10 Wrestlers Who'll Become WWE Champions For The First Time In 2017

6. Baron Corbin

Big Cass Universal
WWE.com

Say what you will about Baron Corbin, but The Lone Wolf is gradually finding his feet on SmackDown. He has close to perfected his bully heel act both inside the ring and out, as evidenced by his matches with Kalisto and promo work on Talking Smack, and he has all but washed off the stink of the directionless Dolph Ziggler feud that plagued him early in his run. Yes, he’s not the most dynamic performer in the company, but Corbin’s making moves, and he’ll soon have gold in his sights.

It’d be premature to call Corbin a future World Champion, but stranger things have happened. Vince McMahon has never been shy of pushing larger wrestlers ahead of schedule, and given the lack of quality heels in SmackDown’s current main event scene, there’s a chance we’ll see him in that spotlight by the end of the year.

Throwing him into the Intercontinental Title division would make a lot more sense, however. Corbin probably won’t be fighting for the belt while it’s around The Miz’s waist, but a new babyface champion should open his pathway to contention. For all his flaws, Corbin is SmackDown’s standout midcarder at the moment, and none of his peers are better suited to slotting into that role.

Baron Corbin is going to be a pushed wrestler for as long as he’s around on SmackDown. Like it or not, it won’t be long until there’s gold around his waist.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.