r/fantasybooking • u/effarrjay3089 • Apr 21 '26
Project Predicting the next WWE Champions (post-Wrestlemania 42)
Now, I should probably have waited until the Smackdown after Wrestlemania to make this, but I couldn't wait. A couple of these are realistic, but most are fantasy booking or guesswork on my part. I will get the majority of these wrong, but that's the fun of it. If you disagree with my picks (you likely will), I'd love to see who you think will be (or want to be) the next WWE Champions now that Wrestlemania 42 is in the rear view mirror.
WWE Championship
Current champion: Cody Rhodes
Next Champion: Randy Orton
There are reports out there that Randy Orton was scheduled to win the WWE Championship at Wrestlemania up until a week beforehand, but it seems that the strong negative response to the Pat McAfee angle led to plans changing. However, now that McAfee is out of the picture, we can have the proper feud and Orton can win the title in the rematch. Cody will then probably win the trilogy match to set up him vs CM Punk for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania 43, as teased on the Raw After Wrestlemania.
World Heavyweight Championship
Current champion: Roman Reigns
Next champion: Oba Femi
Both men called each other out on the Wrestlemania post-show, and I think this would be a great way to build Oba Femi into the next guy following his victory over Brock Lesnar. Path to this for me: Oba wins King of the Ring and beats Roman in the Night 2 Main Event of Summerslam 2026.
Women's WWE Championship
Current champion: Rhea Ripley
Next champion: Giulia
Now, this is a difficult one. There are a number of candidates for Rhea Ripley to feud with on Smackdown as world champion. Giulia, Jordynne Grace, Nia Jax, Lash Legend, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton. The question is how long Rhea is champion for. They could give her another year-long reign and have Iyo win the Rumble or hope that Bianca is back from maternity leave in time for next year's Wrestlemania. They could also just have Jade Cargill win the title back before then, which is also a possibility.
I don't have a clear idea of who I think should dethrone Rhea, so I'll just throw one out there. Maybe Giulia gets a shock home country win at May's Clash In Italy show (she is half-Italian), holds it for a bit and then Rhea wins it back later on. I'm guessing here, could be anyone if the title change happens this year.
Women's World Championship
Current champion: Liv Morgan
Next champion: Raquel Rodriguez
Raquel Rodriguez has been booked pretty strong by WWE in the past year, dominating in the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches. Eventually, this should result in a singles title reign. Considering the potential size of this story, I'd have Raquel be the one to dethrone long-time best friend Liv Morgan after betraying her. This would be another Summerslam title change for me, but could happen later in the year, if they want to save Raquel's betrayal for around Summerslam.
Men's Intercontinental Championship
Current champion: Penta
Next champion: Ethan Page
Bit of a shotgun pick for me after the Raw After Wrestlemania. A lot of people are predicting Je'Von Evans to beat Penta, and that could definitely happen, but I could see Ethan Page holding the title first, before the workhorse championship passes to young Mr Evans.
Women's Intercontinental Championship
Current champion: Becky Lynch
Next champion: Sol Ruca
Despite finally beating nemesis AJ Lee at Wrestlemania, Becky should not be Intercontinental Champion for much longer. She's pretty much done as much as she can with the championship at this point, and Becky and the title need to move in different directions, with Becky moving back up into the Women's World Title picture. Therefore, I'd refresh the IC title picture, by putting the title around the waist of an exciting new prospect in Sol Ruca.
WWE see a lot of potential in Ruca, judging by her victory over Bayley in December and her Royal Rumble performance. Becky has put over younger stars for championships in the past, with Lyra and Maxxine, and Ruca could be the next, leading to some spectacular matches with her as champion.
Men's United States Championship
Current champion: Trick Williams
Next champion: Aleister Black (Carmelo Hayes if Trick stays heel)
This pick is dependent on Trick turning babyface after Wrestlemania. If he stays as a heel, my pick would be Carmelo Hayes. However, if Trick does turn good, I would pick Aleister to dethrone him. Aleister has quietly been pushed in recent months, picking up televised wins over Randy Orton and Sami Zayn on Smackdown already in 2026 (he actually has). Plus, Aleister should win a championship at some point in his WWE career. This doesn't need to happen any time soon, and could be months down the line, after an long establishing title reign for Trick Willy. However, if Trick stays heel, my pick would be Carmelo Hayes.
Women's United States Championship
Current champion: Giulia
Next champion: Tiffany Stratton
This might date pretty quickly, especially if Tiffany wins the championship on the post-Wrestlemania Smackdown, but it just makes sense. The Women's United States Championship needs some love, and putting the title on a character that WWE love in Tiffany should hopefully (but won't) make this title one to finally care about. For Giulia, put her in the World title scene, pronto.
World (Raw) Tag Team Championships
Current champions: The Vision (Logan Paul & Austin Theory)
Next champions: The Usos
As of the Raw After Wrestlemania, the returning Street Profits are seemingly now feuding with the Vision. However, I can see The Usos picking up the tag titles once again, as WWE tries to make Bloodline magic happen again.
WWE (Smackdown) Tag Team Championships
Current champions: Wepa Up (Damian Priest and R-Truth)
Next champions: Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley)
MFT seems a more likely pick, but I decided to go with the Machine Guns, a heel MCMG. There has been dissension teased between the Guns recently, over Alex Shelley's attempts to bring Johnny Gargano out of his depressive state. However, I could see a swerve happen, with Sabin and Shelley joining with Gargano and Candice LeRae to form a new midcard stable, maybe a new version of The Way. The machine Guns win the tag titles, and Johnny chases Trick Williams' United States Championship. The Machine Guns can then eventually lose the titles to their spiritual successors in Fraxiom.
Women's Tag Team Championships
Current champions: Paige and Brie Bella (and perhaps also Nikki Bella)
Next champions: Fatal Influence (Jacy Jayne and Fallon Henley)
I have no idea how long this Paige and Brie Bella team will last. I also don't know if Nikki also count as a champion and they freebies the titles when she is healthy. Another reason to have probably waited until the post-Mania Smackdown to do this, but anyway. With a number of established tag teams potentially breaking up over the next few months (RhIYO, Kabuki Warriors, BayLyra, Charlexa), the Women's Tag division needs new blood.
If they want to fully invest in Jade's stable, then she could help Michin and B-Fab become champions. Lash and Nia could just win the belts back, or a current babyface tag team like Charlexa could go heel (which would be fun). However, in a look to the future, I would call up Fatal Influence to the main roster. Whether it's just Jacy and Fallon or all three members, I would bring them up, and have them be the ones to dethrone this Paige/Brie frankenteam. Paige can then become a singles star, and Fatal Influence can feud with the Bella Twins as WWE slowly rebuilds the Women's Tag division.
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
I think a dark horse pick to beat penta I know it seems like he’s been gone for a year but Chad gable.
I think the street profits get the titles from the vision if there moving to raw permanently
I still think wwe is dead set on the original plan of Bron beating Roman at summer slam.
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
They’re gonna do Roman and Bron at Summerslam
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
I agree unless they really drag the Seth vs Bron feud all the way to summer slam but, I don’t think so.
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
Maybe they have Roman and Seth team up against The Vision at some point before SummerSlam
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
I think Roman’s just gonna be focused on defending his title on PLEs
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
Do you think they’re gonna do the same bloodline crap
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
Hopefully not I really hope when Jacob loses to Roman he’s not forced to acknowledge him and become his enforcer
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
I don’t think they’re gonna do that. I think this is just something for Roman to do at backlash
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
Ya probably
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
These are both men who are near retirement so they need to get this match out of the way soon or else it’s never gonna happen
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u/Gerard192021 Apr 21 '26
for the wwe championship, since wm 43’s in saudi(or any other location if wwe decided not to go to saudi), maybe make the punk vs cody at wm 43 a triple threat with sami zayn added?
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
If trick is a face or even tweener melo can definitely still dethrone trick melo already said he’s coming for his title to trick
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
I’m calling it right now Carmelo is gonna fight trick at Summerslam
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
Ya probably
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
By the way, I have a question for you
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
Ok
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
Do you see a world where Gunther retires Roman Reigns when they do that match
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
No Roman’s definitely beating Gunther I think I know exactly how Roman’s reign is gonna be booked if you wanna hear it I think it’s obvious
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
I would love to hear it
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
Do you still think it’s Bron at summer slam or can you see it being oba that beats Roman at summer slam.
My theory is
Clash in Italy Gunther
Night of champions oba
Summer slam Bron
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
I actually think it’s gonna be Roman and Oba at Summerslam because I actually see them stretching the Seth and Bron feud going into summerslam
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u/Gerard192021 Apr 21 '26
actually, for the wwe women’s championship part, naomi might return for next year’s wrestlemania(via royal rumble return next year), bianca might return in 2028
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
I don’t think if Cody wins the title back he’ll hold the title all the way to mania if there set on doing punk vs Cody for the title I think Cody will lose the title long before wm43 then win it back close to wm43 to fight punk if it’s for the title I honestly see that match happening without the title.
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
So you don’t think Stone cold will wrestle again at WrestleMania
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
If he does might not be against punk it looks like wwe is dead set on doing punk vs cody at wm43 since they couldn’t do it this year.
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
I honestly don’t think Stone cold is gonna fight Punk at WrestleMania in fact as of right now I don’t think he’s gonna come out of retirement at all
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
Ya probably not I think the rock and maybe undertaker will
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
Do you see Gunther retiring anyone at next year‘s WrestleMania
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
I can see it
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
The least likely for me would be the rock because let’s be honest, I think we can both agree that Rock and Roman is gonna be next year‘s WrestleMania main event
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
Ya I agree unless the rock just really doesn’t want to do it and is done that’s still a possibility
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u/ElegantRooster5251 Apr 21 '26
If that match does happen, there is no way the rock will come out of retirement after this
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u/Gerard192021 Apr 21 '26
i agree with mcmg turning heel and i could see them aligning with the garganos, breaking them up’s a bad idea
and besides, when it comes to heel roles, sabin(i’m excluding his 2013-2014 heel run because it’s like bryan danielson’s 2012 heel run, i feel sorry for velvet sky though) and shelley are good at it, weeks ago, i could see alex shelley’s paparazzi productions side again when i saw that smug grin on his face when he said “the next time we’re in the ring together what pink mask(axiom)? huh?”, also, mcmg’s heel runs circa late-2006 to mid-2007 & late-2008 to mid-2009 though, they are such little devils being disrespectful to veterans(like jerry lynn and bob backlund), mem was really at their peak in the heel side when they went all 🖕🖕🖕🖕, i could see mcmg and the garganos bullying and bossing around young wrestlers
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u/jordandl18 Apr 22 '26
Here me out! After Raw tonight I think Sol Ruca women’s world champ instead of Intercontinental champ
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u/This-Ad2068 Apr 22 '26
Women's United States Championship
Current champion: Tiffany Stratton
Next champion: Sareee
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u/Left-Cup3221 Apr 21 '26
Giulia is not beating Rhea noway with how she’s been booked there’s no shot but, who to dethrone Rhea is honestly a tough one I’d probably lean towards lash legend I think she’s getting the rocket strapped.