Predicting The Next 10 WWE Champions
3. Randy Orton (Backlash 2019)
Randy Orton has been at the heart of some truly terrible programming since returning last year. The brief Brock Lesnar feud eviscerated his credibility, and while his allegiance with Bray Wyatt showed promise, the ensuing (and preceding) feud was WrestleCr*p-worthy, and produced WWE’s worst two matches of 2017 thus far.
His last WWE Title run was the dullest of his career, and the ongoing Jinder Mahal program has done nothing to spike interest levels. Still, ‘The Viper’ remains one of the company’s most trusted employees, and while his popularity might be close to an all-time low at the moment, Orton will continually be handed opportunities until the day he retires.
It’s hard to tell what state Orton’s stock will be in by Backlash 2019 - not that WWE seems to care - but two years is more than enough time to rebuild him. Here, ‘The Viper’ can end Baron Corbin’s second reign at three months, then hold onto the belt as a transitional champion, mounting a couple of successful defences on SmackDown’s weekly show. After that, it’s time to move towards the storyline that will carry the blue brand for the rest of the year...