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As has been the case in the past, WrestleMania 37 reset most of the deck in WWE. While both Roman Reigns and Bobby Lashley retained their titles at the Show of Shows, both the RAW and SmackDown Women's Championships changed hands.
The Intercontinental and United States titles also have new holders. AJ Styles and Omos became the new RAW Tag Team Champs. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode retained their titles in back-to-back weeks but a title swap seems like it's coming soon.
The Mysterios will challenge for the WWE SmackDown Tag Team titles at WrestleMania Backlash. Roode and Ziggler have been Champions for a few months, so a title swap could be in store for Backlash.
What about the rest of the title holders in WWE? Here are predictions for the next WWE Superstars to hold each title. Since stars like John Cena and the Rock are not currently signed/active, they will not factor into selections. The picks for the next Champions are based on current rosters as well as injured stars who are ready to return to action.
#7 Who will be the next holders of WWE's Women's Tag Team titles?
This is probably one of the titles in WWE that is the hardest to predict. Several teams broke up last year, including Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross, Bayley and Sasha Banks, the IIconics and Fire and Desire.
Because of those dissolutions, there aren't many credible teams outside of the Champions. Charlotte Flair and Asuka had a brief alliance to give Flair a reign as WWE Women's Tag Team Champion.
It was also done to segway into a potential WrestleMania 37 program but Flair contracted COVID to end it. That angle was picked up the night after WrestleMania 37 as she cut her usual promo about being the best.
The Riott Squad is the only natural team left. Naomi and Lana and the team of Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke seem to have been thrown together. Both duos have had a win here and there over the Champions but have lost all of their matches when the titles were on the line.
For that reason, some new names need to join the women's divisions. Once Baszler and Nia Jax lose their titles, they should break up and challenge for the RAW Women's Championship.
WWE seems obsessed with pushing Natalya and Tamina. Nattie beat Shayna Baszler on the SmackDown following WrestleMania. Unless Bayley and Carmella form a tag team based on their real-life friendship, Tamina and Nattie might be the team to dethrone Jax and Baszler.
They have a title shot on the go-home edition of SmackDown. If Tamina is taken out of the match due to last week's attack, then Natalya and her new partner could still win the belts.
The next WWE Women's Tag Team Champions - Natalya and Tamina
#6 New Champions in both of WWE's Tag Team divisions?
AJ Styles and Omos defeated the New Day in Omos' debut match with WWE. For that reason, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are likely to take a back seat for the next few months.
T-Bar and Mace continue to work as a heel team. The Lucha House Party is still on RAW but hasn't been built as a serious threat. After losing the United States Championship, Riddle formed a tag team with Randy Orton.
The Viking Raiders returned to full strength on the RAW immediately following WrestleMania 37. Ivar was out with a cervical injury but returned with a bang alongside Eric.
The duo defeated former RAW Tag Team Champs Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander in back-to-back weeks. Those wins are to re-establish the Viking Raiders as a formidable team in WWE while also breaking up Benjamin and Alexander.
Team R-K-Bro won its first two matches and could wrest the belts from the Champs. However, with the uncertainty between Orton and Riddle after the latest RAW, they may not be together for very long.
If Styles and Omos drop the titles, it will be with Styles eating the pin. With Erik and Ivar back in action, they seem like the most logical current option to take the titles from Styles and Omos. WWE could opt to have another swap back to the New Day, but that has been done too much in the past.
The next RAW Tag Team Champions - the Viking Raiders
The SmackDown Tag Team titles have been featured for most of 2020. A Fatal Four Way took place on the WrestleMania edition of SmackDown. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode defended against the Street Profits, the Mysterios and Alpha Academy.
The Street Profits were the former Champs and have lost rematches to Ziggler and Roode. That should eliminate them from becoming the next title holders, but Apollo Crews did just win the Intercontinental Championship after losing several times before WM.
If WWE wants Dominik Mysterio to take the next step in his WWE career, a tag title reign alongside his father seems like the right path. He still needs to grow into his body and Rey has dreamed of winning tag team gold with his son. The Mysterios are one of the few face teams on SmackDown and they will take the titles off of Ziggler and Roode.
The next SmackDown Tag Team Champs - the Mysterios
#5 What's in store for WWE's mid-card titles?
There had to be an important reason as to why WWE had Big E drop the Intercontinental Championship to Apollo Crews at WrestleMania 37. Crews had challenged for the title unsuccessfully on three other occasions. Why, then, would they opt for that title swap at the Show of Shows?
It was likely done so that Big E could move up to challenge Reigns at some point. As for Crews, his challengers are limited unless some changes are made to SmackDown's roster. Kevin Owens and Daniel Bryan are both faces and former IC Champions. Both would make logical sense, but Bryan was recently banished from SmackDown.
Murphy could be a good challenger as a face since it would get him more TV time. It could also distance him from his partnership with Seth Rollins. Other than that, the most logical names left on SmackDown would be Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro.
Cesaro is currently getting a brief main-event push in WWE. There is a small chance of the Swiss Superman winning at WrestleMania Backlash. Reigns retaining, however, is the most likely outcome of their feud.
If he is unsuccessful, winning the IC title isn't a bad consolation prize. With his current push on SmackDown, Cesaro seems like the man who will eventually dethrone Crews.
The next Intercontinental Champion - Cesaro
Riddle won the United States title in a triple threat match at the Elimination Chamber that was supposed to feature Riddle, Lashley and Keith Lee. Lee has been out of WWE action since February. As of this piece, he still hasn't been medically cleared.
With Lee's future currently unknown, that takes him out of the running. Braun Strowman is probably in his triple-threat match at WrestleMania Backlash to take the pin. Once he moves on from the WWE title picture, he could challenge Sheamus. It would be a physical showdown between two beasts.
If WWE has other plans for the Monster Among Men, then a newer star could win his first title on the main roster. Damian Priest has been on a good run since debuting after the Royal Rumble. He didn't lose until after WrestleMania 37 and should be done with the Miz and John Morrison after WM Backlash.
A sensible direction after that PPV would be to enter into a program with Sheamus. It could be before or after Money in the Bank. He never won the NXT Championship but was a good mid-card performer. His main-roster tenure in WWE will start the same way and he'll beat Sheamus for the title.
The next United States Champion - Damian Priest
#4 WWE is in a pickle with the SmackDown Women's Championship
The top four women on SmackDown after the 2020 WWE Draft were Sasha Banks, Bayley, Carmella and Bianca Belair. Bayley is the longest-reigning Champion in the title's history and lost it to Banks.
The Boss dropped the belt to Belair at WrestleMania 37. Carmella has lost almost every important match featuring those four women since returning to WWE. For those reasons, predicting the next SmackDown Women's Champ is a tough task.
Unless some big names come to SmackDown via returns or trades, then one of the three women seems like the best option to dethrone Belair. Bayley fought the EST in the months leading up to WrestleMania. Once it was time for Banks and Bianca to restart their program, Bayley took a back seat.
She gets the first crack at the new Champ at WrestleMania Backlash. Since this is Belair's first title defense in WWE, the program might span a few PPVs. Whenever she is on screen, Bayley is extremely entertaining. Alongside Alexa Bliss, she's one of the most unique women on the WWE roster.
Money in the Bank seems likely to cause another huge shift in the women's division in 2021. Over the last three years, the contract has been cashed in within 48 hours of the PPV. In 2018, Bliss won and cashed in on Nia Jax. In 2019, Bayley won and cashed in on Charlotte Flair after Flair had taken advantage of Becky Lynch.
Last year was a bit different as Asuka won the briefcase. Due to Lynch's pregnancy, she was awarded the RAW Women's title. Because of that history, another immediate cash-in could take place at the June PPV. Since Belair just won her title, I don't think she'll lose it any time soon. RAW has just as many viable options that could win.
If there aren't any main-event level additions made to the SmackDown division, then one of the former Champions is the best bet. Bayley may not win during this feud cycle, but when SummerSlam comes around, she just might recapture the belt.
The next SmackDown Women's Champion - Bayley
#3 How will WWE book the RAW Women's Championship following WrestleMania?
Reality forced WWE to call an audible leading up to WrestleMania 37. The obvious path for the RAW Women's Championship was Asuka defending against Charlotte Flair. Flair would have won the title again and sent Asuka down the card.
Flair contracted COVID before the Show of Shows, forcing WWE to have Rhea Ripley challenge and defeat Asuka. Since the Queen was the original plan, will they opt for a quick title swap? Could Money in the Bank offer up another potential scenario for a title swap?
Ripley may be the current RAW Women's Champion, but how long will it be before WWE thinks Charlotte Flair needs another reign? She has had many reigns but the duration of each title run has been short.
Money in the Bank seems like an opt-out for WWE so that they can book a title win for Flair while also having someone cash in on the Queen. It gives Flair another title reign while also a different name as RAW Women's Champ.
A huge X-factor in the division, albeit one that probably won't be in the title picture for a while, is Alexa Bliss. After weeks of claiming she was coming for the division, she made good on her promise by showing up on stage on RAW during a six-woman tag match.
Bliss is the most intriguing female in all of WWE due to her ability to try a different character. Most of the characters in the WWE's women's divisions are just extensions of personality traits. Some think they are better because of their names or abilities. Others think they are stronger than others, making them the best choices.
The former multi-time Champion is playing a psychological game with the women in WWE. She hasn't outright said who her first target will be, but she has a history with almost every woman in WWE.
Unfortunately for Bliss, however, the present isn't her time. With the likes of Asuka, Flair, Baszler and Jax all vying for Ripley, Bliss will have to bide her time for a title shot.
Since it's Money in the Bank season, Ripley will likely retain at WrestleMania Backlash by pinning Asuka (again). That would give Flair an excuse for a singles match at Money in the Bank. Flair will win the title in June. How long she holds it this time, however, is once again debatable.
The next RAW Women's Champion - Charlotte Flair
#2 The Curious Case of the WWE Championship
WWE built Drew McIntyre last year as the next main-event star. He won the Royal Rumble and took the WWE title from Brock Lesnar. McIntyre carried RAW through the pandemic era and traded the title with Randy Orton. He would lose the title after a cash-in from the Miz. The Miz would in turn lose the belt to Lashley.
Lashley retained the belt at WrestleMania 37. He could hold the title for a while but could lose it if/when Brock Lesnar returns. The Beast's status is up in the air at the moment. Braun Strowman would have made sense at one point but WWE essentially had Lashley squash Braun prior to winning the WWE Championship. The All Mighty also beat the Monster Among Men on a recent episode of RAW.
Drew McIntyre had his run with the belt and will win more in the future. Since 2020 was his year, he'll take a backseat for the time being so other stars can have a chance.
Randy Orton is an option, but he had a brief run late last year. It didn't amount to much. His current direction with Riddle is much more entertaining than another title run atop RAW.
Unless other stars turn face, the only current star on RAW that would make sense is the Fiend. He's one of the biggest stars in WWE and the invulnerability he displays in matches would work against Lashley.
Bray Wyatt and his alter-ego are currently off of WWE programming. His character is best used sporadically and to build to special PPVs. He should be saved for shows like WrestleMania, Hell in a Cell and SummerSlam.
Since Lashley will have a decent title run, he'll probably push back all challengers until SummerSlam. That would be the perfect spot for a huge match with the Fiend. Losing to Orton at 'Mania was a bit strange but he wasn't squashed by the Viper. Wyatt deserves a good run as Champion after the way he lost to Goldberg last year. It could be as the man who dethrones the All Mighty.
The next WWE Champion - 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt
#1 Roman Reigns is atop the WWE throne
Roman Reigns has essentially been the top guy in WWE for a long time. His latest run started when he returned to WWE following SummerSlam. He won the Universal Championship in a triple threat match at Payback against Braun Strowman and the Fiend.
During his latest title run, he's defeated names like Jey Uso, Kevin Owens, Daniel Bryan and Edge. This run is about everyone acknowledging Reigns as the Tribal Chief and the dominant force in all of WWE.
WWE could be planning a huge swerve at WrestleMania Backlash by having Cesaro defeat Reigns. It's a big "if", but a large portion of the WWE Universe would be elated if the Swiss Superman won his first major Championship in WWE by defeating the Tribal Chief.
While it would be both refreshing and fulfilling for Cesaro to win the Universal Championship from Reigns, it probably won't happen. With opponents running out for the Tribal Chief, some roster changes may need to happen.
If Keith Lee comes back, it should be on SmackDown. His fiance, Mia Yim, is now a part of the blue brand. Lee has a history with Reigns from two years ago. Since Lee is currently out of action, another big man might be the one to save WWE from Reigns.
Big E dropping the Intercontinental title has to be for something bigger. He was presumably separated from the New Day during the Draft for a singles push. A run with the IC title is great, but Big E has so much potential.
While the Big Dog will be busy with Edge (when he returns) and presumably Cesaro, he'll need a big challenge at SummerSlam. If Seth Rollins stays a heel, there aren't many other feasible names.
Since Big E dropped his title, it isn't too far off to suspect that he could be challenging Reigns in August. He is more than deserving to be the next Universal Champion.
The next Universal Champion - Big E
