Predicting the next set of champions in WWE

We’re in a cool time for the WWE right now. Daniel Bryan is the number one guy, Triple H is the top heel, and the Divas Division is actually interesting. But nothing ever stays the same in the WWE, and in a few months we’ll have a new crop of Superstars and Divas standing at the top of the WWE mountain, proudly hoisting their championship gold above their heads. But who will those people be? Time to speculate!

Daniel Bryan

Next Divas Champion: Natalya

Ever since AJ won the Divas Championship from Kaitlyn earlier this year, the Divas Division has been more interesting than it has been in years. While it still may not be on par with the Lita/Trish days (how can it be?), AJ Lee has still be doing a good job of adding importance to what was an almost meaningless championship.

After finishing her never ending feud with Kaitlyn, AJ Lee decided to take a play out of CM Punk‘s book and drop a pipebomb on the cast of Total Divas. While her entire speech was basically focused on the Bellas (including a jab at their alleged “blowjobs to the top” career), Natalya was the one to step up to the plate and represent the Total Divas.

While representing Total Divas may seem like a bad thing, Natalya is still the best women’s wrestler in the WWE, and some would arguably say that she is better than half of the male roster.

But Natalya isn’t representing Total Divas. If they wanted someone to represent Total Divas, they would have chosen Brie Bella. No, Natalya is representing herself. She’s representing that while she may be on Total Divas, she is the farthest thing from a Total Diva. She’s a wrestler. So as a wrestler, being accused of wrestling because you can’t do anything else must be pretty insulting.

AJ has had a great run as champion, but expect the lovely Natalya to take the, um, “nice looking” Divas Championship off of her waist in the next few months. That would be a pretty good season finale for Total Divas, wouldn’t it?

Next Tag Team Champions: Big Show & Daniel Bryan

Now this is definitely one of my more absurd sounding predictions, but it’s definitely not the most impossible. Remember in 2011 when John Cena and the Miz defeated the Corre to become the Tag Team Champions for 5 minutes? Well, I think it’s going to happen again.

While Bryan and Big Show are in no way rivals like Miz and Cena were, they are two big singles stars who are involved in the top storyline. After Daniel Bryan is supposedly booted out of the WWE Championship picture (more on that later), he will still continue to fight the good fight against the new corporation. On a Monday Night Raw, Triple H will give Daniel Bryan a Tag Team Championship match against the Shield with a partner of his choosing. Too bad Triple H scared the whole locker room into not teaming with Daniel Bryan.

After being unsuccessful in finding a partner, Daniel Bryan will come out for his match, still willing to face the Shield in a handicap match. But, just before the match is about to begin, our favourite emotional giant will make his way down to the ring to team with Daniel Bryan. After a few punches and knees, we have new WWE Tag Team champions in Daniel Bryan and the Big Show (or as I would lovingly refer to them as, “Beards and Tears”). But their championship reign will be short lived however, as the Shield will win them back almost immediately after Triple H gets involved.

Next United States Champion: Christian

While this is a more normal prediction, it is still probably the biggest stretch in terms of the actual chances of it happening. The Shield took out Christian as a message to Edge (and totally not because Christian had an actual concussion), and Christian will no doubt be seeking revenge when he makes his return shortly.

While I still doubt that Christian will actually win the championship, there is no doubt in my mind that these two will cross paths when Captain Charisma makes his return. Hey, maybe Christian will come back when the Shield are in a downward spiral?

Ryback

Next Intercontinental Champion: Ryback

While I would love to see a Heyman guys stable, I don’t see it happening. Ryback saved Heyman at Night of Champions after Curtis Axel failed to do what he was supposed to. Ryback has been winning for weeks, while Curtis Axel is losing to Kofi Kingston. Ryback is a big star, Curtis Axel is an afterthought.

Paul Heyman will soon realize this, and over the next few weeks or months, we’ll see Paul Heyman begin to favour the bully-hating Ryback. Curtis Axel will begin to separate from Heyman, and Heyman will take it about as well as he took his break-up with Punk. The first match Axel goes out without Heyman by his side, Ryback will come on behalf of the almighty ‘Paulrus’ and destroy Axel.

This will lead to an Intercontinental Championship match between the two where Ryback will pick up his first ever championship in WWE. Curtis Axel will then go on to have a very unsuccessful face run. Nice knowin’ ya, Axel.

Next World Heavyweight Champion: Rob Van Dam

Del Rio has been in every World Heavyweight Championship match this year, whether it was as the champion or challenger. I think it’s time for him to leave.

While his feud with the recently returned RVD has been less than inspiring, it will still lead to Rob Van Dam holding the World Heavyweight Championship over his head. And no, don’t worry. You won’t have to see the continuation of the ADR/RVD saga that has been plaguing the last month or two.

Our Lord and Saviour Damien Sandow will cash-in on a vulnerable RVD shortly after this title win and will go on to feud with Cody Rhodes while RVD takes time off. ADR will probably feud with Rey Mysterio and his new ring announcer Ricardo until Rey hurts himself again (which means the feud will last one Smackdown).

Next WWE Champion: Triple H

Why would Triple H ever be WWE Champion again? Because its best for business! After Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton fight to a No Contest at Battleground, our wonderful COO will do what any COO would do: give himself the WWE Championship. We can’t have a company with no representative, can we?

The best part? Daniel Bryan won’t even get a shot at H’s title for Hell In A Cell. No, he’s too much of a B+ to face such an A++ player like Triple H. But unfortunately for this business, Daniel Bryan will get a shot at Triple H’s title at TLC by beating his team at Survivor Series. He will go on to make Triple H tap out at TLC and become a three time WWE Champion.

Agree? Disagree? Tell me why in the comments or on Twitter @SmarkInProgress.