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The WWE started off this year with a bang, as the 2018 Royal Rumble PPV featured the first-ever Women's Royal Rumble Match -- with the entire event resultantly grabbing mainstream headlines for the WWE all over the world.
As is the case every year, 2018 too has seen the WWE bring about several changes in its roster -- on the RAW, SmackDown, NXT as well as other brands such as 205 Live and the NXT UK Division -- with several changes being made to the on-screen characters and their storylines in the WWE Universe.
However, some of the biggest changes regarding the WWE's top Superstars have come about in the form of shocking heel turns of fan-favorite talents such as Daniel Bryan and Dean Ambrose.
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Now that we've almost arrived at the final month of the year, we take a special look at some of the major character changes regarding the top current Superstars that WWE could bring about in 2019...(*Please note: The following list has been prepared after taking into consideration the WWE's recent booking patterns of these elite performers, as well as the current feuds they are engaged in)
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#5 SmackDown Live: Charlotte Flair will complete the evolution of her new psychopathic, goth-inspired character
It was at the Survivor Series PPV on the 18th of November, 2018, that Charlotte Flair replaced injured SmackDown Women's Champion Becky Lynch in the "Champion vs. Champion" match against RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey.
The match was excellent, and got quite brutal at times, as Flair busted Rousey's face open with a vicious elbow during a grappling scramble on the mat. This elbow, intentional or not, hit Rousey right on the kisser, and "The Baddest Woman On The Planet" was bleeding for a better part of the match. [If you aren't a fan of color (blood) in professional wrestling, you can skip the match between Flair and Rousey].
However, the match ended in a Disqualification loss for Flair, when she attacked Rousey with a Kendo Stick. "The Queen" then proceeded to brutalize "The Rowdy One" with foreign objects such as the aforementioned Kendo Stick, besides also hitting her signature move the "Natural Selection" to send Rousey head-first into a Steel Chair!
Flair had absolutely snapped at Survivor Series, and two days later, on the November 20th, 2018, episode of SmackDown Live, she continued playing the part of a crazed psychopath who wants nothing more than to beat-down other Superstars and make them "the next Ronda Rousey".
Another thing I must note over here is that Flair revealed a new look on her official social media accounts, and ever since, the professional wrestling community has been talking about the WWE's plans to gradually evolve her character as a psychopathic destroyer who dons a beautiful Gothic look...
#4 RAW: Finn Balor will finally turn heel and regain the WWE Universal Championship
On this list, out of all the Superstars and their respective character changes that the WWE could bring about in 2019, this one may be less likely. However, if the WWE's RAW brand continues to make mistakes with their booking of Finn Balor, several longtime fans of the multi-talented Irish Superstar will be greatly disappointed!
Balor is the first man to ever hold the WWE Universal Championship, but ever since he had to relinquish the title due to an unfortunate shoulder injury on Monday Night RAW (August 22nd, 2016), just a day after he won it by defeating Seth Rollins at SummerSlam (August 21st, 2016); he's been on a downward slide.
Let's face it, over the past several months, Balor has been booked as nothing more than a babyface who smiles and gets destroyed by anyone and everyone. And that, as a Balor fan, truly saddens me. However, with several top RAW Superstars such as Kevin Owens, Roman Reigns, Alexa Bliss, Sami Zayn, as well as a few others currently being on a break from in-ring competition due to various reasons, the WWE is undoubtedly looking at using other Superstars such as Balor to fill that void!
The most significant change that the WWE could bring in Balor's character in 2019, would be to turn him heel and finally let the WWE Universe witness a relatively unseen aspect of Balor's personality -- perhaps even leading to him regaining the Universal Title...Bear in mind that when Balor does turn heel, you can expect his "Demon" persona to show up more often than it has done in recent times...
#3 SmackDown Live: Samoa Joe could fight more and talk less, whereas The Miz could turn face in 2019
Alright, the reason I've mentioned two Superstars here instead of one, is because frankly speaking, both Superstars desperately need a revamp to their on-screen characters right now. Samoa Joe as well as The Miz currently perform on the WWE's SmackDown Live brand, and both Superstars have lately found themselves on the losing end far too many times!
Samoa Joe lost multiple matches to AJ Styles and failed to win the WWE Championship. Besides, not only did Joe get beat "clean" by Jeff Hardy on the October 9th, 2018, episode of SmackDown Live in a qualifying match for the WWE World Cup tournament, but also lost to Styles once again at the Crown Jewel event on November 2nd, 2018.
On the other hand, the professional wrestling world has recently been busy with speculation that the WWE may be planning a major storyline involving The Miz and SmackDown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon, which could result in a match between the two at WrestleMania 35 on April 7th, 2019.
There's two very important things I'd like to note over here: Firstly, the WWE has to rebuild Samoa Joe's momentum after a terrible 2018, and would be better off if they finally book him to win the WWE Championship in 2019 -- playing the vicious, silent, badass heel he used to be during his days on RAW; rather than being the loudmouth heel who always gets pinned on SmackDown Live!
Meanwhile, there's absolutely do doubt about it, that we can expect major changes in The Miz's character, even to the extent of him possibly turning face, in his rumored WrestleMania 35 feud with Shane McMahon...
#2 SmackDown Live: Daniel Bryan will continue his path to the dark side
One of the most memorable moments in the sport of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) came during the buildup of the UFC 158 Welterweight Championship match between defending champion Georges St-Pierre and challenger Nick Diaz.
Nick and his younger brother Nate have always been known as two of the most notorious trash-talkers in the fight game, and it wasn't really surprising to see Nick and his team constantly disrespect the soft-spoken, shy and widely-respected MMA legend St-Pierre.
However, during the pre-fight press conferences, GSP eventually snapped, and lashed out at Nick, calling the latter an "uneducated fool" and noting that he will go to his "Dark Place" to fight and destroy Nick Diaz! -- GSP ended up defeating Diaz via Unanimous Decision at UFC 158 on March 16th, 2013.
The reason I narrated the aforementioned series of events, is because Daniel Bryan happens to be a huge MMA fan and has also trained with former UFC Lightweight Champion "Smooth" Benson Henderson in the past -- In simple words, Bryan has that undeniable MMA connection.
Mark my words, as an MMA fan who's studied GSP extensively, I have to admit that the Daniel Bryan's heel turn and his controlled aggression remind me of the time when GSP channeled his inner demons -- his "Dark Place" -- for one of the biggest title fights in his career! That said, don't be surprised to see Bryan keep moving towards the dark side, and continually showing more nasty aspects of his villainous personality in 2019...
#1 RAW: The WWE Universe will finally get to see just how vicious and savage Ronda Rousey can be on the mic
As I'd mentioned earlier, I've been a longtime fan of Mixed Martial Arts as well as several other sports such as boxing, Muay Thai and BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) in the combat sports realm. In connection with the same, I'd like to note that Ronda Rousey is widely regarded by many as one of the greatest trash-talkers the sport of MMA has ever seen!
Honestly speaking, the WWE Universe cannot for the life of them fathom just how vicious and savage Rousey truly is on the microphone -- perhaps because unlike the UFC, the WWE makes its performers follow the company's PG-rated guidelines.
On that note, if you think that The Rowdy One's promo against Nikki Bella -- the knocking down John Cena's bedroom door line -- was savage, you're in for a huge surprise when the WWE finally turns Rousey heel.
A key factor I'd like to emphasize over here is that the WWE has lately been flirting with Rousey potentially snapping at the fans. Case in point here, being that after receiving one of the most terrifying beatings of her life at the hands of Charlotte Flair, the WWE Universe in attendance for the Survivor Series PPV surprisingly cheered Flair and booed Rousey.
Interestingly, while making her way to the back, up the entrance ramp, Rousey gave her trademark death stare to a fan (who wasn't captured on camera), and clearly told said fan, "You are not a man!"...Strong words from a strong woman.
Furthermore, if Rousey ends up feuding with fan-favourites such as Becky Lynch or Charlotte Flair -- who despite being heels or tweeners are still cheered by the fans -- there's a good probability that WWE may have to turn Rousey heel at the earliest...Fret not thought, you will be thoroughly impressed by the villainous side of The Rowdy One in 2019.
Which other WWE Superstars would you love to see undergo a character change in 2019? Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below!
