Published: 2 minutes ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 3 seconds ago by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
WWE
A gap has been left in WWE following the retirement of Brock Lesnar when it comes to a de facto “next big thing”.
Sunday Night’s Main Event on September 6 saw Oba Femi and Bron Breakker face off in a match that could have determined the future of WWE, only for Bronson Reed to return and the encounter to end in a disqualification victory.
Femi had previously been described as “the future” by Brock Lesnar after the veteran star’s final WWE match at SummerSlam, yet there are many who could fit that description.
Very much like the show itself, the search for the “next big thing” never stops, and here’s some stars who might just fill the spot:
Bron Breakker
A second-generation star, Bron Breakker has all the makings of the “next big thing” in WWE and has ably demonstrated his quality since signing his first deal back in February 2021.
An imposing presence, the star demonstrated comic potential behind his gruff demeanor while teaming with Baron Corbin in NXT, with the pair holding the brand’s Tag Team Championship as a pairing that may or may not have been called “The Wolf Dogs”.
Paul Heyman has previously called Breakker “the future of WWE“, with the veteran having been recruited by Triple H to mentor the star. If that isn’t an indicator of the way that Breakker is truly seen behind-the-scenes in WWE, it’s difficult to imagine what it would be!
Oba Femi
Called up to the main roster earlier this year and competing in the men’s Royal Rumble match, Oba Femi was pretty much launched into a feud with Brock Lesnar, a tall order for any star but one that the two-time NXT Champion met with ease.
The man who retired Brock Lesnar, Femi’s star continues to rise through his current feud with The Vision, with Bronson Reed explaining a recent eyebrow-raising moment after an in-ring attack.
A powerhouse of a star, Femi ticks all the boxes when it comes to the “next big thing” and a potential replacement for the man at the head of the table himself, Roman Reigns. Indeed, Roman Reigns vs Oba Femi could be a barn burner of a match on any WWE PLE.
Logan Paul
He may have come to professional wrestling later in life than most of his peers and contemporaries, but Logan Paul has shown a remarkable aptitude for the business that he didn’t need to deliver, considering his broad slate of business interests elsewhere.
Currently sidelined through injury, the recent Logan Paul vlog showed how eager the star was to return to the ring, hoping to be cleared far sooner than WWE medical professionals advised, but accepting that it wasn’t to be.
A member of The Vision, very much like Bron Breakker, there’s every chance that his star will rise even higher when he breaks away from the faction. A World Tag Team Champion and United States Champion, seeing Logan Paul go after a top title once again would be something to witness.
LA Knight
Triple H has previously discussed stars seeking the top spot in WWE, stating that “If someone is getting over more than someone else, we move that person into the spot and move the other person down.
If there was ever a star on the current roster who has been “getting over more than someone else”, it’s LA Knight, whose popularity has gone from strength to strength.
A two-time United States Champion, Knight has recently attacked World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns, indicating that fans may finally see a worthy top title push for the star who returned to the company in 2021 and was briefly Max Dupri.
The Impenetrable Top Spot
Over the decades, it has seemed like the top spots in WWE have been occupied by the same stars with an iron grip on their position. There has been some movement, with exits and injuries shifting the ground, leading to stars such as Chelsea Green rising up over recent months, yet there’s an argument to be made that it’s the same names in the same spots.
One such top star, Roman Reigns, has recently indicated that retirement is likely to be in his future, although that likely means that CM Punk, Cody Rhodes or Seth Rollins are among the names who will fill the gap when he retires. There is, of course, the possibility that another name circling the main event picture will be the one to step up, going on to a lengthy run in the top spot.
The churn of WWE sees stars join and depart on a frequent basis, with the company on a constant lookout for the “next big thing” for years to come.
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