Current Titleholder Analysis - word2k9's FD NF Championship Entry

word2k9’s Analysis of the Current WWE & TNA Champions


WWE


WWE Champion – CM Punk

I think Punk is great. I think he’s one of those guys whose talent you cannot hide. I put him in the same category as Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, and Chris Jericho in that they are so damn talented, that it was only a matter of time for them to start winning major championships for a top-tier promotion. Right now, Punk is fortunate because he is the reigning WWE Champion at a time when WWE is focusing on lengthy title reigns. They keep mentioning on air that he has the 14th longest WWE Title reign of all-time. When they say things like that week after week, you know they (Vince & Triple H) are fixated on the matter.

When will the reign end? – Setting up the Royal Rumble Championship match against The Rock is priority number one for the next 5 months. In my mind, CM Punk is the ideal opponent for Rocky. I believe WWE agrees with me and this is why they are subtly setting up the match by having Punk take jabs at Dwayne. That being said, I believe Punk will drop the belt at SummerSlam and regain it at Survivor Series.

Who will be the next WWE Champion? – My prediction is that John Cena wins the title for the 652nd time at SummerSlam. Cena defends the belt a couple times against Big Show, but Punk takes it back at Survivor Series.


World Heavyweight Champion – Sheamus

I used to despise Sheamus for his fast track to the WWE Championship in 2009. I thought, and will always think, that the “chosen ones” like Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio get unfair opportunities just because someone higher up likes them. But in the past year, Sheamus has grown on me (Del Rio hasn’t). Sheamus has a lot of entertaining matches and his constantly pushing forward style mixes well with most opponents. I still think Sheamus gets preferential treatment, which is why he has been in some title picture, whether it be the WWE, US, World, or even the title of King of the Ring his entire career in WWE. But as long as he doesn’t get stale and continues to entertain, I’m ok with the Great White on top.

When will the reign end? – With John Cena unsuccessfully cashing in the WWE Championship Money in the Bank contract, I am 95% sure that Dolph Ziggler will cash the World Heavyweight Championship MITB contract successfully. Even though Ziggler has been threatening to cash in for the past couple weeks, I believe he will slow his role. I think Sheamus will have another match or two against Del Rio, then he’ll have a new challenger, Wade Barrett. I could see a Hell in a Cell match between Sheamus and Barrett ending with Sheamus narrowly winning. After the door opens, we see the same old song and dance. Ziggler comes in, cashes in, Sheamus knocks him down to make us think it won’t work, Ziggler counters with a Zig-Zag and gets the three count.

Who will be the next World Heavyweight Champion – SEE ABOVE


United States Champion – Santino Marella

I’m not a fan of Santino Marella, but I think he has found a niche in WWE. He is a comedic character, which is always needed to break the monotony of singles matches that WWE tends to book. Sometimes Marella’s bits are funnier than others, but he is almost always better than the alternatives (Hornswoggle, Great Khali, Mae Young). He SHOULD NOT be United States Champion. The US Championship is supposed to be the second most prestigious championship on Raw. If we look at this logically, the WWE Champion and whatever 1-3 contenders there are for that championship should be the only positions more desirable than United States Champion on Raw. With that in mind, WWE is trying to sell us on the fact that Santino is at worst the fifth most important character on Raw? I have a big problem with this.

When will the reign end? – This is tough because the title is defended so irregularly. If handled correctly, the US Championship should be defended at least once a month. As is, it is defended once every 2-3 months. Currently, Santino has no rivalry. His last rival was Ricardo Rodriguez, but Ricardo isn’t going to compete regularly (although I think he can). Instead, Del Rio has been squashing Santino, making the championship look even worse. But in September, Santino must defend the title at Night of Champions. This is where he will lose it.

Who will be the next United States Champion? – If I had my way, the championship would be legitimized with someone like Kane or Rey Mysterio challenging for, and winning, the title. This won’t happen. WWE will throw someone that they want to give a minor push to in the match. It will be a heel against Santino, so I’ll say Tensai will be given yet another opportunity.


Intercontinental Champion – The Miz

I cannot believe how The Miz has fallen from grace. Miz is reportedly hard to get along with, so I think he has done this to himself. But going from defeating John Cena at Wrestlemania for the WWE Championship to having to hold the Intercontinental Championship to maintain relevance is quite the downward spiral. Winning the IC is a good first step for Miz’s rebuilding process. I think he’s talented and deserves to stay close to the main event, but I don’t blame WWE for demoting him if he is an ass to everyone backstage.

When will the reign end? – Miz just won this title, so it is unlikely to change hands again for a while. The IC typically changes hands 4 or 5 times a year, so I think Miz will lose by the end of the year. I say he loses the title at the TLC PPV in December.

Who will be the next Intercontinental Champion? – Miz is wrapping up his program with Christian, so by next month he will be on to someone else. I actually think Miz will best 3 or 4 opponents before being defeated. This would be a good time for WWE to put a belt on Ryback after months of squashing nobodies.


WWE Tag Team Champions – Jimmy Boom

That may be the worst tag team name ever, but it did sound better than Little Ghana, Boom Boom Truth, or RKKK (Ron Killings Kofi Kingston). I’m proud of WWE for devoting more time to the tag team division lately. Truth and Kofi, the Primetime Players, and Primo and Epico are now established teams (WHO SHOULD STAY TOGETHER). There is also a chance for Reks and Hawkins and Hunico and Camacho to emerge. While WWE is on this kick of promoting tag teams, I would like to see some more fun and unique combinations like Mysterio and Sin Cara, Brodus Clay and Mark Henry, and/or Heath Slater and Drew McIntyre to sublimate.

When will the reign end? – If I know WWE, Kofi and Truth will drop the belts as soon as possible; probably on Raw in about 4 weeks.

Who will be the next WWE Tag Team Champions? – The Primetime Players, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the division plummet after the current champs drop the belts and every other team disintegrates.


WWE Divas Champion – Layla

I skip past most divas matches (not that there have been many recently). I have a hard time watching subpar wrestling, which is why I dislike Khali. The divas division has been a joke for more than a year now. I mean…4 of the past 5 Divas Champions have been both Bellas and 2/3 of Extreme Expose (the other 1/3 is the TNA Knockouts Champion, which we will get to later).

When will the reign end? – At Night of Champions. Layla will be forced to defend and she will lose.

Who will be the next Divas Champion? – Eve Torres will be the next uninteresting, unentertaining Divas Champion.


WWE NXT Champion – Seth Rollins

This is a true wildcard. I don’t know what format NXT will offer from this point forward, but I assume it will be like Superstars, but with a champion. Rollins is a fun guy to watch in the ring. He has some moves I have never seen anyone else do, but he is lost on the mic, so he may not be promoted to the main roster for a while.

When will the reign end? – I have not a clue. Let’s say November 18 since that’s my birthday.

Who will be the next NXT Champion? – I was always impressed with Bray Wyatt (Husky Harris). He will be a formidable opponent for Seth Rollins.



TNA


TNA World Heavyweight Champion – Austin Aries

I was ecstatic when Austin Aries won the World Title. He showed up in TNA and over the course of a year, proved that he is one of the top talents in the company. He wasn’t immediately pushed to the top like Sheamus. He wasn’t forced down our throats like Del Rio. He was given a solid push after a year of proving himself against the X-Division. Aries can hang with anyone and provides us with a totally unique moveset and a cocky, but likeable demeanor.

When will the reign end? – I don’t see the winner of the Bound for Glory Series facing Austin Aries for the World Championship, so obviously I think Aries will drop the title before BFG. Hardcore Justice would be a little abrupt, so I say No Surrender is the location.

Who will be the next TNA Champion? – Well, the only option is Bobby Roode. He is not in the BFG Series, so he is about the only man who can face Aries between now and then. A lot of faces in the BFG Series have a beef with Roode, so it makes sense for him to get the title back.


TNA X-Division Champion – Zema Ion

The X-Division took three major blows with the loss of former champion Austin Aries and the Motor City Machine Guns. The division was left with a lot of unknown guys and zero household names. Zema Ion is a fine wrestler, but his character is weird. A pretty boy with hairspray? That doesn’t sound like a character that can move up to the main event.

When will the reign end? – I think Ion will hold the title for a long time. I could potentially see Ion holding off all contenders until Against All Odds in February. I think Ion will hold this championship longer than anyone else will hold theirs on this list.

Who will be the next X-Division Champion? – After debuting, forming a short-lived tag team, and being pushed due to his name, I think Chavo Guerrero will be ready to win the X-Division Title from Zema Ion in February.


TNA TV Champion – Devon

It’s funny that Devon is the TV Champion. Team 3D broke up and immediately Bully Ray was pushed to the main event and Devon was off TV for a long time. Devon had several meaningless feuds with guys like The Pope and Robbie E, but now he is the TV Champion. The TV Champion is supposed to fight every week, but that isn’t happening. I think they are about to drop the TV Championship from TV altogether.

When will the reign end? – I wouldn’t be surprised if Devon is the last TV Champion. I see this championship being retired by November.

Who will be the next TNA TV Champion? – Nobody


TNA Tag Team Champions – Kaz & Daniels

Kaz and Daniels are a solid team. The problem is there is no other solid team on TNA’s roster. TNA used to have an excellent tag division, but right now it is shoddy. Think about it…Kurt Angle and AJ Styles won the belts for 2 weeks, Crimson and Matt Morgan are nowhere to be seen, and Mexican America dissolved.

When will the reign end? – Turning Point in November.

Who will be the next TNA Tag Team Champions? – Samoa Joe and Magnus. The BFG Series will be over, so this team can reform full time. Daniels and Kaz will be needing to move on to something else, so this looks like the time for change.


TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions – ODB & Eric Young

This strange bedfellow team is kayfabe married. Is that good enough reason to give a mixed gender team women’s tag team belts? I guess it is for TNA. I don’t agree with having a Knockouts Tag Team Championship, so even though I like EY and ODB, this bothers me.

When will the reign end? – I’m sure it won’t be defended often. There are no other teams active right now.

Who will be the next TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions? – I’m sure in the next few months, a team will be thrown together and they’ll start a divorce storyline to drop the belts. I’ll go with Mickie James and Taeler Hendrix.


TNA Knockouts Champion – Brooke Tessmacher

The third member of ECW’s Extreme Expose after Kelly Kelly and Layla was Brooke Tessmacher. Somehow, she has managed to win the (more prestigious than WWE Divas Championship) Knockouts Championship. All of a sudden, the KO Championship is very similar to the Divas Championship though. With Tessmacher, Velvet Sky, and Winter all holding the belt in the past year, it seems the days of good female wrestling is gone.

When will the reign end? – Final Resolution

Who will be the next TNA Knockouts Champion? – Hopefully Madison Rayne. I think Rayne is a very underrated wrestler. I’d like to see her dominate the division for a while. I might start watching entire matches again.



Top 5 Current Champions

5. The Miz
4. Kaz & Daniels
3. Kofi & R-Truth
2. CM Punk
1. Austin Aries