Predicting who will hold the main belts on WWE at the end of 2018

2018 has been an exciting year in WWE, with great action on both brands, a lot of surprises, and shock returns to the WWE. We've seen new champions crowned, while the old dogs still are at the top of the food chain, too.

The year has just two PPVs remaining in the WWE - Survivor Series and TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, both coming to us from California. There are exciting feuds in progress currently on both brands, with the titles hotly contested and several interesting feuds that could culminate at the end of the year, before the first PPV of 2019 - Royal Rumble.

In this article, we look at which Superstars will hold the eight key titles in the WWE, namely the Raw Tag Team Championship, SmackDown Tag Team Championship, Intercontinental Championship, US Championship, RAW Women's Championship, SmackDown Women's Championship, and the two big ones - the Universal Championship and the WWE Championship.

#1 RAW Tag Team Champions - AOP

The Authors of Pain became the RAW tag team champions on RAW from Manchester, England, when they defeated Seth Rollins in a handicap match, following which Rollins was attacked by his tag team partner, Dean Ambrose.

At Survivor Series, AOP will face off against SmackDown tag team champions, The Bar, in what will be an exciting match involving four big men who have great athleticism.

It is unlikely that Seth Rollins (and Dean Ambrose) will want to ask for their rematch for the tag titles as they are set to feud with each other, possibly for the Intercontinental title.

AOP don't have any strong opponents on RAW as the team of Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler - who were former tag team champions, look set to go their separate ways as McIntyre is going to get a push at the top of the card.

I think that AOP will hold the titles for quite some time and will easily hold it till next year and it is likely that they will be pushed hard by WWE and made to look strong, perhaps squashing all tag teams on RAW like The Revival, The Ascension, Gable and Roode, and The B team, to name a few.

#2 SmackDown Tag Team Champions - Bludgeon Brothers

The Bar are the current SmackDown tag team champions, but it's not long before the title changes hands, as has been the case over the last year or more. The New Day and The Usos have dominated the title, winning the belt six times between each other (3 each), and have had an epic rivalry.

It looks like that rivalry is waning, and there could be two new tag teams who will replace them and compete for the SmackDown tag titles - The Bar and Bludgeon Brothers.

Also Read: Predicting the 10 teams in tag team elimination match at Survivor Series

While The New Day and The Usos are athletic, quick and perform high-flying moves, The Bar and Bludgeon Brothers offer the opposite - strong, deadly and brutal.

Reports suggest that Rowan could return from injury and that the Bludgeon Brothers may be introduced back to the WWE Universe soon. We could perhaps see the title change at TLC, which is the last PPV of the year.

#3 Intercontinental Champion - Seth Rollins

The feud between Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose is shaping up to be an iconic one, as Ambrose is at his heel best and has already got the WWE Universe hating him after he betrayed his former tag team partner and Shield brother.

I think that Rollins - who is to face US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura at Survivor Series - will hold the Intercontinental title for a few months, and then lost it to Ambrose after Royal Rumble, and then set up a match at WrestleMania 35, which could be when the feud ends.

Rollins is set to defend his Intercontinental title at TLC, as per this report.

#4 US Champion - Rey Mysterio

Shinsuke Nakamura's run as United States champion - the first belt he has won the main roster since being called up, has been average, at best. Since winning the belt from Jeff Hardy at Extreme Rules, Nakamura's Naka-Murica gimmick has been interesting and has got more heat from the fans, which is a great thing for any heal.

But I think his run as US Champion will end by the end of 2018. I could see him losing his belt at TLC to Rey Mysterio, to whom he lost a match on SD1000. Mysterio is hot with the WWE Universe since recently re-signing with the WWE, and TLC would be the perfect PPV to showcase his legendary high-flying moves and win the US title for the first time.

A dream match at TLC would be between Nakamura, Mysterio, Jeff Hardy, and Andrade "Cien" Almas, with Mysterio taking home the title.

#5 RAW Women's Champion - Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey has looked incredibly dominant since winning the RAW Women's Championship against Alexa Bliss at SummerSlam, which is also her first title in the WWE. She has been booked very strongly by the WWE - much like WWE's idea behind Lesnar's push to the top - and hasn't lost a single match on WWE, either in singles or tag matches.

At Survivor Series, she will face off against SmackDown Women's Champion, Becky Lynch, in a mouthwatering clash.

I feel that Rousey is going to hold the title for a long time, maybe even till WrestleMania 35, where she could face a big name (perhaps someone from the UFC world?) like Charlotte Flair. Nia Jax will get an opportunity to face Rousey after winning the women's battle royal at Evolution, and that match could most likely happen at TLC.

#6 SmackDown Women's Champion - Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch has been an exceptional heel, perhaps the best heel in WWE in 2018. Her run as the SmackDown Women's Championship belt has been exciting to watch, with Becky and Charlotte weaving a great story (which has sometimes gone outside the ring, as well).

It seems like Becky will hold on to the title for a little while longer, and we could perhaps see a title change at Royal Rumble, where Charlotte wins back the title, and holds it for a few months before a big match at WrestleMania.

I think that TLC could show the absolute devilish side of Becky and an absolutely brutal match.

#7 Universal Champion - Brock Lesnar

I think we may not even see a title defence by Brock Lesnar in 2018! Lesnar won the Universal title at Crown Jewel when he squashed Braun Strowman, becoming the first two-time Universal champion.

Recent reports have indicated that Lesnar has only signed a two-match contract - one of which will be at Survivor Series, where he faces off against AJ Styles, while the other is most likely going to be at Royal Rumble.

So, it is safe to say that the Universal title will firmly be around The Beast's waist, and a change of title could only happen at Royal Rumble in January, which would fit perfectly around Lesnar's return to UFC and a match with Daniel Cormier.

#8 WWE Champion - Daniel Bryan

AJ Styles has had a great run as WWE Champion, but I feel that it is time for a change. Since his return to the ring earlier this year, Daniel Bryan has got a huge pop from the crowd almost all the time, but last week's actions on SmackDown, where he attacked Samoa Joe, Miz, and Shane McMahon has convinced me that he has to turn heel and feud with AJ Styles for the WWE Championship.

Although it seems unlikely that WWE would turn Bryan heel so early, and may want to capitalise on how the crowd still love him, a face vs face match, that too for the WWE Championship, will not be very interesting.

Styles and Bryan faced off on the SmackDown show before Crown Jewel, and I could see them have a rematch at TLC, and maybe add Samoa Joe into the mix. Bryan getting the pin on Joe to win the title will make Styles still look strong, and a possible rematch at Royal Rumble between Bryan and Styles.