On January 1st, 2013, who will be the WWE, World Heavyweight, TNA, and Ring of Honor champions, respectively?
If you don't feel knowledgeable enough about one of the promotions involved, feel free to leave one of them out. The question is simple - at the beginning of next year (or the end of this, either way), who will hold the most important titles in wrestling?
WWE - Dolph Ziggler. I can't help but get the feeling that Ziggler's in for big things in 2012. I also think we'll see Raw dominated by heel in 2012. I think Cena will take on a more HHH type of role and not hold the WWE Championship much, and Punk will move to SmackDown. I figure Ziggler is the perfect man to hold the WWE Championship and defend against some rising faces. This is contingent on Cena remaining a face, however. If Cena turns in 2012, then I can't imagine another heel making the leap to world champion on Raw.
World - CM Punk. I think it's almost a lock that Punk moves to SmackDown in the draft and becomes the new face of the SmackDown roster. I imagine SmackDown's 2012 roster will see Punk, Orton, and Bryan as the leading faces with Rhodes, del Rio, and Christian as the top heels. Orton and Bryan probably won't see much title action, methinks, leaving Punk to trade the title with Rhodes and del Rio, more than likely. I expect the WWE to give Punk title stature on the level of Orton and Cena and probably carry it into WrestleMania 29, so expect him to close the year with the belt.
TNA - Kurt Angle. It's hard for me to call this one so far out because I haven't got a good handle on TNA long term, but what I do know is that the company loves to put the title on Angle every now and then to reset the direction of the world title picture. Furthermore, TNA likes to reset the world title picture about once every year or so. I think it's a fairly safe bet to expect that Angle, barring injury, might have the strap this time next year.
ROH - Chris Hero. I figure on Davey Richards holding onto his title for quite a while, probably a year at least. But he will lose it in the second half of 2012, I believe. Meanwhile, I don't think TNA is going to bite on Chris Hero, seeing as how Nigel McGuinness fell apart for them. Not that that's really a justified decision, but nonetheless. Even further, ROH has time and time again managed to fuck up who should be champion, and when. All of these factors create the perfect storm for Chris Hero to be world champion. Who should be? Kevin Steen, of course. Steen should win it as soon as possible. Steen should win on the first show of 2012. He won't, though. He probably won't all year, and get it sometime in the middle of 2013 when he's lost half of the interest. So, after Richards has inexplicably retained against Steen, Hero will enter the picture, probably as a tweener, and take the title off of Richards in the second half of 2012, carrying it through the end of the year.
That's what I've got. Tell me why I'm wrong and offer your own predictions.
If you don't feel knowledgeable enough about one of the promotions involved, feel free to leave one of them out. The question is simple - at the beginning of next year (or the end of this, either way), who will hold the most important titles in wrestling?
WWE - Dolph Ziggler. I can't help but get the feeling that Ziggler's in for big things in 2012. I also think we'll see Raw dominated by heel in 2012. I think Cena will take on a more HHH type of role and not hold the WWE Championship much, and Punk will move to SmackDown. I figure Ziggler is the perfect man to hold the WWE Championship and defend against some rising faces. This is contingent on Cena remaining a face, however. If Cena turns in 2012, then I can't imagine another heel making the leap to world champion on Raw.
World - CM Punk. I think it's almost a lock that Punk moves to SmackDown in the draft and becomes the new face of the SmackDown roster. I imagine SmackDown's 2012 roster will see Punk, Orton, and Bryan as the leading faces with Rhodes, del Rio, and Christian as the top heels. Orton and Bryan probably won't see much title action, methinks, leaving Punk to trade the title with Rhodes and del Rio, more than likely. I expect the WWE to give Punk title stature on the level of Orton and Cena and probably carry it into WrestleMania 29, so expect him to close the year with the belt.
TNA - Kurt Angle. It's hard for me to call this one so far out because I haven't got a good handle on TNA long term, but what I do know is that the company loves to put the title on Angle every now and then to reset the direction of the world title picture. Furthermore, TNA likes to reset the world title picture about once every year or so. I think it's a fairly safe bet to expect that Angle, barring injury, might have the strap this time next year.
ROH - Chris Hero. I figure on Davey Richards holding onto his title for quite a while, probably a year at least. But he will lose it in the second half of 2012, I believe. Meanwhile, I don't think TNA is going to bite on Chris Hero, seeing as how Nigel McGuinness fell apart for them. Not that that's really a justified decision, but nonetheless. Even further, ROH has time and time again managed to fuck up who should be champion, and when. All of these factors create the perfect storm for Chris Hero to be world champion. Who should be? Kevin Steen, of course. Steen should win it as soon as possible. Steen should win on the first show of 2012. He won't, though. He probably won't all year, and get it sometime in the middle of 2013 when he's lost half of the interest. So, after Richards has inexplicably retained against Steen, Hero will enter the picture, probably as a tweener, and take the title off of Richards in the second half of 2012, carrying it through the end of the year.
That's what I've got. Tell me why I'm wrong and offer your own predictions.