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The wrestling landscape is very different from what it used to be. As we head into 2020, there are more places for the professional wrestler to work and while WWE still rules the roost, almost every one of them is putting on some great shows.
So with that in mind, what are some of the surprises that we can potentially see happen next year? I'm going to list a few things in this article that can certainly take the world by storm.
Sports entertainment isn't necessarily the biggest thing in the world in 2019 but it's still a very healthy industry for sure. And every company has the potential to dominate the year and make a statement.
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With that in mind here's what the wrestling fan can look forward to, next year!
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#5 CM Punk returns at WrestleMania to face Seth Rollins
Speculation has been rampant about whether or not we'll ever see CM Punk wrestle in a WWE ring again. While Punk himself hasn't seemed all that enthusiastic, he has never ruled out the idea of coming back and with his FOX gig, it seems more likely than ever that a comeback is imminent. CM Punk is just as popular now as he was when he quit, and the money may be far too good for him to let such an opportunity go by.
The most likely opponent for CM Punk at this time may be Seth Rollins based on how the social media build has been thus far. Seth Rollins is arguably the biggest star in WWE at the moment and is also the company's top heel right now. If CM Punk were to return, he could definitely come back as a babyface and the match would certainly be off the charts.
#4 Luke Harper joins the AEW roster
Luke Harper is going to be a great get for whichever company manages to snag him, following his unfortunate WWE release. But the fact of the matter is that All Elite Wrestling is at the forefront of this lineup because they are the second-biggest promotion in the world and they desperately need a star like Luke Harper.
As talented as the AEW roster is, there simply aren't enough big men to take on the likes of Moxley without him dwarfing them. Harper could certainly fill this void and have a long program with Moxley that stretches out for many months.
AEW started with a bang but seems to have lost a lot of their momentum with every passing week and for them to hire someone like Luke Harper would certainly be quite a massive coup. Harper would also thrive in an environment where he would get to be himself and not be saddled in a gimmick such as The Bludgeon Brothers that may not come as naturally to him.
Harper vs. Rhodes could also be a pretty interesting program if that's the route they take.
#3 Roman Reigns turns heel
Roman Reigns may be getting cheered now but it's only a matter of time before the audience turns on him once more. The best way to keep a character like him fresh could be to turn him heel again.
Dean Ambrose's heel turn was fresh and intense until poor booking got in the way of good programming. Seth Rollins seems to have gotten a fresh coat of paint on his character since turning heel as well and Roman Reigns could only benefit by working with young babyfaces and elevating them on SmackDown.
I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to a program between Roman Reigns and Shorty G, where Shorty G is elevated to the very top, just like what happened in his program with King Corbin. Another person who could certainly take over the top babyface spot from Roman Reigns is John Morrison, who is scheduled to come in anytime now.
Roman Reigns has been a babyface for most of his 'main roster' career and it may be time for a change at last. WWE waited far too long with John Cena but they really cannot afford to do the same with The Big Dog.
#2 Liv Morgan allies herself with Bray Wyatt
For weeks, we wondered what was next for Liv Morgan, because she had been sitting on the sidelines not doing anything significant at all. And then a vignette began to air which revealed a glamorous side to her, that many have called a complete ruse. There are several aspects that have indicated that Liv Morgan's eventual transformation will be to a darker persona.
Even though Morgan and Wyatt are on two different brands, speculation is rampant that Liv Morgan is going to be a part of Bray Wyatt's Firefly Fun House, and you can read my personal take here. I can absolutely see her as a part of Bray Wyatt's Family in the days to come and if it were to happen, it would be one of the biggest twists in WWE history. Would Liv Morgan become a 'witch' of sorts, then, bewitching the WWE Universe with her antics?
As good as the wrestling in the women's division is, at the moment, what's lacking are 'characters'. And if Liv Morgan were to embrace this gimmick, she could fill the void. It would be interesting to see the Wyatt-Morgan pairing as well if it happens.
#1 Kevin Owens defeats Brock Lesnar to become WWE Champion
Brock Lesnar is absent more often than he is present on WWE television and this leads to a great deal of speculation in his case, every time. Already our two Dropkick DiSKussions experts - Tom Colohue and Korey Gunz had a hard time determining who would be next to face The Beast Incarnate, at the Royal Rumble.
But if Brock Lesnar is to carry the title all the way beyond WrestleMania, I have a feeling that Kevin Owens should be the man to eventually dethrone him and take the Championship from around his waist. And this is because Kevin Owens is arguably the most popular babyface at the moment, who can actually have a war of words with Paul Heyman and elevate the program,
Very few people are allowed to beat Brock Lesnar clean and WWE botched Seth Rollins' run, when he did so. They have a chance to make things right with Kevin Owens and actually give him a chance to become the face of the company.
If Brock Lesnar loses the match clean, a brand new megastar will be born in WWE!
