Who should be the next Universal Champion?

[RP]

Who makes the most sense. Who is getting groomed for a run.

[Mr. Nerfect]

None of them really seem like championship material other than Brock, but he won't be around and has the UFC coming up. Seth Rollins is good in the ring and pretty over, so maybe him. Drew McIntyre is good, but I still find it hard to really care when I'm not looking at him. Everyone feels like a mid-carder, to be honest.

[GD]

Strowman would be an interesting choice. I am all in for a Strowman versus McIntyre program.

[Sixx]

Hulk Hogan.

[xrodmuc316]

I voted Drew, but after the heel turn Ambrose should be on the list.

[RP]

None of them really seem like championship material other than Brock, but he won't be around and has the UFC coming up. Seth Rollins is good in the ring and pretty over, so maybe him. Drew McIntyre is good, but I still find it hard to really care when I'm not looking at him. Everyone feels like a mid-carder, to be honest.

Does he have UFC coming up? He started shit with Daniel Cormier and now Comier is fighting Derrick Lewis.


He's apparently contracted to WWE now. I think he's taking the title back.

[Mr. Nerfect]

It's possible the UFC deal isn't set in stone. I don't really know how UFC contracts work. It sounded like a done deal, but it's possible that Brock has pulled out because they want other Cormier fights or whatever. I heard that Cormier has an injured hand or something and people don't give him much chance against Lewis. It might be a touch-and-go sort of thing. Brock is probably preparing, but who knows?

And it may not matter to Vince if Brock is Universal Champion and does UFC and gets his ass kicked. I have this feeling that he sees them as different mediums. A Brock win would not surprise me. He did more for the belt than any other champion.

Right now, I also wouldn't be shocked if they dropped the Universal Title completely and just had AJ Styles appear on both shows. I wouldn't expect that to happen, but WWE is in an odd place where they don't perceive themselves to have "a guy."

[xrodmuc316]

It's possible the UFC deal isn't set in stone. I don't really know how UFC contracts work. It sounded like a done deal, but it's possible that Brock has pulled out because they want other Cormier fights or whatever. I heard that Cormier has an injured hand or something and people don't give him much chance against Lewis. It might be a touch-and-go sort of thing. Brock is probably preparing, but who knows?

And it may not matter to Vince if Brock is Universal Champion and does UFC and gets his ass kicked. I have this feeling that he sees them as different mediums. A Brock win would not surprise me. He did more for the belt than any other champion.

Right now, I also wouldn't be shocked if they dropped the Universal Title completely and just had AJ Styles appear on both shows. I wouldn't expect that to happen, but WWE is in an odd place where they don't perceive themselves to have "a guy."

UFC contracts are exclusive to UFC only. Lesnar gets to do what he wants cause he is Lesnar. Other UFC guys were forbidden from getting physical as guest managers at Raw by Dana White.

I think Ronda only got a pass to do a bit at Mania 31 cause Dana White knew how much she loved WWE and because she was his 3rd biggest draw ever, but even with all that I remember he had to approve her segment since she was under UFC contract.

[Mr. Nerfect]

UFC contracts are exclusive to UFC only. Lesnar gets to do what he wants cause he is Lesnar. Other UFC guys were forbidden from getting physical as guest managers at Raw by Dana White.

I think Ronda only got a pass to do a bit at Mania 31 cause Dana White knew how much she loved WWE and because she was his 3rd biggest draw ever, but even with all that I remember he had to approve her segment since she was under UFC contract.

Yeah, I imagine you're right about that, but we're talking about Lesnar, haha. It's possible he's working WWE and still planning to work the UFC because he's Lesnar and has got that pull. But it's possible he's just doing WWE because whatever.

[Droford]

WWE stands for We Want Elias (as a poll option)

[Droford]

It'll Be Big Scotty Cool Drew

[Mr. Nerfect]

Honestly wouldn't be surprised if a babyface Elias does get the belt at some point.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I mean, who couldn't?

[RP]

I came really close to putting Elias in this polll

[Anybody Thrilla]

Kane's wig

[Lock Jaw]

Why not me, Lock Jaw?

[Lock Jaw]

Everyone feels like a mid-carder, to be honest.

Yeah.... as terrible a situation as it is, I bet WWE is wishing they bothered to establish more "legit main event people" than just Roman Reigns right now.

[Simple Fan]

Braun for the short term and then put it on McIntyre.

[Nicky Fives]

Drew, all day, every day.

[ClockShot]

BRAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN!

[#1-norm-fan]

When is Fandango coming back?

[Sepholio]

Cody Rhodes.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Yeah.... as terrible a situation as it is, I bet WWE is wishing they bothered to establish more "legit main event people" than just Roman Reigns right now.

See, I can't buy that they feel this way because this isn't the first time Reigns has been suddenly out of the picture nor is it the first time injuries have mucked up the main event scene. This has happened multiple times. They just don't care to build up a main event scene or main event guy beyond Roman and Brock.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

The Scottish Psychopath. Every other vote is wrong.

[#1-norm-fan]

Drew McIntyre as a world champion. That’ll put butts in seats.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Give it to Braun. He's over, right? He's been working at the top of the card for a while now. And it's something new.

[Anybody Thrilla]

I don't mind McIntyre winning eventually, but I would probably give it to Braun first. Or Cena.

[#1-norm-fan]

Braun is probably the best option. Though Vince and co have to be giddy at the idea of Reigns coming back and reclaiming the title at WrestleMania next year and if that happens, they REALLY need to try to build a monster heel champion.

[Stickman]

I want to say Braun but I feel the heel turn hurt him. I think if they make him the champ they will be at a loss on what to do with him.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The more I think about it, the more I think I'd probably go with Brock winning it and Seth winning the Royal Rumble to go against him. I'm not giddy on Seth or anything, but he's be in the spot before, just never as a babyface, which is a more natural role for him. The story of him going after The Beast that only his best friend could slay, but couldn't do it at WrestleMania, makes for a heart-warming story. I just don't really know where they go after that. I guess they can build McIntyre, Joe, Nakamura and Orton as heels. There are babyface matches with Bryan, AJ, Michaels, etc.

Ambrose can win the IC Title off Rollins, because you need to validate the heel turn somehow, and then Ambrose retains the belt at WrestleMania against a babyface like Rey Mysterio (I'm throwing the entire brand split out because it's stupid) but has to watch as his gloating over Rollins turns into resignation as Reigns and Rollins embrace in the ring at the end of Mania and the babyfaces hold Rollins up. A Bret/Owen moment from WrestleMania X.

[Jordan]

To the motherfucker who voted BROCK LESNAR, you will be CRUSHED when BRAUN STROWMAN legit KILLS THE BEAST in the DESERT of SAUDI ARABIA. You can get away with anything there.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The only thing I am looking forward to in regards to that match is the possibility that Braun fucks up like he does every time he's in there with Brock, and Brock just decides to smash him up again.

[#1-norm-fan]

Wait, is Brock staying around until WrestleMania again actually a possibility? If so, then yeah. Brock should be champion without a doubt.

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Wait, is Brock staying around until WrestleMania again actually a possibility? If so, then yeah. Brock should be champion without a doubt.

When is that match with DC?

[Mr. Nerfect]

When is that match with DC?

I don't know if it's even happening, but I thought it was January. He's had a fight with Derrick Lewis pieced together because they wanted something for MSG. Just doing a brief skim around news, there seems to be a plan for Cormier to then go onto Brock and even teases of Lewis vs. Brock.

I guess he'll be fighting in the UFC, but if the Cormier fight is jeopardized because Lewis beats Cormier, does Brock still come back? I think the money is in the Cormier fight, no?

[Mr. Nerfect]

I had a shower thought about WrestleMania next year last night. I'm a big fan of star power and all that, and I appreciate how nice it is to have men in the house, but WWE really needs to pinch themselves and make some new ones.

I would consider, and I would need to think about this and not make the decision in haste, getting rid of all the part-timers. I wouldn't use the full-time guys as often as they are being used, but I'd consider saying goodbye to Brock, Shawn, Angle, Taker, Triple H, Batista, Cena and Rock -- as much as a few of those break my heart.

It then becomes challenging to put together a WrestleMania card, but then the end result is something that isn't pumped full of 5 matches featuring part-time guys forcing your current guys into multi-man scenarios and the like. Suddenly who you put against who becomes far more crucial, as does progression up the ranks and focus on there being stories behind the matches.

I'd consider just dropping the Universal Title completely. Just have AJ as WWE Champion. The problem is that the best Mania match I can think of for him is against Randy Orton, haha.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Braun is probably the best option. Though Vince and co have to be giddy at the idea of Reigns coming back and reclaiming the title at WrestleMania next year and if that happens, they REALLY need to try to build a monster heel champion.

I mean, I would definitely not count on a short-term return for Roman. There's reports speculating (and only speculating, mind you) that he could be out for 2-3 YEARS.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Time to go the route of the new generation where you have a handful of guys plugged in as champ and see what sticks.

Does Cena get a nice paycheck to come back for another run? Or better yet, give HBK a run and let him put someoneover big time at mania?

[Swiss Ultimate]

Do the kids like Braun?

[SlickyTrickyDamon]

Don't know. Ask your kids?

[Swiss Ultimate]

They have no interest in wrestling.

[Mr. Nerfect]

No kids have an interest in this wrestling.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

He's big and he loves to have fun. So probably

[Tom Guycott]

None of them really seem like championship material other than Brock, but he won't be around and has the UFC coming up. Seth Rollins is good in the ring and pretty over, so maybe him. Drew McIntyre is good, but I still find it hard to really care when I'm not looking at him. Everyone feels like a mid-carder, to be honest.

... once again; totally avoidable problem if they actually took time to build stars to look like credible threats over time instead of hotshotting nobodies or squashing anyone with unintentional momentum. Everyone looks like an undeserving clown at this point, potentially even Brock after all that "I'm a star and I don't feel like doing shit and I'm possibly going to leave again anyway" buisness.

[DaveWadding]

Asuka.

[slik]

The IIconics

[Mr. Nerfect]

... once again; totally avoidable problem if they actually took time to build stars to look like credible threats over time instead of hotshotting nobodies or squashing anyone with unintentional momentum. Everyone looks like an undeserving clown at this point, potentially even Brock after all that "I'm a star and I don't feel like doing shit and I'm possibly going to leave again anyway" buisness.

I've gotten to the point where I just don't think it's possible. No one talks like a real person and no one knows how to carry themselves like a star. You can "build stars" all you want in terms of pushing someone to get a lot of wins, but what does it mean? What do the belts mean? The WWE Title was held by Jinder Mahal and the first two Universal Champions were Finn Balor and Kevin Owens.

Everyone who wants to be a wrestler grew up with WWF/E and in an age where kayfabe was dead. So no one ever thinks "I want to be a wrestler" and learns how to work, they think "I want to be a wrestler and go and pretend to fight in WWE." The mentality to be a star is dead.

They can push Becky Lynch as a babyface instead of fighting so hard present her as a heel, but at the end of the day she still inhabits a lame show with dance breaks and bad Australian accents. They could have never turned Braun heel, but his name is still "Braun Strowman" and he goes "RAWR!"

It's Vince McMahon's circus and everyone is a complete supplicant to his verbiage. They are an extension of his perpsectives and biases, and because a lot of them are geeks, they almost come across as self-loathing whiny geeks a lot of the time.

I seriously don't think it's possible. Wins and losses don't matter. That's dead. They've killed it. Belts don't matter. Rivalries and friendships don't matter. Everyone turns heel and everyone turns face. No one believes anyone hates anyone though, so none of it really catches.

I'm so done with modern WWE. I do not want to see another babyface betrayed by their "best friend" only for them to walk down pouty the next week, because they don't know how to be authentically mad, and throw bad working punches as "retribution for the heinous actions!"

[Dean Cain]

Who makes the most sense. Who is getting groomed for a run.

Very thought provoking thread! :D

It will probably be Strowman or Elias, but I think it would be a mistake if that happened. Strowman’s deficincies as a wrestler will be exposed as a main-eventer while Elias would likely become boring as a face. I would move Orton to RAW and put the belt on him until someone is really truly and ready to step up.
Lashley, Strowman, and Elias aren’t ready.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Giving Braun Goldberg esque booking and keeping his matches 10 minutes and under would be just fine. People love a wrecking machine. Turn him into a steam roller as champ until you build a worthy challenger or successor.