'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#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
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
