WWE Champion Renaissance: Who Could be Champion for a Long Time?
Bayley, Asuka, Roman Reigns, and Drew McIntyre are all leading the Champions Renaissance for the WWE.
Four Fantastic Wrestling Champions are killing it week after week.
While all news in pro wrestling tends to skew to the negative, we must acknowledge how lucky we are as wrestling fans. Right now, we have the pleasure of watching Drew McIntyre as WWE Champion, Asuka as the RAW Women’s Champion, Bayley as the SmackDown Women’s Champion, and Roman Reigns as the Universal Champion.
Not only are these four champions, some of the most respected and talented in the sport, they are also banging out amazing stories and performing their roles as splendid as some award-winning thespians. It feels like I’ve been tweeting out the words “Chef’s Kiss” only too often (Chef’s Kiss being the amalgamation of different parts to create something truly remarkable).
I want more from all of them, but we all know that eventually, it’s going to end for each one. It’s a sad thought, and maybe I should push it out of my mind.
*Sighs and looks up to the stars*
But somebody has got to do it! It what some could dub the Renaissance of Champions, someone has to write about which of these four champions SHOULD be the last champ standing.
And this won’t be a list of who is the best champion and is more in-depth than asking, “Who was the first person to win the championship?” There is supposedly order to these types of decisions and titleholders. Let’s decide who has done their part and who could hold the title for more than a year. We will start with the most reasonable answer first and move down the list to who is nowhere near the end of their reign.
Which WWE Champion is Losing First?
Bayley – WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion
Bayley is going down first. I think we all knew that after Sasha Banks interfered with Bayley’s promo at WWE Clash of Champions. But it makes even more sense when you realize that since May 19th of 2019, Bayley has held the title for nearly 500 days (and should go over that number by the time she does battle with Sasha).
Bayley won the title when she cashed in her Money in the Bank contract at the titular event. It wasn’t until October 6th, 2019, that Bayley would relinquish the title to Charlotte Flair, at Hell in a Cell. Five days later, Bayley would recapture the title and turn into the Heel version of Bayley we love to despise today!
As Bayley gets closer to one full year with this most current reign, it is hard to ignore the nearly 500 days as champion, dating back to May of 2019. She certainly has become a fixture in the wrestling world and deserves everything, including the opportunity to stay heel while she battles Sasha.
But Sasha is primed for a title run. Albeit, not as lengthy as Bayley’s. But a run, nonetheless.
When this article becomes dated, and Bayley loses her title to Sasha, don’t forget that this Renaissance of Champions is because of Bayley. While the rest of the wrestling world was trying to figure out wrestling without fans, Bayley perfected it.
She was chastising Michael Cole, knocking every promo out of the park, and reminding us all that she is arguably the most talented of the Four Horsewomen. Bayley proved to the doubters (including me) that she could run a brand and a division independently.
And I’m happy that even though I think she’s first on the chopping block, she won’t be leaving our TV screens anytime soon.
Drew McIntyre – WWE Champion
I. Love. Drew. McIntyre.
I’d be fine if the Scottish Psychopath held onto the title for the rest of WWE’s existence. He’s got the swagger. He has passionate, genuine delivery. He’s freakin’ ripped. He’s got a fun finisher. And is arguably the premiere hybrid superstar in the sport.
Gushing aside (and believe you me, there has been some gushing), Mighty Mac might benefit, from a viewing perspective, from a hiatus from the spotlight. Not right away, but soon enough in the future that I’ve listed him 3rd on this list.
McIntyre is a sure-fire main eventer, and with this most current title run, he has cemented his place there. But one thing that will keep us loving McIntyre, well into his next title reign, will be an end to this run when we don’t see it coming. Baby-faces holding onto the title too long creates a villain. Every. Single. Time. Seth, Cena, Hogan come to mind instantly.
McIntyre is doing too great of a job for his hard work to be overshadowed by overbooking. And all of these wrestlers, their brands, their personas, the storylines…should revolve around the long-term booking. Thinking in the short-term, you have McIntyre hold onto the title for as long as possible.
Why? Because he might not be able to reach the pinnacle again. However, WWE has the data to back up the fact that this does not work. Furthermore, you have talent ready to help you sell even more tickets if you just gave them that opportunity.
Drew shouldn’t disappear. But holding onto that title will defeat the purpose of creating a monster baby-face. Because in a brief period, WWE would have in their possession: another monster heel.
Asuka – Raw Women’s Champion
Asuka should be safe until Survivor Series. Considering Asuka is left with one of the hardest handicaps to overcome in North American Pro Wrestling, a communication barrier, it is impressive to see what she has done with the division, the title, and pro wrestling.
Asuka is now one of the most decorated Women in Pro Wrestling, even with a short North American timeline. And it is no accident. Asuka has earned it all, and I think I am preaching to the choir. Everyone is on board with Asuka, and there is no end of her support insight.
I also believe that unlike Drew McIntyre, Asuka would be invincible to the heat generated from holding onto the title too long. I think Asuka is so great at her job and does such a fantastic job of propelling her whole division into the stratosphere that no one would mind if she stayed champ forever.
The problem is I am a bit misguided in this want, and WWE knows better. And at 39, Asuka’s days in the WWE are indeed numbered as well.
There are also several capable women in waiting, currently active on the RAW roster:
Bianca Belair – While not given a real chance to shine in NXT, Bianca has more than proved she can get the audience in a frenzy and has a unique style that incorporates her incredible strength.
Liv Morgan – Maybe she’s green, but she has the charisma to pull off a sneaky heel championship reign.
Mickie James - Despite having just lost her latest opportunity, Mickie hasn’t lost a step and would be a treasure for the roster to follow behind.
Zelina Vega – Again, a recent opportunity and potential change of plans with Andrade tease, Zelina might not be on WWE’s list, but she proved she could smoke and mirrors her way through matches.
Ruby Riott – The number one woman on this list, Ruby, would kill it as champion, but it looks like she’s stuck in Tag Team Wrestling.
Then there’s the big draft coming for the WWE that could place the likes of Alexa Bliss, Ember Moon (probably headed to NXT), Naomi, or even Bayley or Banks over.
Also, there’s Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair. Both aren’t returning anytime soon, but who knows how long Asuka’s reign will go? It could even be long enough for Io Shirai to challenge Asuka at some point.
Long story short, many women on this roster could do well with this belt, and we all know Asuka isn’t the front office’s first choice to hold the title. They know that she is too darn good to ignore, and keeping her on a losing streak or off of the main event scene is nearly impossible.
That is what puts her as my number two on this list. Some things make too much damn sense, which brings us to our number one champion on this list.
Roman Reigns – Universal Champion
This article wouldn’t exist without Roman Reigns. Boom. *Mic Drop*
Roman Reigns’ newest title run being the muse for this article is no slight to the Fiend. I believe the Fiend was doing great work, but I’ve also been very vocal concerning my thoughts that the Fiend doesn’t need to be involved in the title conversation to be interesting. The Fiend will become the main event match because he is involved.
On the other hand, Roman Reigns needs to be in the main event title picture for an exceedingly rare reason. That being: He is too damn perfect right now to not be champion.
Roman Reigns is a heel. The best wrestling manager of all time, Paul Heyman, is his manager. He is shirtless. He looks the part. He acts the part. He is incredible in the ring. All of this makes Roman the Roman we wanted back at the 2014 Rumble. The one that was ousted by Batista and hadn’t had a similar fan response in any Rumble since.
As far as I know, Time Machines do not exist. But this is as close as I think we can get to having one.
Travel back to early 2014. The Shield was still the anti-hero type of squad, so you could even find heelish tendencies throughout their matches. That includes Roman Reigns. And as Anti-Hero’s go…he was the bad “assiest” of the three Shield members.
Roman’s character was a fart (silent, but deadly), and like a fart, he was most fun when he would come out of nowhere. Like in that 2014 Rumble. Fast forward just a few months, and Roman Reigns was winning every Slammy award; he was the face of the company and was well on his way to becoming a champ for the fans to cheer.
But again, when a fart is forced, sometimes it can make a mess. And this one was a doozy. It was such a mess that at the 2015 Royal Rumble, even the Rock couldn’t save Roman Reigns from the “Boo Fest” that followed his Rumble victory. A few more forced victories over fan favorites—some John Cena handshakes. And a suffering succotash sprinkled in here and there. And Smarks had a target to set their sights.
Roman would continue in the main event scene for the next five years as a face, and it honestly wasn’t that fun besides a few exceptions and attempts at creating an anti-hero.
But now…in the worst year of our collective lives (thank you COVID-19), Roman has re-emerged in the best possible way: The Bad Ass we thought we were getting back in 2014. It doesn’t matter that he is a heel, but it certainly does matter that he thrashed his fellow Uce, Jey, and hopes to do even more damage at Hell in a Cell.
And I have so much confidence in this run that I put Roman as the number one guy to hold onto their title during this Champion’s Renaissance. And I have no problem stating that I think he could become the longest reigning Heavyweight Champion during this run. I wouldn’t mind if this run lasted for two whole years.
The irony of it all will come at this year’s WrestleMania when the Rock is rumored to go toe-to-toe with Roman Reigns. The guy who couldn’t get Roman over at the 2015 Royal Rumble will now be subject to punishment from his fellow Uce. Because I love the Rock…but god damn will it be beautiful to see him go down…and stay down.
If that irks you, don’t worry, that’s what they’ll want. We love Roman now…but soon; fans will be back in the stands. Soon we won’t be allowed to ‘boo’ Roman. And finally. FINALLY! It will be appropriate to ‘boo’ Roman Reigns.
The Champion’s Renaissance Continues
Like I stated earlier: the champions coming up to challenge our four champions also appear to be at the top of their games as well. I won’t be shocked when the Fiend moves over to RAW, and the list of Women Wrestlers to take over for Bayley and Asuka is probably more robust than ever.
So the Renaissance continues, thanks to these fabulous performers and a couple of perfectly timed decisions that may be followed by a few more.
WWE treats their employees horribly for their efforts online to try and make a buck here and there. But it also can’t be ignored that the Champs we get to watch weekly should have your attention.
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