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Cody Rhodes and Damian Priest made history at WrestleMania XL by each claiming the first WWE World Championships of their careers. The American Nightmare finished his story by dethroning Roman Reigns, bringing the latter's 1316-day rule to an end. Elsewhere, The Punishment took advantage of the Drew McIntyre-CM Punk drama to cash in his Money In The Bank contract.
Both men are now in their first world title reigns, taking on the tall task of following arguably the two most accomplished champions of this generation. They will attract the attention of an entire division hungry to get its hands on two of the most prestigious prizes in the business. The champions will know first-hand that no one will be hungrier than the men who have never held that gold in their careers.
With that in mind, let's predict who the next five first-time World Champions in WWE will be after Cody Rhodes and Damian Priest
#5: Bron Breakker will make his way to the top of the WWE roster very quickly
Ever since he stepped foot in NXT, Bron Breakker has been earmarked as a future WWE main eventer. Breakker was saddled with the enormous pressure of leading the brand's transition from the black and gold era through 2.0 to its current version, and he carried it admirably. The 26-year-old is not just one of the greatest NXT champions ever, but is already making waves on the main roster.
The Big Bad Booty Nephew has impressed fans with his combination of freakish athleticism, raw power, elite moves, and charisma. Breakker has already fought Gunther and worked with Paul Heyman, so there's no doubt he'll win several world titles. The only question is how long it will take him to win his first? We think it won't be long.
#4: Jey Uso has firmly established himself as a main eventer in WWE
One of the biggest achievements of Roman Reigns' iconic reign as Undisputed WWE Universal champion was the elevation of multiple talents around him. Arguably no one benefitted more from working with The Tribal Chief than Jey Uso, who got his first taste of the main event scene thanks to his cousin.
Since his first world title match at Clash Of The Champions 2020, the younger Uso has come close to dethroning Seth Rollins, Gunther, and Reigns for singles gold. He faces Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship at Backlash 2024, making him the entry on this list with the nearest opportunity.
While The Archer Of Infamy is unlikely to be deposed in his first defense, it's only a matter of time until the Yeet-Master captures world title gold. After all, he was many fans' preferred choice to dethrone The Head Of The Table!
#3: LA Knight
LA Knight is, by his own proclamation, the "Fastest-rising star in WWE". The Megastar has had a meteoric ascent since separating from the Maximum Male Models in late 2022. In less than two years, he has gone from managing an undercard tag team to battling the likes of Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, and AJ Styles.
The man with the undeniable Kavorka has proved that he can hang with former world champions, whilst making no secret of his desire to join the club. Given the huge pops he has received on a regular basis, the fans clearly see him as a future world champion.
At 41 years old, the YEAH! Movement leader doesn't have as much time at the top level as the other men on this list, so his coronation is more urgent. He should be on top of the company in no time.
#2: Sami Zayn's first WWE World Championship is long overdue
Sami Zayn is one of the best WWE Superstars, whether in the ring, on the mic, or in terms of crowd reactions. The former NXT champion has proven himself extremely versatile in 11 years with the company, excelling as a face, heel, tag competitor and singles star up and down the card. He has main evented WrestleMania and won 6 main roster championships, but never a world title.
The current Intercontinental champion comes near to dethroning Roman Reigns at Elimination Chamber 2023, but was ultimately thwarted by The Bloodline. After winning his current award from the top of this list, one can't help but believe the 39-year-old's next ambition will be world championship gold.
Given how highly he's rated by the fans, his peers, and Triple H, it's safe to assume that he's not far from achieving it.
#1: Gunther already has "WWE World Champion" written all over him
Gunther is arguably the most dominant current WWE Superstar yet to hold a world title. The Ring General has been a champion in the company for over 1500 days between his time with the NXT UK and Intercontinental titles. This means that for almost two thirds of his time with the promotion, The Ring General has held a title.
The 36-year old has proven himself in the ring, on the mic, and with a title around his waist, so it's only a matter of time until he's world champion. He's been ready for some time, and fans are arguably more excited about his eventual crowning than any other. The only question is: How long until the Imperium leader wins his first world title?
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
