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The title scenes in WWE are always changing. A performer can get hurt or do something that removes them from the chase for a Championship. A lot of the titles in WWE recently changed hands. WrestleMania often resets the deck in WWE and this year was no different.
Both Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman captured their respective Championships at the Show of Shows, whereas Asuka won her title after Money in the Bank. Even the two mid-card belts recently saw changes as AJ Styles won the vacant Intercontinental Championship earlier this month. Apollo Crews also won his first belt in WWE by defeating Andrade for the United States Championship.
The three titles that have been relatively stable in 2020 include both sets of tag team titles and Bayley's SmackDown Women's Championship. Bayley is the current longest-reigning belt holder in the company, ruling over the women's division on Friday nights for most of the last year.
Her reign might be coming to an end this summer. Here are my predicted stars that will be the next in line to win each title in WWE. The 24/7 belt will not be included.
#9 The next Women's Tag Team Champions - The IIconics
There aren't many remaining teams that would make sense to dethrone Boss and Hug 2.0. The IIconics are one of the only true tag teams in the women's division as they entered NXT and WWE proper as a team.
WWE has provided makeshift teams here and there, and Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross could also beat Boss and Hug again. The main thing to consider is which team would need it the most.
Whichever team beats Bayley and Banks will likely set them (the current Champs) on a collision course for the SmackDown Women's Championship. For those reasons, and the fact that Billie Kay and Peyton Royce have loud, defined characters that can help fill up the noise at the WWE Performance Center, I think they'll be the next Champs.
Not much was done when they took the titles initially from Boss and Hug and this would be a good way to pay them back for their efforts. Unless WWE wants Charlotte Flair to be a dual title holder like Bayley is at the moment, I think Kay and Royce will finally get the chance to have a decent run with the belts.
#8 The next RAW Tag Team Champions - Austin Theory and Murphy
The Street Profits won their first titles in WWE prior to WrestleMania 36. Dawkins and Ford's reign started in March, so the clock is ticking on their time with the belts. WWE doesn't have lengthy runs for its tag teams, so this angle with the Viking Raiders seems like it's mainly just to kill time. It was a little strange that it had to be pointed out that the best way to settle things was to have a match instead of throwing darts.
Other than the Vikings and Profits, what other tag teams are there on Monday nights? The Authors of Pain are out of the picture as one is injured. Then there's the "could break up at any moment" duo of Andrade and Angel Garza.
They were supposed to face the Profits at WrestleMania 36, but Andrade was replaced by Austin Theory. Theory is now a disciple of Seth Rollins and could feasibly go for the gold at any time.
With the bevvy of WWE roster cuts in April along with the travel restrictions brought on by the global pandemic, the pickings are slim for challengers. I think for Rollins' faction to gain steam, they need some titles. Rollins and Murphy lost the belts to the current Champs, so it would make sense if the Monday Night Messiah sent his followers after the titles. WWE needs a shake up in the tag team division because the recent segments have been minimally funny at best. It's time to get it back to wrestling.
#7 The next SmackDown Tag Team Champions - The Miz and John Morrison
I felt that WWE went with the title change from The Miz and John Morrison to the New Day a bit prematurely. I know that I always write that the tag team runs in WWE are often shorter than singles titles and their run was no different. The main reason why it was weird was because of two reasons.
At WrestleMania 36, after many changes for many reasons, Morrison defended the title in a triple threat ladder match against Kofi Kingston, and Jimmy Uso. Shortly thereafter, on SmackDown, The Miz, Big E and Jey Uso competed in another triple threat match for the titles. In that match, the New Day won the belts again. What had started out as a promising return to WWE for Morrison became a brief run as a SmackDown Tag Team Champion.
The second reason why I think the move was premature was because of the fact that Miz and Morrison were doing great work once they were paired together. They did great in Morrison's first run in WWE and picked up where they left off. Few teams have the comedic presence and timing to match wits with the New Day. But in this go around, the former title holders have proven to be hilarious with music videos and quick-witted banter during promos.
The entire tag team division in WWE - including the blue brand - is in flux. The Forgotten Sons are off of TV. The Lucha House Party just lost to the New Day on the latest SmackDown. One of the Usos is injured. That leaves the former Champions and the pairing of Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura.
Either of those two heel teams could take the titles, but I think the former Champions need to get them back. They were too funny and entertaining as Champions. It would also be a good direction following their dismantling by Braun Strowman.
#6 The next United States Champion - Aleister Black
It appears as if WWE is taking the slow-burn approach to turning Apollo Crews heel. He may have rebuked an offer from MVP for some guidance, but he had no problem holding the ropes in order to beat Shelton Benjamin on the last RAW. Some people, both inside and outside of WWE, might claim it was fair-play because Benjamin attempted the same earlier in the match but was caught by the ref.
If WWE is turning Crews to the heel side of things, then that rules out a few potential challengers. Unless Andrade and Garza are breaking up, then they are out of the running since El Idolo is the former title holder.
Bobby Lashley is also ruled out if he fails in his attempts to dethrone WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. And although Randy Orton would also make sense, he doesn't need a title now after his program with Edge. He might be the next challenger for the Scottish Psychopath.
That means that face performers will be the stars for consideration to dethrone the current US Champ. Kevin Owens has already been featured in the angle as an ally of Crews. It could mean that the Champion turns on Owens, but it would be strange for Crews to lose the title in his first feud. We also have Humberto Carrillo, but he may have fallen out of favor with Paul Heyman removed from RAW Creative.
By process of elimination, it leaves Aleister Black. There are some other faces like Ricochet and Cedric Alexander, but they haven't been used over the last month or so. Black has too much potential to not have already won a main-roster title in WWE. Think about this - Otis has won a major prize (MITB briefcase) on the main roster while Black hasn't. I think he gets his first title win by eventually beating Crews if the Champion turns heel.
#5 The next Intercontinental Champion - Jeff Hardy
WWE booked themselves into a corner on the most recent SmackDown. AJ Styles won the title a week ago and had his first match as Champion. Conversely, it was against a debuting Matt Riddle.
Conventional wisdom suggests that neither man could lose. Styles literally just won the title and hadn't faced anyone else after winning it. Riddle had to win his debut match. So in turn, WWE had Riddle pin the Intercontinental Champion in a non-title match. It's the most-used tactic WWE uses in order to set up most of its Championship matches.
Charlotte Flair pinned Asuka a few weeks ago after some chicanery and she's getting a title shot on the next RAW. The Viking Raiders pinned the Street Profits in non-title action and then we got a month of non-wrestling themed skits. Even the Women's Tag Team titles recently had a series of people pin the Champions in order to get title shots.
Jeff Hardy is currently immersed in an angle with Sheamus. It's the start of his "redemption" arc. They've mentioned it a few times during promos and interviews and Hardy said he has "one good run left in him" in WWE on an episode of WWE Backstage.
Several SmackDown stars surrounded the ring as Styles addressed the roster. Names like Shorty G, Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak were all singled out.
Bryan lost in the finals to Styles so he isn't getting a shot. Gulak pinned Styles prior to the Phenomenal One winning the title, but I can't see him dethroning the current Champion.
It makes sense that Hardy's "redemption" is in the form of a mid-card title win. Once he finishes with Sheamus, he might focus on the IC title. Or it could happen after SummerSlam. The fact is, the perfect ending to Hardy's arc would be winning a title.
#4 The next SmackDown Women's Champion - Sasha Banks
The entire SmackDown women's scene has been built around Sasha Banks and Bayley. Ever since Banks returned to WWE action, the two have been joined at the hip. It even forced the big "Bayley heel turn" that many fans had clamored for. Throughout the entire pairing in WWE this time around, Banks wasn't seeing the benefits of her partnership with the Champion.
That all changed when Bayley and Banks became two-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champions by beating Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. It seemed unnecessary to me because they didn't need titles or someone else to drive the inevitable wedge between them.
The actions of the Champ alone have sown seeds of dissent. Bayley has constantly volunteered her friend for matches while she sits on the sidelines. Banks, on the other hand, has helped her friend retain the title at every turn.
Bayley's run as SmackDown Women's Champion is well past due to end. Someone else needs to run the division despite the former Hugger coming into her own as a heel.
Banks never got to have a lengthy singles reign as RAW Women's Champion in her first run in WWE. The money program for SummerSlam at the moment is the dissolution of the Boss and Hug Connection.
Bayley has practically beaten every other women on Friday nights (save for Sonya Deville or Mandy Rose). In order to turn the page in the division, the slow-burn story needs to start turning into the beginning of an angle for the Biggest Party of the Summer. At that party, it'll be the Boss who celebrates as the new Champion.
#3 The next RAW Women's Champion - Charlotte Flair
Stop me if you've heard this before - Charlotte Flair had a short reign as Champion. After holding the SmackDown Women's title for a day and a week respectively in her last two reigns, her run as NXT Women's Champ lasted about two months. With Becky Lynch out of action due to pregnancy, WWE wanted Flair to be heavily featured across WWE programming.
It's why she showed up on RAW, NXT and SmackDown almost every week at the end of May. While they do need her star power, there were other performers on each brand waiting to step up. They just needed the chance.
Since WWE didn't have Flair in the MITB match this year, it made sense that Nia Jax would be the first challenger. Jax was also in the match, but targeted Asuka because she feels the Empress of Tomorrow was simply handed the title.
That may be true, but she was in the same match that would have ended the same for her had she won. The last two meetings between Jax and the Champion have featured false finishes so they're likely having another big match on PPV. I still don't think that Jax will beat Asuka for the title.
Even though she didn't win the title, Flair pinned Asuka twice in June. It isn't the best way to paint your new Champion, but we know that WWE likes to use the "challenger has pinned the Champion" in non-title action in order to set up a title match.
Flair gets another shot at the belt on RAW and I'm hoping they don't just put the title around her waist. Asuka has worked just as hard, but hasn't had nearly the amount of chances in WWE that Flair has had.
There's also a great history of Flair always defeating Asuka whenever they are in a high-stakes match. The Champ has to retain on RAW and then face the Queen later in the year - and win.
Flair will get hers again as I'm sure as she's being fast-tracked to break her father's 16 title reigns. Since Shayna Baszler didn't win the title at WrestleMania 36 or MITB, the most logical option in WWE's eyes will be Flair.
#2 The next Universal Champion - The Fiend Bray Wyatt
WWE's original plan heading into WrestleMania 36 was for Goldberg to defend the title against Roman Reigns. Reigns' wife was expecting twins and amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, it was a high-risk pregnancy.
He opted to stay home and Braun Strowman took Reigns' place. It was thought that the Monster Among Men was mainly a fill-in and transitional title holder until Reigns came back.
Bray Wyatt has already challenged for the title at Money in the Bank, but it was not as The Fiend. Instead, it was as the host of the Firefly Funouse.
Many contributors on the panel of WWE Backstage felt that the feud should be saved for a bigger stage like SummerSlam. Since Strowman never toppled the Fiend, it stands to reason that the program will be restarted following Extreme Rules. WWE has one of the most unique characters ever currently in its grasp so he needs to be handled carefully.
WWE will have the ability to reintegrate stars as the year progresses. Borders from Canada and Mexico are being reopened, allowing stars that have been stuck in their home countries to return.
While Reigns is not one of those per se, he is still someone that could feasibly return later this year. The original program for WrestleMania 36 might have been Reigns vs, The Fiend, but the fans would have rejected the outcome if Reigns was to be victorious again. Just ask Seth Rollins.
Before Reigns can eventually topple the torturous Fiend, Strowman has to lose the title. That will likely happen in August at SummerSlam to Bray Wyatt's alter ego, The Fiend.
#1 The next WWE Champion - Brock Lesnar
This one is a little harder to predict than the Universal Championship. WWE doesn't have a lot of big stars on either brand that could feasibly step in and maintain the top titles of each brand.
McIntyre will likely face Bobby Lashley next in a continuation of their feud. Lashley could feasibly take the title from the Scottish Psychopath and would then face Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam. McIntyre deserves a longer run than that, so I don't think the Almighty is the one to dethrone Mac.
AJ Styles just moved to SmackDown and is the IC Champion. That deprives RAW of one huge star to dethrone McIntyre. Seth Rollins is another option that could be revisited later in the year but we've 'been there, done that' regarding Rollins as RAW's top Champion.
Outside of pushing one of the younger and more intriguing options to the top, like Aleister Black or Andrade, the only other unfortunate option that makes sense would be Brock Lesnar.
He's been away from the WWE since dropping the title at WrestleMania 36 and he would likely be featured heavily again in WWE alongside Paul Heyman. The Beast usually only competes at big PPVs like 'Mania, Royal Rumble and 'Slam, so this would fit into that operating program.
The same thing happened with Seth Rollins last year after he beat the Beast at the Show of Shows. There were few believable options to dethrone the Beastslayer, so WWE went back to the usual well of having Lesnar as Champion.
WWE also utilized a shock win at MITB for the Beast to pick up the briefcase. Since ratings aren't likely where Mr. McMahon would want them, I think he'd go back to the person he thinks always raises the ratings, Lesnar.
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