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The first half of 2018 was a relatively good year for the WWE which carried forward some intriguing storylines and kept the fans involved.
However, slowly things started to fall apart in the latter half of the year as the booking became more predictable, and the same faces occupied most of the television time, keeping things monotonous.
However, with the returns of Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, and Daniel Bryan, things seem to have taken a turn for the better in 2019.
With dropping TV ratings, and changing fan reactions, the WWE will need to step up its game and utilize its best talent to continue making WWE the best wrestling promotion in the world.
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Despite having a mixed year, there are quite a few storylines that can be undertaken in 2019 which could result in great rivalries. Here we have compiled a few rivalries that could rule the new year if they take place and are booked correctly. Take a look and share which rivalries you are looking forward to in the comments below.
#8 Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose
This feud was supposed to begin as the hottest one of 2018. Even though the feud began at the end of the year, it hasn’t reached the heights it should have while other rivalries have done much better.
Playing off the fact that Roman Reigns had to take a break from wrestling, WWE tried to take this rivalry through many angles but seem to still have not figured out where they want it and how they want it.
However, now with Seth Rollins losing his Intercontinental title to Dean Ambrose, it is possible that the fire will be fueled and something better will come out heading into the new year.
Ambrose and Rollins are two of the best characters and wrestlers on the red brand who can deliver A-grade performances night after night, and they sure have the talent to take this rivalry to new heights soon too.
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#7 Lars Sullivan and Samoa Joe
A new monster will be on the main roster come 2019. Lars Sullivan is being teased to make his main roster debut since a while now, and he will be on either Raw or SmackDown very soon.
Samoa Joe has been having some great rivalries on the main roster but is struggling to make it big and win his first main roster title, which is a shame.
A change of fate can come for both men if they go head-to-head in an extended rivalry to claim the "most physical man" title on SmackDown.
Both men are large and get extremely physical in the ring, and a feud between the two can take both superstars and the blue brand to new heights. Keeping in mind that both are relatively new on the main roster, with Joe suffering a few injuries in the past, fans would still tune in just to see them go head to head.
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#6 Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre
This rivalry has the potential to rule Raw for a significant amount of time. What should have started in 2018 was put off due to Roman Reigns’ departure to fight his own battles.
Drew McIntyre made his return to the company this year and has put on some great performances. He has indeed proven his worth and justified his title as The Chosen One.
Braun Strowman is still chasing his first singles championship title in the WWE, which is quite surprising as he should have become a champion when he reached his peak a few months back.
If Strowman does win a title sometime in 2019, expect McIntyre to be the first man to challenge him for that title and ignite a new rivalry between the two which could carry on for a few months.
If Strowman is unable to win the Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble, then a match between the two men at WrestleMania could keep matters hot.
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#5 Trish Stratus & Lita and The IIconics
The Women’s Tag Team Titles have been teased for almost the entire year. Although many fans expected the titles to be unveiled at the all-women pay-per-view event Evolution, that did not happen.
Trish Stratus and Lita made their return to the ring for the WWE to promote Evolution and proved to us all that the may still be the best female duo in wrestling even after all these years.
The IIconics have been the new addition to the blue brand, and the Australian duo has been doing well as a tag team and has won some big matches already.
If the tag team titles do drop in 2019, expect these two female teams to be the forerunners to win the titles and engage in a rivalry to take the titles off each other.
If a tournament is set up to determine to Tag Team Champions, we could see Trish and Lita represent Raw and The IIconics to represent SmackDown at the end of it.
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#4 EC3 and Randy Orton
EC3 is making his way to the main roster very soon, and the egotistical character will try to make an impact very soon. He has already hurled comments at John Cena and could continue to do the same to other veteran superstars when he makes his main roster debut.
Randy Orton is currently on a demolition path and trying to target as many veteran wrestlers that fans love as he can. All he wants is the respect that he deserves.
EC3 could take that away from Orton, and could attack him instead in his quest to become the ‘New Legend Killer’. This would hopefully turn Orton face and have him battle EC3, who will portray a heel character.
There is no man who can make EC3 more relevant on the main roster more than Randy Orton, and a rivalry between the two can open up new opportunities for both the men.
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#3 Finn Balor and AJ Styles
These two men have the potential to tear the house down whenever they want. Arguably two of the best wrestlers in the industry, and former members of The Bullet Club, Finn Balor, and AJ Styles can do whatever they want in the ring with perfection.
Finn Balor has had a mixed year and has mostly been kept to the mid-card on Raw. A move to SmackDown could open things up for The Demon King who can find many wrestlers who can match his skills there.
Styles has had one of the best WWE Championship reigns in history, and could possibly aim for the title once again in the latter half of 2019.
If Balor moves to the blue brand and beats Daniel Bryan for the championship, then the two can possibly have a great rivalry for the title and treat the fans with some of the best matches of the decade.
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#2 Aleister Black and The Undertaker
Many fans have been speculating when The Undertaker will retire, and who will do the honors of retiring him. While names like John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Drew McIntyre, and Finn Balor have popped up, one interesting choice is Aleister Black.
Currently one of the best acts on NXT, Black should make his main roster debut sometime in mid-2019. If that is the case, he can mark his arrival against the greatest man to walk the ring in WWE.
The Undertaker will probably do battle for at least one more year in the WWE, and a rivalry between him and Black in 2019 leading up to WrestleMania 36 in 2020 could be an epic storyline.
Aleister Black has all the components required to replace The Undertaker in the new era and could be one of the best choices among the superstars who could retire The Deadman.
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#1 Ronda Rousey and Charlotte
The rivalry that began at Survivor Series 2018 got hotter when Ronda Rousey interfered in the SmackDown Women’s Championship match at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs 2018.
There is no doubt that a rivalry between the two women is right around the corner, and could be the biggest rivalry from the Women’s division in 2019. Becky Lynch’s addition to the rivalry is also possible, but these two women will take the spotlight regardless.
Charlotte’s loss at TLC could mean that the plan is to move her to Raw instead and have her challenge Ronda for the Raw Women’s Championship. A fitting beginning would be Charlotte’s win at the Royal Rumble 2019 and immediate challenge to Ronda.
The rivalry can further develop and turn into a Four Horsewomen affair soon after WrestleMania and rule the women’s division storylines for most of the year.
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