match of pay-per-view status and I feel certain that something is already brewing.
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