Who deserves to be the next WWE Champion?

[Brewski]

In the past couple of days two articles popped up on WZ that I found interesting. They can be found Here and Here. Both bring Up the idea that it's a shame to waste the momentum from Punk's 4xx day reign on an Actor like the Rock or an established star like Cena for a short term gain. Whoever does beat Punk would be performing a hell of a feat by defeating the champ that neither Rock or Cena could finish off. What both of these articles avoid is naming anyone that could receive the honor of pinning the champ.

So let's pretend the whole situation we have now is gone. Let's say the Rumble's gone by and CM punk is in need of a new feud. I ask you WZF, who should get the honor of dethroning the champ?

 

[Brothervis]

I would have to go with Dolph, Daniel Bryan or just anyone who has a huge buzz. Look at Punk he didn't get the WWE title till after his work promo.

 

[CM Steel]

The next WWE champion? Then I would have to say...Ryback! Because he brings a big fight-like feel to any match. And the WWE heads like him in the back and have high hopes for him in the future during his career. Ryback got a taste of the WWE championship match scene. I would love to see him back there someday. And the next time he wins the WWE strap!

 

[thebarber]

I would have Punk hold the belt to Wrestlemania and have whomever beats him somebody who will massively elevated by picking up the win over a guy who has defeated Cena and The Rock and the other wise undefeated Ryback. Problem is, there are no current faces worth the elevation. Daniel Bryan certainly deserves to be rewared for his efforts since being pushed off a Mania card, then destroyed in 18 seconds, then saddling the stupid gimmick and goat beard for 2012.

 

[jeff_hardy_heel_is_awesom]

The next WWE champion? Then I would have to say...Ryback! Because he brings a big fight-like feel to any match. And the WWE heads like him in the back and have high hopes for him in the future during his career. Ryback got a taste of the WWE championship match scene. I would love to see him back there someday. And the next time he wins the WWE strap!

I'm sorry but, REALLY?!, u think Rybotch is a wwe champion? I'm sorry but i don't see how he can be called " WWE championship material "... Ryback is no where near that, and all he is is a Goldberg wannabe.


Personally i wouldn't mind Daniel Bryan being champion, because he can have a feud with Punk (which everyone knows they can both put on a 5+ star match). Yes, he has had a shocker of a year, it all started with WM, and then the tag team with Kane, which in all seriousness hasn't all that bad, but is starting to become a bit stale. In the end, Bryan would be a better option.

 

[Steve-O-Matt]

I don't want Rock, Cena, Ryback or Dolph to win the title. Rock because of obvious reasons, comes back, does one promo and is in the main event of the Royal Rumble, he hasn't earned it. And stop saying "But all of those years he's invested..." NO! If he wants another title shot, join the roster officially and wrestle full time for a while. As for Cena, again it's obvious no one wants him to win, but it's almost bound to happen. Rock will beat Punk then Cena will beat Rock at WM, in the once of a lifetime match... Again. Because last's years was just SO successful (sarcasm). Am I the only one disappointed from the get go?

Ryback winning would just be another example of how someone 'looks' the part as Vince gets a stiffy over big huge men with perfect physiques and no tattoos. Don't get me wrong, he's done an amazing job with them sticking him in the main event, but is he REALLY ready to be a world champion?! Not in my eyes, first thing he needs to do is have a real meaningful feud to get people to forget Skip Sheffield. What he's got going with the Shield is exactly what he needs right now, I can't wait for that feud to escalate.

Dolph... Well anyone who knows me, knows that I think Dolph is so over-rated on the IWC. Everyone on here seems to rub their nipples over the fact he can sell a move really well. Dolph is going to be fine and yes, he has earned his future WHC, which he is practically guaranteed, so everyone just needs to be patient, it'll happen sooner or later.

In my opinion, the next champion NEEDS to be someone who has earned it, who has earned to beat the best in the WORLD and end the 400+ day reign. I practically know Rock is going to win it, but I do not want this to happen, it's tired, it's predictable and is gonna spawn another disappointing match at WrestleMania where Mr. Underdog, AKA John Cena will overcome the odds (again) to beat the Rock (American flag waving in the air). And then what? Cena will hold it for about a month or 2 then drop it to the next guy...

The best way, in my opinion, is for the person to win the Royal Rumble, Punk to retain and for them to go at it at WrestleMania, someone who truly IS an underdog, or at least someone who's earned it. Such as Daniel Bryan, Kane, Rey Mysterio or someone younger like... Tyson Kidd maybe? Who knows... And yes Rey HAS earned it over the years, the guys has busted his hump, sacrificed his body for us and what does his WWE Championship reign have to show for it? He was a tool used to make Cena look like the hero again. Rey doesn't have drug problems any more, his knee is on it's last run and it would be nice for this future Hall of Famer to have some true triumph!

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Given Punk's well over 400 day run as champ, I think WWE will only take the title off of him under special circumstances. For instance, facing The Rock at the Royal Rumble is just such an event. Most people are expecting The Rock to win the title there before ultimately going onto face John Cena for the title at WM. I personally hope that doesn't happen as Cena vs. Rock II for the title takes away any shred of doubt as to whether or not Cena will win.

As for who should be the next champ, I'm not really sure. I do believe that John Cena will be WWE Champion again before 2013 is over. Aside from John Cena, I don't think there's really anybody among the babyfaces, except for Sheamus, who's ultimately up to it at this point. Sheamus is going to be back in the WHC picture before long so I wouldn't count on this happening.

I don't see Daniel Bryan in the WWE Championship picture anytime soon. It wouldn't surprise me if WWE breaks Bryan & Kane up soon and sets up a match between them for WM. After that, I could see Bryan possibly going for the IC title before heading back into the main event picture.

Ryback has improved a lot but I personally don't think he's ready to be WWE Champion. It wouldn't piss me off to see Ryback get the title but heading into WM season, I just don't see it.

 

[Deoxyribonucleic A.C.I.D.]

From the current roster (other than Cena) uhhmmmmm, nobody. The guy who ends that title reign should be a Huge Face IMO. And the match itself must have a big match feeling! Punk vs Ziggler, Punk vs Bryan, Punk vs Ryback zzzzzzZZZZZZZZ.

I really want to see The Undertaker beating Punk at Wrestlemania for the WWE Championship and at the end of the match have Punk handle the championship himself to The Deadman. Punk raises Taker's arm, they have a handshake. Man, what a moment. All this journey for respect finally comes to end, Punk turns instantly face, and Punk's current storyline ends up with a meaning!

Problem is, The Rock had been guaree-damn-ted a WWE Championship run heading to Wrestlemania. So, deserving or not, he's going to be our next WWE Champion of the World and that's a fact. The change may not happen at the Rumble, but it will happen somewhere down the road...

 

[LoudClearVoice]

This business isn't about who "deserves" anything. It's about who will make the most money for the company going into Wrestlemania. If this is a thread to bash the rock yet again, fine, he doesn't "deserve" the title per se but he's going to get it and it's going to make MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars for Vince McMahon.

 

[Airehk]

Not to sound like a bandwagon answer, but Dolph Ziggler. A title win from Punk with this reign and making it the WWE not World Heavyweight title will put him on the A-list. I don't see why they wouldn't, they already had him dabble in the Cena realm and actually come out with a win.

To have him win the WWE title, it will catapult him to the top and allow him to be the transitional guy to carry the company into the future.

Actually, I'm calling it now. If The Rock beats punk for the title, Ziggler is cashing in on The Rock.

 

[Otacon]

I am not even the biggest fan of CM Punk right now. But he has held the strap so long that it would be a shame for him to just drop it and have to start his reign all over. He should retain it up till 'mania and maybe retain it at 'mania.

I always thought Cena vs Rock could sell itself. Everyone loves a rematch.

 

[LoudClearVoice]

Actually, I'm calling it now. If The Rock beats punk for the title, Ziggler is cashing in on The Rock.

I could be wrong but I thought Ziggler's case is only good for the world title. That's why there's two cases. One for the WWE title and one for the World title.

 

[Leoffler17]

We all know this probably won't happen in the near future by any means, but man would i love to see Kofi Kingston with the belt. Certainly after Rocko, but i really think he's paid his dues and should at least get a one on one shot for the title. He has all the in ring ability thats without question, but his lack of skill on the mic is whats holding him down. The Trouble In Paradise is a pretty solid finisher. almost like a new sweet chin music. And I see him being able to hold his own against most competitors. I would love to see a Kofi v.s. Punk feud. I mean seriously he's got the look and the ability. Maybe a heel change could get him more over. I dont know. But I love this guy and I just dont want him to be a career mid-carder.

 

[Ding_Dong_#2]

A year ago, I would have said Wade Barrett, no question.

But he has fallen so far off the radar, even with the IC title, that I sincerely doubt there will ever be a way back. Maybe as a face but that will taking some doing.

Some wrestlers, such as Triple H, Cena, Undertaker, don't need the belt. There are others, like Punk, Bryan and my personal pick, Dolph Ziggler, who need the belt to elevate themselves. He has worked hard and done a lot to improve himself immeasurably in every capacity - he not only deserves it but he would make people sit up and pay attention; there isn't many who could do that right now.

Dolph can also guarantee a high quality of matches, as well as carrying some of the dead weight around him. Not only that, he can get even better in time. I have been waiting for the right time where can feasibly step in and hold the best with authority - this is it, no question.

 

[BuffaloDave99]

I'm not sure who should be the next champ, I just don't think it should be The Rock

I want to see Punk leave the Rumble with the title. Punk has held it too long to drop it to somebody who doesn't need it. It would also make the rest of the roster look weak. Nobody is good enough to beat Punk so they had to bring a guy in from 10 years ago to do it. Whoever eventually beats Punk should be launched into superstardom. It should be viewed as a historic accomplishment. Plus there are other ways to make the eventual Rock/Cena match have meaning besides having a title on the line.

I would have Cena turn heel at the Rumble and lay out the Rock. I mean really lay him out. Cena becomes the most hated man in WWE. A Mania match between a full blown heel Cena and a revenge seeking Rock would draw more heat than just having a title match between 2 guys that don't need it. I would have Cena go over at Mania. This makes Cena way more interesting and opens up way more possibilities

Also at the Rumble, I would have Ziggler win the Rumble match. The next night on Raw he should cash in his briefcase and win the WHC from Del Rio. After the match, Ziggler announces that with his Rumble win he will be challenging Punk for the title at Mania. It would eventually become a title vs title match.

I am a big proponent of having 1 undisputed champ. Having 2 cheapens each title and the significance of holding 1. Having only 1 world title adds to the prestige of championship and also to the wrestler holding it.

This would also allow the WWE to truly elevate the I-C belt back to where it belongs. It would take the place of the WHC and once again become a title worh holding.

If the WWE is hell bent on having 4 singles titles, they could add a TV title or something

Sorry for the long ramble. Any thoughts, opinions, disagreements etc...?

 

[zones.]

honestly, i understand the view of folks who dont like punk dropping the belt to cena or rock, but we know the biggest buyrate will be something involving those 3. because the majority of the people DO want to see the rock win back the strap, rather he be part timing or not. so, like killam said in his article, i think the best bet would be rock/cena 2 with punk in a triple threat. HOWEVER, i dont like punk dropping the belt to rock at the chamber. i dont see the rock wanting to compete in the chamber even though it would be epic. i say have rock lose at the rumble, have cena win the rumble (which im also not to keen on, but it would be best) and have punk retain in the chamber. this of course sets up cena/punk at WM, and im sure creative will come up with some way to get the rock into this match. its a lil more difficult then killams thoughts of rock winning the belt at the chamber and punk simply invoking his rematch clause in cenas royal rumble payoff match, but it still works. however, if punk DOES lose at the chamber, or the rumble for that matter, id like him to get the belt back at WM. the only way rocky leaves WM as champ is if he didnt walk in with the belt.


past that, id like to see daniel bryan get what he shouldnt have lost in the first place.

 

[HBsam31]

I am not even sure that anyone aside from The Rock or Cena deserves to dethrone Punk. I am not so sure The Rock is going to win the title at Rumble anymore, but if not there I think he will win it at EC. I think we are going to be forced to watch Rock/Cena 2 with Cena finally winning the title. Assume that doesn't happen I think Daniel Bryan would be a good choice to dethrone Punk. I would like to see them rekindle their feud and maybe have that ironman match i wanted to see so bad.

 

[tomthebodz]

Kane. He's been in WWE for a very long time and he deserves a decent WWE title run, his previous reign lasted a day.

I know that he had the World Heavyweight Title a couple of years ago, I just feel that he's been loyal to the company and a WWE title run before he retires is fully merited in my opinion.

 

[romankol666]

The Rock will be at the Elimination Chamber PPV, which tells me that he will beat Punk at the Rumble. Who deserves it? Ziggler or Daniel Bryan IMO.

 

[romankol666]

Kane. He's been in WWE for a very long time and he deserves a decent WWE title run, his previous reign lasted a day.

I know that he had the World Heavyweight Title a couple of years ago, I just feel that he's been loyal to the company and a WWE title run before he retires is fully merited in my opinion.

Yes I fully agree but not with his current "gimmick". He has to turn heel again and be the monster he used to be.

 

[BuffaloDave99]

Kane. He's been in WWE for a very long time and he deserves a decent WWE title run, his previous reign lasted a day.

I know that he had the World Heavyweight Title a couple of years ago, I just feel that he's been loyal to the company and a WWE title run before he retires is fully merited in my opinion.

Nobody deserves the WWE title based on loyalty. Sure, Kane as been loyal to WWE and in return WWE has been loyal to him.

The only 2 that I see as being potentially worthy would be Bryan or Ziggler. Providing there was a drawn out, well thought storyline that proceeded it.

It should be a big deal when somebody beats Punk. Just having The Rock get it just seems like a missed opportunity that ultimately wastes the significance of Punk's long reign

 

[MrAnderson123]

I honestly cannot think about anyone else other than Dolph. I mean, when he is finished with the Cena feud, he can go some much further. He has so much star quality. He makes such a good heel.
Daniel Bryan could be a good feud again. I mean when he gets out of the awful tag team with Kane. Man, how boring is it now?

I wouldn't like The Rock. Expressed my feelings towards him many times on here.
Cena... naah. I like the fact he's putting over new faces. The feud with Ziggler is awful. But it's making Dolph look brilliant. He doesn't need a manager anymore. And if he did.. Ric Flair?
I wouldn't like to see Ryback with the title yet. He's been building up so well for a WWE run. And to give him the title when others at least deserve a shot is a bit of a piss take.

Another person, thinking about it.. Might get hate for this.
Kofi Kingston. I mean, really? How has he not had a proper chance yet? He's a solid face, who everyone adores.
Or Christian when he returns? But I see that he will go for the IC title while Wade is champ.

 

[Midnite Express 2009]

It should NOT be, under any circumstances whatsoever The Rock. Not because I don't like him, but because it doesn't make sense for the LONG TERM. Once Rock is gone back to Hollywood, what then? Having Rock come in, win the title, appear one various talk shows with the title, hype up his movie career, etc does what exactly for WWE after WrestleMania? Nothing. So all that time spent on building up Punk's reign would have been for naught. I know the post was asking if not Rock then who, but I just feel that having him win the title doesn't help WWE at all on the long term and I don't know if they considered that when Rock announced he'd be in the main event at RR or if they're only starting to consider it now. And by the way, since when did guys start naming their own main events? Am I watching Hogan in TNA? I thought WWE would be better than that, and it shows the level in which interest and viewership has dropped to just do this.

Now, onto answering the question. I don't know anyone right now, currently on the roster who should take the belt off CM Punk. Punk is in a really tight spot because on one hand he has this awesome title run that may never happen again and on the other, he has this awesome title run that may never happen again BUT there's a very small amount of wrestlers who would be able to get that rub from taking the belt from him. When Ric Flair was NWA World Champion of course there was Dusty Rhodes. But to make Flair's title reigns in the 1980's really stand out, they had a succession of new people come through and try to be the one to beat The Nature Boy. And it worked. From Dick Slater all the way up to Sting, everyone tried to be the one to take the belt from him. Some succeeded, while others failed, and in the case of Magnum T.A., it was just a matter of an accident that kept him from it. But beyond all that, it made Flair's reigns interesting and legendary. It wasn't just Flair but the people after him who made it work. Dusty Rhodes knew this and didn't put himself over in spite of good business sense. Dusty was always the chaser, always the last line to get to Flair, but he never quite got to him (except for when he won in 1986). The point I am making is that for every Dusty Rhodes, there was always a Sting, Lex Luger, Nikita Koloff, Ron Garvin, Road Warriors, etc, etc. Always someone there but they never could. With CM Punk it's just Cena and The Rock, that's it. (Ryback is no longer a factor, thank God)

So stuck in this hard place he's in, Punk can only go one of two ways, up and beyond The Rock and successfully defend his title, once and for all, at least for storyline purposes, get that "respect" he's so desiring, if WWE does it in a classy way where they have The Rock NOT win the title. OR he can lose the title and everything he's built up and revert back to where? Mid-card? No. See, the differences between this and when Flair was champion was that even if Flair lost, you knew it was only a matter of time before he got it back AND that he lost in a way that didn't hurt him. Losing to The Rock will hurt Punk, badly. So until they have someone come in like a new Luger or Sting or Koloff or whomever, doesn't have to be based upon size, they should keep the title on Punk and build someone new (maybe someone from ROH) who will get that rub from being the one who dethroned CM Punk. The Rock doesn't need it and doesn't deserve it. Here's to hope WWE sees it that way too

 

[Brewski]

This business isn't about who "deserves" anything. It's about who will make the most money for the company going into Wrestlemania. If this is a thread to bash the rock yet again, fine, he doesn't "deserve" the title per se but he's going to get it and it's going to make MILLIONS and MILLIONS of dollars for Vince McMahon.

honestly, i understand the view of folks who dont like punk dropping the belt to cena or rock, but we know the biggest buyrate will be something involving those 3.

I think you guys are missing the point. Of course any combination of Rock, Cena, and Punk is going to make the most money between now and 'mania, but what does that leave for everything after april? The idea isn't that I hate the Rock or Cena, it's that whoever beats punk will instantly be an elite guy in the WWE. Who should be the next top superstar?
.....................

I suppose I never answered my own question. For me I think the ideal guy would be Daniel Bryan because he is already very over, has already been a main eventor, and is entertaining enough in and out of the ring that I would be happy seeing him for years to come. I would also like to see Ziggler do it but with the MITB briefcase and a solid storyline he already has a path to the top. I just don't think he needs it. Then again, It is a fantasy for me that he would win the rumble and then unify the belts at 'Mania.

 

[BuffaloDave99]

I think you guys are missing the point. Of course any combination of Rock, Cena, and Punk is going to make the most money between now and 'mania, but what does that leave for everything after april? The idea isn't that I hate the Rock or Cena, it's that whoever beats punk will instantly be an elite guy in the WWE. Who should be the next top superstar?
.....................

I suppose I never answered my own question. For me I think the ideal guy would be Daniel Bryan because he is already very over, has already been a main eventor, and is entertaining enough in and out of the ring that I would be happy seeing him for years to come. I would also like to see Ziggler do it but with the MITB briefcase and a solid storyline he already has a path to the top. I just don't think he needs it. Then again, It is a fantasy for me that he would win the rumble and then unify the belts at 'Mania.

It simply should be either Bryan or Ziggler. Bryan was well on his way to being a huge star after Mania last year. Unfortunately the WWE prevented him from getting as big as he could've. The fans are still into Bryan. WWE needs to get him away from Kane so he can truly shine.

I have no idea why Ziggler hasn't been elevated yet. The fans are clearly into him. The WWE has an annoying little habit of not striking when the iron is hot. Ziggler and Bryan are real stars, not guys like Ryback