With World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins expected to be sidelined with a significant shoulder injury, it appears very likely that WWE will soon need to crown a new champion for its Raw brand. The injury reportedly occurred at WWE Crown Jewel during a coast-to-coast diving headbutt spot in his match against Cody Rhodes. While there was initial skepticism following a storyline injury angle earlier in the summer, this issue is believed to be legitimate and may require surgery.
The attack on Rollins by his own faction members, Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, on the subsequent episode of Monday Night Raw was reportedly done to write him off television for his recovery period. If Rollins is forced to relinquish the title, it opens up a major opportunity for another superstar to step into the main event scene. Here is a look at five potential candidates who could become the next World Heavyweight Champion.
Bron Breakker
The most obvious choice from a storyline perspective is Bron Breakker. He orchestrated the attack that took out Rollins, and positioning him as the new champion would be a logical next step in the narrative. At just 27 years old, Breakker is widely seen as a future cornerstone of the company, and this situation could accelerate his ascent. While he is still developing on the microphone, having the veteran Paul Heyman by his side to handle promo work would effectively mask any inexperience and immediately legitimize his reign.
Bronson Reed
Bronson Reed is coming off the biggest victory of his career at Crown Jewel, where he pinned Roman Reigns in a singles match. A win of that magnitude should propel any superstar to the top of the card. Reed was a key participant in the turn on Rollins, and he possesses the size, power, and in-ring ability to be a believable and dominant champion. While Breakker appears to be the focal point of the new Heyman-led group, Reed has a strong case to be considered for the championship.
CM Punk
If WWE prefers a more established name to carry the title, CM Punk is a logical option. He is the current number one contender after pinning Jey Uso in a triple-threat match on Raw, and he has a built-in history with both Rollins and Paul Heyman. Putting the championship on Punk would provide a satisfying conclusion to the story that began with Rollins’ Money in the Bank cash-in at SummerSlam, giving Punk his first major world title reign in over a decade and positioning him as the top babyface to challenge Heyman’s new faction.
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LA Knight
Though he has had inconsistent booking, LA Knight remains one of the most popular superstars with the WWE fans. Rewarding his strong character work and connection with the audience by giving him a run with the World Heavyweight Championship could be a viable option. Knight holds a recent victory over Seth Rollins and was not pinned in the number one contender’s match on Raw, giving him a legitimate claim to a title opportunity. It would represent a fresh direction for the main event scene and a major elevation for the Megastar.
GUNTHER
The Ring General is never far from the title picture. GUNTHER has been out of action since SummerSlam after undergoing surgery for a nose issue, but he is expected to return soon. As one of the most credible and dominant performers in all of wrestling, he would be an excellent choice to hold the championship. A reign for GUNTHER would open up the possibility for several exciting matchups against Breakker, Reed, and even Brock Lesnar. Furthermore, with rumors of him being a potential final opponent for John Cena in December, having him hold the World Heavyweight Championship would add another layer of prestige to that encounter.
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