WWE RAW: 5 Reasons why Samoa Joe is the new WWE Championship contender after attacking Kofi Kingston

WWE RAW this week saw several surprises.

The Undertaker returned to help Roman Reigns out with his 2-on-1 situation against Shane McMahon and Drew McIntyre. The two are now scheduled to team up to face The Phenom and Roman Reigns at WWE Extreme Rules in July.

Also, on the card, AJ Styles faced Ricochet in a match where Styles was able to pin the United States Champion.

However, the former United States Champion Samoa Joe has started a new feud for himself. After Kofi Kingston defeated Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens in back-to-back matches, when he was heading back to the locker room, he was attacked from behind by Samoa Joe.

The Samoan Submission Machine destroyed him with an Urinagi before locking in the Coquina Clutch to choke him out. The fans were left wondering as to why Samoa Joe had suddenly chosen to attack the WWE Champion.

Here are 5 reasons why Samoa Joe is the new WWE Championship contender.

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#5 The Brand Split is slowly coming to an end

Samoa Joe and Kofi Kingston

With the introduction of the WWE Wildcard rule, the WWE Brand Split is slowly coming to an end. With more and more Superstars from both brands appearing on the other, there are seemingly no restrictions any more.

The initial number of 4 Superstars seems to have long been forgotten, with there being more Superstars coming and going between brands on a regular basis. With that in mind, there is no more restriction about who can challenge who. Alexa Bliss challenged Bayley for the SmackDown Women's Championship despite being on RAW.

So now, Samoa Joe can easily turn his attention to Kofi Kingston and the WWE Championship which is on WWE SmackDown Live. This makes the feud even more interesting.

See WWE RAW Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE RAW Results page

#4 No viable challenger on SmackDown at the moment

Dolph Ziggler has already lost

The way the SmackDown roster has been booked over the past couple of months has left it without a single viable contender for the WWE Championship. Dolph Ziggler and Kofi Kingston have feuded over the last two WWE events. Kingston defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn single-handedly on RAW tonight.

The others are all either involved in different feuds or have no build up to suddenly be title challengers. Joe, however, is a proven commodity, and after losing his WWE United States Championship last night is free to try his hand in the WWE Championship picture.

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#3 To give Kofi Kingston a big win before SummerSlam

WWE SummerSlam

WWE might be setting up Samoa Joe to take a big fall at WWE Extreme Rules. Kofi Kingston has overcome every obstacle in his path ever since he won the WWE Championship, and even on his road to get the Championship.

After having defeated Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Dolph Ziggler, his next obstacle is a big one in Samoa Joe. If Kingston can come away with the win here, this will give him a huge push ahead of WWE SummerSlam, where WWE might give him a special storyline and feud.

#2 Samoa Joe is being pushed again

Samoa Joe and Kofi Kingston

Another huge possibility is that Samoa Joe is being pushed again. The former WWE United States Champion is one of the best wrestlers on the roster but has not been booked in the best way all the times.

However, ahead of WWE SummerSlam, now could finally be the time that Joe is receiving his push. An established talent with his heel abilities would make for some great moments in WWE. If this is true, the WWE Universe might have a long heel championship run to look forward to.

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#1 To prove "anything can happen on the wildcard"

Mr McMahon introduces the Wildcard Rule

This feud might end up being nothing more than WWE's way of proving what they have been saying all along, that 'anything can happen on the wildcard'. WWE has been booking the wildcard as something that produces the most unexpected feuds.

This would be a very unexpected feud, and would also provide entertainment. It might just be their attempt at making the WWE Wildcard rule popular with the help of a feud that promises to be a good one.