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WWE has taken a lot of twists and turns over the past 12 months and the landscape could shift even further in the next 12 months, too.
Starting 2020 in a normal way, WWE went through a lot of difficult times, as did the entire planet. From empty arenas to the ThunderDome, nobody could have envisioned the year that WWE would end up having. That being said, the current Champions on RAW and SmackDown aren't too far away from the status quo.
The likes of Drew McIntyre, Roman Reigns, and Sasha Banks would have been highly expected at the start of 2020 to end the year on top. 2021 could possess more of a change in that regard. With live crowds possibly returning - albeit probably not in full capacity - WWE could have more big moments this year.
Based on the current situation in the company, here is a look at who might end this unpredictable year holding a title in WWE. This article will only cover Championships on RAW and SmackDown, not including the 24/7 Title.
#9 WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez
The WWE Women's Tag Team Championship is the only one that can actively move across brands. It isn't even limited to just RAW and SmackDown, as evidenced by Sasha Banks and Bayley taking the titles to NXT last summer. It seems like the black-and-gold brand will get more involved with the Women's Tag Team Titles.
There will be a Women's Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic this year, which would help the division's depth. But before the titles go to NXT, Charlotte Flair and Asuka will likely lose to a team on RAW or SmackDown. It would be smart of WWE to put a proper tag team, like The Riott Squad, over them.
Liv Morgan and Ruby Riott would be fighting Champions and defend their belts all over the place, before eventually putting over a team from NXT. The one duo that sticks out is Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez, both of whom have had solid years. Gonzalez, in particular, has gone from strength to strength.
They would be great as the Women's Tag Team Champions, especially with their dynamic. Kai has impressed as a heel, especially with the menacing Gonzalez as her enforcer of sorts. They are the perfect kind of team to hold the titles and lend them some prestige following the aftermath of the Golden Role Models' reign.
#8 WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champions: The Usos
Jey Uso is arguably WWE's biggest breakout star of 2020, at least in a singles role. He has worked in the main event and is a constant presence alongside Roman Reigns at the top of SmackDown. Once Jimmy returns, the two twin brothers could become as unstoppable as they have ever been.
The Usos are already one of WWE's greatest ever tag teams, but this new character edge shown by Jey could lead to even bigger things for them. He and Jimmy are likely to win the SmackDown Tag Team Championship soon and they could dominate the Blue brand for the rest of the year.
Whether Reigns remains the Universal Champion or not, The Usos could stay on top of SmackDown's tag team division. They would have fun matches against various teams, like the Street Profits and the Mysterio family. Jimmy and Jey Uso could go on a career-defining run as Tag Team Champions in 2021.
#7 WWE RAW Tag Team Champions: Undisputed Era
While they are still firmly a part of NXT, Undisputed Era may eventually move to the WWE main roster in 2021. They have done it all on the black-and-gold brand and their arrival could spice things up, particularly on RAW. The red brand could do with some fresh faces, but they will need to be booked well.
Adam Cole might get a big push upon his debut, but the rest of the Undisputed Era could find themselves in the tag team division. They could instantly become top contenders for the RAW Tag Team Championship, either as heels or babyfaces. An 8-man tag team match with The Hurt Business sounds like a fun idea.
Any combination of Kyle O'Reilly, Bobby Fish, and Roderick Strong could be the dominant tag team on Monday nights by the end of 2021. Hopefully, WWE keeps Undisputed Era strong once they leave NXT. Giving them the Tag Team Titles would be a decent way to do so.
#6 WWE Intercontinental Champion: Kevin Owens
He may not win the Universal Championship from Roman Reigns, but Kevin Owens has hardly looked better in WWE for the past four years. He must remain prominent on SmackDown once this feud is over, something that will be likely given his incredible performances against the Tribal Chief.
And with Big E possibly moving up the card in the coming months, KO could be the ideal face to step in and become the Intercontinental Champion. A combination of his in-ring skills and character work would ensure that the IC Title remains a big part of SmackDown in the hands of Owens.
This would be his first title reign as a babyface in WWE, an interesting proposition. The level just below the main event is the most likely area where Kevin Owens will settle into as 2021 further progresses. He makes SmackDown a better show, no matter what his role is.
#5 WWE United States Champion: Braun Strowman
He may be off WWE TV right now, but Braun Strowman could make a major impact upon his return. His last appearance on RAW saw him get suspended for putting his hands on WWE official, Adam Pearce. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and with the shape he currently is in, Strowman is set to be a force again.
Bobby Lashley is the current United States Champion and could go on a lengthy reign, but there could be bigger plans for him later in 2021. Out of the biggest names in the upper midcard of RAW, Strowman might be the best option to carry the US Title. He could do it as a destructive heel, or a popular babyface.
A solid run with the belt could do wonders to rejuvenate the Monster Among Men, along with giving him a good title reign. Braun Strowman could succeed with the United States Title where he didn't with the Universal Title. This might just be the way to take him back to his 2017 glory days.
#4 WWE SmackDown Women's Champion: Bianca Belair
Whether it happens at WrestleMania 37 or later in 2021, Bianca Belair is likely to become a Champion in WWE this year. She has impressed a lot so far, with her strength and unique in-ring style. Belair had a slightly slow 2020, albeit one with some very visible highlights.
The EST of WWE eliminated eight women from the Royal Rumble Match and made her main roster debut on Night Two of WrestleMania 36. Since then, things could have gone better. But now that she's on SmackDown, Belair is on the up. She is possibly the favorite to win the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble Match.
A SmackDown Women's Championship match against Sasha Banks at WrestleMania could be looming, which is where Belair could win the title. Even if there are some obstacles in her path and her coronation is delayed, expect Bianca Belair to stand tall as the top woman on SmackDown at the end of 2021.
#3 WWE RAW Women's Champion: Alexa Bliss
This may be a weird choice, but WWE usually cannot resist booking The Fiend in world title storylines. Therefore, it seems inevitable that Alexa Bliss will make her way to the RAW Women's Championship at some point in the near future, especially if The Fiend himself doesn't become the WWE Champion.
The singles title picture on the Red brand is non-existent at the moment, with the focus being on the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship. However, several women could challenge Asuka for the RAW Women's Title as WrestleMania approaches. The likes of Charlotte Flair and Shayna Baszler come to mind.
Even Rhea Ripley might be in the mix as the year progresses, but the game could change if WWE decided to put the belt on Alexa Bliss. She could corrupt her mind and adopt her own version of The Fiend while going on a lengthy reign as the RAW Women's Champion. She could feasibly carry the title into 2022.
#2 WWE Universal Champion: Roman Reigns
Starting 2021 on top of the WWE mountain, Roman Reigns seems unstoppable. He will likely end the year as the Universal Champion as well. That does not mean that Reigns would hold the title for the entire year, but he will remain near the top of the card at all times.
The Tribal Chief is as hot as he was when he first aligned with Paul Heyman and won the Universal Title, with his WrestleMania match being a big talking point. Hopefully, WWE tells a similarly captivating story involving Roman Reigns as his feuds with Jey Uso and Kevin Owens have been.
Reigns might lose the Universal Championship to a popular babyface like Daniel Bryan or Big E. But as the face of the company, he would likely win the belt back soon afterward. With a mega match with The Rock possibly lined up for WrestleMania in 2022, Reigns will likely remain at the "head of the table" at the end of this year.
Nobody has performed as well as Roman Reigns in the ring or on promos since his WWE return at SummerSlam, which is why he will likely end 2021 the same way he started it. A couple of defeats, here or there, to Bryan or Big E shouldn't deter the Tribal Chief too much. After all, he is the biggest star in WWE today.
#1 WWE Champion: Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley as the WWE Champion seems like an incredibly bold prediction, but should it really be so bold?
The past six months have seen a resurgence for the All-Mighty, under the management of MVP. He rode himself off the Lana storyline and had a great WWE Championship match with Drew McIntyre at Backlash 2020, before winning the United States Championship two months later.
Lashley has been unstoppable since then and a move to the main event scene is the natural step up for him. Once he loses the US Title, The Hurt Business could help elevate Lashley further. He would be a good choice to win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match as well.
A world title run is overdue for Bobby Lashley, especially with the recent form he's been in. He would further his dominance and defeat either Drew McIntyre or Keith Lee to become the WWE Champion. It would be quite the success story, both for Lashley and for MVP.
One of the main attractions of Bobby Lashley winning the WWE Championship is a possible world title match between himself and Brock Lesnar. It remains one of the few true dream matches in WWE today, especially with both Superstars' MMA backgrounds.
Lesnar fighting Lashley for the WWE Championship would be a violent spectacle, worthy of the WrestleMania stage. Business could very bell be booming heading into 2022.
