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This week’s WWE Monday Night Raw began with one of the most emotional promos of all time.
As Universal Champion Roman Reigns walked down the ramp, little did the fans know how shocking his announcement would be.
Relapse of an 11-year old leukaemia not only forced him to vacate the title, it also rules him out of action indefinitely.
Heavily tipped to retain the championship at Saudi Arabia’s Crown Jewel event, Roman’s absence has made the Money In The Bank winner Braun Strowman an odds-on favourite to clinch the gold over Brock Lesnar.
While Reigns will be missed, the show must go on.
Braun and Brock will look to dominate the men’s division following their encounter in Saudi Arabia. However, a number of wrestlers, from Bobby Roode to Dolph Ziggler will want to fill in the hole left by the absence of Reigns.
1. Drew McIntyre
If you have followed Raw for last few weeks, the next big guy seems to have been chosen. Roman Reigns’s unfortunate illness can be a blessing to the careers of several superstars, none more so than Drew McIntyre.
Following the break-up of the Ziggler – McIntyre – Strowman alliance, WWE looked set to have a program between Strowman and McIntyre.
Roman Reings was expected to hold the championship until Wrestlemania 35, with a Shield triple threat. However, with Reigns out of the sequence, Strowman is heavily tipped to leave Saudi Arabia with the WWE Universal Title wrapped around his waist. In the situation, expect WWE to go ahead with a program between McIntyre and Strowman for the Universal title.
Drew is good in promos, has an amazing wresting capability and is blessed with a physique to match Braun Strowman or Brock Lesnar.
Interestingly, WWE Universe is well behind the Irishman as well. His meteoric rise since returning to WWE in April 2018 has only seen his fanbase grow.
In the ring, McIntyre’s Claymore Kick has proven to be more than a match for Braun Strowman on numerous occasions. He has flattened Braun to have the last laugh.
2. Dean Ambrose
One of the best wrestlers in the company and one half of the Raw Tag Team Champions, Ambrose must never go too far from the discussion of the Universal Championship.
Yes, he had a rather boring WWE World Heavyweight Title reign previously. Yes, he has largely looked lost in the pack owing to his unfortunate injury at the hands of Samoa Joe which ruled him out for around nine months. Prior to his injury, he held the tag of the ‘Iron man of WWE’- wrestling over 1000 matches without a major injury.
At this Raw, Ambrose apparently turned heel after attacking his tag team partner and Shield brother Seth Rollins after they captured the Raw Tag Team Championship.
All indications point at a lengthy feud between Rollins and Ambrose which will culminate at Wrestlemania 35.
However, these two are good enough to be thrust straight into the main event scene and challenge whoever leaves Crown Jewel as the WWE Universal Champion.
Finally, Ambrose’s physical- brawler style has time and again enabled him to come on top against physically strong opponents. While he fell just short of defeating Braun Strowman during their match last month, he will want to get one back on Brock Lesnar for the humiliating loss of Wrestlemania 32.
With loads of talent and capability to rub shoulders against the strongest opponents, Dean Ambrose should be one of the leading contenders to challenge the winner of Crown Jewel between Brock Lesnar and Braun Strowman.
3. Finn Balor
Finn Balor’s handling by WWE has raised eyebrows time and time again. One of the most talented wrestlers in the world, Balor should always be in the main event scene at Raw. While his constant mid-card status has been baffling, Balor always delivers whenever in the ring.
The first ever WWE Universal Champion, Balor had to relinquish the title owing to an unfortunate shoulder injury at Summerslam 2016.
Following his return a day after Wrestlemania 33, Balor fought against Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, The Miz, Jinder Mahal, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns among others, defeated AJ Styles in one of the best matches of 2017, won his feuds against against Bray Wyatt and Baron Corbin, established a stable with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows as the ‘Balor Club’, participated in an elimination chamber, showcased a dominant display at 2018 Royal Rumble and took place in the 2018 Money in the Bank ladder match.
After dominating Corbin at 2018 Summerslam in his Demon King avatar, Balor is currently in a feud with Bobby Lashley and competing in the Mixed Match Challenge alongside Bayley.
While he has bettered several big names in the organisation, Balor is yet to get his rematch for the title he never lost. Apart from being one of the best in the world, Balor took Braun Strowman to the limit during their encounters a few months ago.
Balor’s in-ring charisma and his pending rematch for the Universal Championship should make him one of the main contenders to challenge for the title after Crown Jewel.
4. Seth Rollins
Understandably shaken after Reigns’s confession on Raw, WWE Intercontinental Champion Seth Rollins became a Tag Team Champions later in the night. However, Dean Ambrose’s heel turn caused ripples in the WWE Universe. The Shield looks dusted and it will be interesting to see the fate of Raw Tag Team Championship.
Rollins is one of the very best Raw has to offer and it looks empirical that he challenges for the biggest prize in the game.
One of the most successful superstars of the modern generation, Rollins is a grand slam champion in WWE.
At Summerslam 2016, Seth became the first wrestler in history to hold the United States Championship and WWE Championship together following a win over John Cena.
(Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images)
Right now, Rollins seems to be heading into a much-fancied feud with his tag team partner and possibly former Shield brother Dean Ambrose with the likelihood of a Wrestlemania 35 clash.
Finally, Rollins is one of the superstars to have gotten the better of Brock Lesnar on more than one occasion.
With his terrific capability, Seth Rollins can be a competent opponent for the superstar who will leave Saudi Arabia as the Universal Champion.
5. Elias
Following Reigns’s heartbreaking announcement, this Raw thrived on flux.
One of the biggest changes saw Elias transition from heel to a face. While fans kept on cheering during his heel persona, the drifter has risen rapidly since his main roster debut 18 months back.
While he could never receive a lengthy feud, Elias has fans cheering his name everywhere he goes around the world. This guitar-playing, trash-talking superstar has been revered by fans.
He boasts an impressive skillset and can easily connect with audiences on the microphone.
With WWE management high on him and fans around the arenas supporting him, Elias is being earmarked to succeed in the WWE. It should not come as a shock if he indeed challenges the winner of the Brock-Braun encounter.
Another impressive factor to be considered is that throughout their feud, Elias continued to shine, though he came out short again Strowman.
While his stock is still not as high as the others in the list, Elias makes a strong case to be in contention for the Universal Championship.
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