With another eventful year gone, WWE has started the new
year differently to how it would have liked. Looking back at the year that saw The Shield break out as 3 main event single stars, John Cena attempt to bring relevance to the United States championship and a rather lack lustre Divas revolution take place, One has to wonder what the year of 2016 has in store for fans and superstars alike. Starting the year with a rather large injury list, muddled creative booking and ratings on the ropes, It’s safe to say WWE could’ve asked for a better start to 2016.
With all that said, a year is a long time and a lot of things can happen. In this piece I’m going to look at a few bolder predictions for the next 12 months.
1) Cena will tie, and then break, Ric Flairs World Championship record.
2015 was a year that saw Cena take a step back from the Main Event and World Championship scene and pursue the slightly less prestigious US Title, claiming to make the championship great again. Whilst Cena has done a very good job of making the US belt more relevant, there isn’t much more he has left to accomplish with the belt.
Introducing the open challenge for the title was new and interesting, and was also something to look forward to on Raw (or even certain PPV’s) each week. Each one was guaranteed to produce a great match or moment. But after over half a year with the title round his waist, it’s time for Cena to move onto to something better once he returns. Having made his return on 28th December after a couple of months out of action, reports suggest that Cena may be sidelined for a while longer with a shoulder injury.
The only thing left for Cena to really accomplish is to go after the record that he nearly equalled back at Summerslam before Jon Stewart cost him the match v Seth Rollins. Cena now has a chance to return and finally break Flairs record which currently stands at 16 World Championships. Cena, currently on 15, would only have to hold the title twice in 2016 to equal and then break to record.
With Flair appearing regularly on WWE programming recently alongside daughter Charlotte, there is a chance that he may be involved in the programme that leads to Cena breaking the record. It seems he will exceed 16 title reigns eventually, and I believe this is the year.
1B) John Cena will win the IC title
Whilst we are on the subject of Cena, I may as well get this one out the way as well. Should Cena stop his pursue for the US title, and be kept away from the world title picture, there is a chance he may go after the title that’s managed to allude him his whole career, the Intercontinental Title. Trying to get the IC and US titles back to the prestige they used to be was always going to be a difficult task, but having the company’s biggest star bouncing between the two will do them no harm at all. Plus it also allows Cena to add something new to his already impressive resimae
2) An unlikely WWE return will take place.
Former WWE superstars returning to WWE is something that happens on quite a regular occurrence in WWE, especially in recent times. With the likes of The Dudley Boys, Tommy Dreamer, The Bogeyman and so on returning in 2015, history suggests that a few more returns are likely this year, especially with the first PPV of the year, The Royal Rumble, just round the corner.
However, The prediction I’m making isn’t for a couple of marquee appearances, It’s for a big name to return out the blue, much like Alberto Del Rio did at Hell In A Cell. Although there isn’t many to think of there is 3 I have in mind. The first one is Stone Cold Steve Austin. The actual in ring return of Stone Cold is what I’m getting at, as we’ve seen much of him outside the ring recently. The reason this would be shocking is due to the medical issue regarding this. If the underlying Medical issues weren’t in place, you have to assume Stone Cold would’ve returned to action much sooner than now. Whilst it’s unlikely he’ll ever return to ring action, if he ever would return, now would be a good time with a lack of big star names around.
Another name on the list is a controversial one, one who is likely to never return to WWE ever. I think we all know the name, CM Punk. Some hate him, some love him. Unfortunately, I fall in the latter and a CM Punk return would be a dream come true. Whilst it’s highly unlikely we’ll ever see him step foot in a WWE ring ever again, similar to Stone Cold, now would be a good time. With Punk training to enter UFC, but still yet to have his debut confirmed and Wrestlemania a number of months away, maybe, just maybe we might see Punk back to finally main event the company’s biggest show? probably not.
Last, and probably most likely of the 3, is Jeff Hardy. Jeff Hardy made a couple of spells in WWE, and is now coming to the close on his TNA contract. With all the issues Hardy and WWE have had in past relating to his substance abuse, WWE may have a tough decision to make on whether to let the daredevil return to their rings. However, latest teasers suggest we may see Jeff return at Wrestlemania, bringing brother Matt along with him. A Twitter exchange with the Dudley boys saw Bubba Ray tell Matt Hardy to meet him in Texas in April, which so happens to be around the time of Wrestlemania 32. Should this come to fruition, it would definitely be a memorable Mania’ moment.
3) WWE Will Finally Push Cesaro For A WWE Championship Run.
If there’s any one person in WWE that management have failed to capitalise on more than Cesaro, I’d like to hear who it is and even then I’d still disagree. With a tremendous move set, great in-ring ability, good charisma and a large fan support there’s no reason why Cesaro cannot be, or should already be, one of the biggest stars in the business.
However, for whatever reason it may be, Vince McMahon doesn’t see the gold in the Swiss Superman like many of his fans do. In a fairly recent interview with Steve Austin on his WWE Network podcast McMahon claimed that Ceasro has failed to ‘grasp the brass rings’ and connect with fans. Since that day, fans have been in full voice for Cesaro, giving him a bigger pop every time he appears and even bring their the “Cesaro Section” signs.
But, hopefully 2016 may be his year. With him current sidelined with an injury it may be unlikely he’s rushed up the card anytime soon. With that being said, a lot of stars are out with injuries at the moment and if Cesaro can return quicker than most, the depleted roster may work to his advantage as he attempts to graft his way to the top of the card. If he does get that opputunity, he needs to make it count. As a superstar with next to know chances, he needs to make the most of what he gets. A good or bad first world title run could be crucial for the future career of the fan favourite.
4) Vince McMahon Releases Control Of The Company.
Not only is this hard to imagine happening in 2016, it’s hard to imagine happening at all. At 70 years of age though it has to be difficult to run a company the size of the WWE. With McMahon having reigned over his company and built it to the point it’s at for so long now, it’s obvious why he’s so reluctant to leave his business. However, with the next in line being his daughter Stephanie McMahon and Husband HHH, McMahon can still monitor the progress very closely should he take a step down.
Giving up the company may be a bit too far, but taking a step back and allowing HHH and Stephanie to have more room with the booking and pushing of superstars. Triple H already has some good experience with running a small brand, having taken the reigns of NXT which is doing very well at this moment in time. Many, myself included, are inclined to believe that should Triple H and Co have more freedom round the company, then superstars who don’t or may not get the opportunity they deserve may get a chance to prove their critics wrong.
However, whilst this can all be said, it’s quite easy to imagine McMahon taking his company all the way with him to the grave, so a change of hands may not be due anytime soon.
5) Jason Jordan and Chad Gable Will Be The Ones The Conquer
The New Day.
Whilst fairly new on the NXT tag team scene, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable have already a good impression and connected with many of the fans. The styles of the two complement each other with Jordan being a good powerhouse and Gable carrying a good technical ability. A NXT tag title run looks likely in the very near future, and it won’t be long until the two are making a move up to the main roster.
If I had to make a prediction, I’d say that Gable and Jordan will be on the likes of Raw and Smack Down by March/April. Whilst some might suggest this is a bit ambitious, the tag team picture is lacking exciting top teams at the moment, with only Uso, Lucha Dragons and New Day with the credibility to be title holders. The most likely scenario is that Lucha Dragons will be the ones who knock the New Day off top spot. But with Sin Cara out injured and Kalisto capturing the US title in a shock victory this past Raw, the only real contender about are the Usos; but does anyone actually want another Uso title run?
Although Jordan and Gable have a lot left to learn whilst they remain on the developmental brand, there is no doubt that the talent and charisma is there, It’s up to WWE and NXT to capitalise on that and hopefully give them a fast pass to the main roster.
If you have any more bold predictions of your own, please let me know in the comments section below.
