Predicting WWE's champions at the end of 2018

Predicting the future in WWE is not an easy task.

2017 was a very unpredictable year. Who would have guessed that Jinder Mahal would become WWE Champion in 2017? 2018 is expected to be even more unpredictable.

But making these predictions is what being a WWE fan is all about. We all love to predict the PPV results beforehand and compare that to the original results.

Predicting the future is no easy task, but I have decided to take a fun little jab at it and name the wrestlers who will reign supreme at the end of the year.

If you feel I have missed out someone, then please feel free to voice out your opinions in the comments section below.

#10 WWE United Kingdom Champion - Pete Dunne

This may be the most difficult title to predict at the moment. This is largely due to the fact that the title has very rarely been defended. Pete Dunne won the title from Tyler Bate in a classic match. Sadly, the title has not been given the importance it deserves.

The prospects of a TV show centered around the UK scene seems to have died down. Many people are suggesting the UK title to become a secondary title on NXT. That may actually add some relevance back into the title. Maybe we’ll see someone from NXT win the title.

But as of now, I feel that Pete Dunne is the best man for the job.

#9 WWE Cruiserweight Champion - Drake Maverick

When Drake Maverick debuted a few weeks back, I instantly knew WWE had big plans for him on the cruiserweight scene. I’m also sure that WWE don’t just plan to use him as a GM.

He brings much more value to the show than just being an authority figure. For instance, he can actively participate in storylines. His character was eccentric in Impact Wrestling and he can bring the same eccentricity over to WWE.

I think he will be portrayed as a power-hungry heel boss who wants to win the Cruiserweight Championship for himself.

It may take some time for this to come to fruition, but expect Drake Maverick to become Cruiserweight Champion by end of the year.

#8 WWE RAW Tag Team Champions - The Authors of Pain

The Authors of Pain have been on the verge of a main roster call-up for quite some time now. We can expect them to make their main roster debut this year. This leaves one question though - Which brand will they find themselves on?

I personally feel that they would be a great match for Monday Night RAW as they would fit in well with the tag team division on RAW.

They might make their debut the night after WrestleMania 34, and they could be headed for a collision course with The Bar as soon as they make their debut.

They would be the perfect team to dethrone The Bar and become the Champions by the end of the year.

#7 WWE Smackdown Tag Team Champions - The Undisputed Era

The tag team division on SmackDown is unpredictable. The one thing that I strongly feel is that The Usos will remain champions by the end of the year. Hence, I’m just going to go out on a limp and say The Undisputed Era will become Smackdown Tag Team Champions by the end of 2018.

They have the experience and skills to spice up the tag team division. They would be a perfect fit for Smackdown. Even though there is just a slight chance that this might actually happen, it is giving me goosebumps.

They are one of the best tag teams in NXT at the moment, and with War Machine debuting in NXT soon you can expect an early call-up to the main roster for The Undisputed Era. If this happens, then expect them to be thrust into the spotlight immediately. They may even end the year as Smackdown Tag Team Champions.

#6 Raw Women’s Champion - Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey WWE — Ronda Rousey stole the show at The Royal Rumble with her aura

Ronda Rousey made her debut at The Royal Rumble 2018. Though she did not participate in The Royal Rumble match, she stole the show with her presence. Fans went nuts when her music hit.

Rousey is currently training to make her in-ring debut, but there is speculation that the former UFC Bantamweight Champion will wrestle at the show of shows in April. If this happens, then you could expect her to be pushed immediately. She will be the top contender for RAW’s Women’s Championship. She will most likely end 2018 as the RAW Women’s Champion.

#5 Smackdown Women’s Champion - Asuka

Asuka has been the most dominant female competitor in WWE since her debut in NXT. Her momentum continued even after her RAW debut. She even won the inaugural women’s Royal Rumble match earning a title shot at WrestleMania 34.

She is most likely to choose Charlotte Flair’s title because the two have never met inside a WWE ring before. That is a dream match fans are waiting for. If that happens, then Asuka will emerge victorious moving her to the blue brand where she will remain dominant for the rest of the year. WWE has spent 800+ days building her character, so they will definitely continue to keep her as champion till WrestleMania 35.

#4 WWE United States Champion - Rusev

Rusev’s gimmick is undoubtedly the hottest act in WWE right now. Chants of ‘Rusev Day’ fill the arena every week on Smackdown Live. WWE need to take full advantage of this opportunity and push Rusev as a strong mid-card wrestler.

He definitely deserves another title run in the near future. It is the right time for Rusev to win the United States Champion for the third time. He is the perfect opponent for Bobby Roode and I predict that if the two men meet in the squared circle in the near future, you can expect a fantastic contest.

#3 WWE Intercontinental Champion - Samoa Joe

To be honest, I really could not decide between Samoa Joe and The Miz. Don’t get me wrong. The Miz has been a great Intercontinental Champion, and perhaps one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all-time.

But, Samoa Joe has not been pushed properly since his arrival in WWE. Now is a perfect time, and while I don’t see Joe in the main event scene just yet, there is still place for him in the mid cards.

While I like the idea of seeing The Miz as Intercontinental Champion, I have a weird feeling that Samoa Joe will win the title before the year comes to a close.

#2 WWE Universal Champion - Braun Strowman

While many people think this is unlikely to happen, I actually think this is a pretty good idea. Look at it this way -- Braun Strowman is the most over Superstar on RAW and he resembles Brock Lesnar in terms of strength and dominance. Who better to hold the WWE Universal Champion than a ‘Monster Among Men’?

While everyone is rooting for Roman Reigns to face Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 34, I am hoping to see Braun Strowman go head-to-head with Brock. We all know Lesnar is going to drop the belt at WrestleMania 34 and who better to beat him than Braun Strowman. It could be the passing of the torch from one beast to another. This could also solidify Braun Strowman as a legitimate monster.

Either way, I predict he will be the Universal Champion at the end of the year.

#1 WWE Champion - Shinsuke Nakamura

When Nakamura won The Royal Rumble match, he made his intentions clear as to who he wanted to face at WrestleMania. This means that we are almost certainly going to see Nakamura and Styles fight each other in a WWE ring. If that happens, I predict that ‘The King of Strong Style’ will emerge as the victor.

Following that, you can expect both Styles and Nakamura to go back and forth until Nakamura will finally retain the title and hold it until the end of the year.

This is speculation of course, but if it happens, we can expect a very exciting few months in WWE.

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