4 Superstars who should win the WWE Championship by the end of this year

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Now, another major challenge awaits the champion as he is set to defend the WWE Championship against Gunther – arguably the most dangerous challenger he has faced since winning the belt. The Ring General attacked Rhodes on SmackDown, and Paul Heyman cashed in a favor owed to Gunther from the WrestleMania 42 build, setting up the Undisputed Title match at Clash in Italy.

The Ring General has looked unstoppable over the last few years, and many fans already believe he is destined to become WWE Champion sooner rather than later. At the same time, several other stars continue building strong cases for themselves heading into the second half of the year. Some are experienced main-event veterans, while others represent the future of the company and appear ready to take over the championship scene completely.

In this article, we will look at four superstars who should win the WWE Championship by the end of this year.

#4. Gunther

The Ring General has spent the past year building one of the most credible resumes in recent WWE history – retiring John Cena, Goldberg, and AJ Styles, then backing it up with a dominant win over Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 42.

Gunther has consistently delivered some of the best matches over the last several years while building a reputation as one of the toughest competitors in the company. His long championship reigns, dominant victories, and serious in-ring style have helped separate him from almost everyone else on the roster.

His upcoming championship match at Clash in Italy against Cody Rhodes could easily become one of the defining moments of the year. A WWE Championship reign would feel like a continuation of everything he has accomplished so far. More importantly, Gunther as champion would instantly raise the credibility of the title itself because every defense would feel serious and meaningful.

#3. Randy Orton

Randy Orton is a living legend. Even after two decades in the business, The Viper is still performing at an elite level, and fans absolutely love him. However, it has been a long time since he last held a world championship. He currently has 14 world title wins. Winning number 15 this year would create an amazing storyline.

Reports noted that originally, the creative team planned for Orton to win the title at WrestleMania 42, but the plans changed when he was dealing with an injury heading into The Show of Shows. That backstory matters. A plan of this level doesn’t get scrapped and forgotten – it gets rescheduled.

WWE has been advertising Randy Orton for the May 29 episode of SmackDown in Barcelona, which would mark his return to television following his WrestleMania appearance.

The unfinished business between Orton and Rhodes is real. There is also the emotional side of the story. After battling serious injuries and uncertainty surrounding his career, watching The Apex Predator hold the WWE Championship again would instantly become one of the biggest moments of the year, and SummerSlam could be the perfect venue.

#2. The Vision member Bron Breakker

Bron Breakker has looked destined for the WWE Championship almost from the moment he debuted.

He returned at WrestleMania 42 and cost Seth Rollins his match against Gunther. He then defeated The Visionary at Backlash 2026 in what has been described as the biggest win of his career. The promotion rarely pushes younger talent with this level of aggression unless the company sees future world champion potential.

Everything about The Vision member screams future centerpiece star. His intensity, athleticism, and explosive offense make him stand out immediately. The company has already placed him in high-profile storylines alongside major names, which usually serves as a strong indicator of the company’s long-term plans.

Winning the WWE Championship before the end of the year would officially complete his transition from promising prospect to full-fledged main-event player.

#1. Former WWE NXT Champion Oba Femi

After seemingly retiring Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, Oba Femi sent a direct message to Roman Reigns at the post-show press conference, staking his claim to the World Heavyweight Championship.

WWE has been struggling with how to use him as Femi has no worthy opponent lined up, even after Backlash, and WWE cannot afford to put him in a title program where a loss would damage his momentum. This tells a very specific story. They are protecting him for something significant.

What makes Oba stand out is how naturally dominant he looks against opponents. His size, athleticism, and confidence already make him feel believable as a future world champion, even though he is still relatively new compared to other established stars.

The sports entertainment juggernaut has spent years looking for fresh attractions who can immediately feel special on the main roster. The Ruler has that presence. Fans view him as a serious threat, and his matches continue to showcase how much potential he has moving forward.

A WWE Championship win before the end of the year would instantly establish him as one of the promotion’s biggest breakout stars.

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