10 Best Candidates To Supplant Seth Rollins As WWE Champion

8. Rusev

The big Bulgarian brute may be on the injury list at the moment, but he’s not likely to be out for longer than a few months. Breaking his foot during an episode of Smackdown in late-May, Rusev was forced to miss the Elimination Chamber and Money In The Bank shows as a consequence. That has had a direct impact on his ongoing feud with Dolph Ziggler, who has become enamoured with Rusev’s former love interest, Lana.

By the time Rusev is cleared to wrestle again, it may be too late to resume the rivalry, which could open up the big man for bigger and better things. Much like Kevin Owens, Rusev benefited from feuding with John Cena in early-2015, even defeating his more illustrious opponent at the Fast Lane Pay-Per-View and featuring against him on the grand stage of WrestleMania. That right there was a show of faith from WWE that the guy is someone they have big plans for.

The question is, would a Rusev return later on in the year be the ideal time for him to break loose and enter the mix for the WWE Title? Now standing alone, without Lana, the guy will have to cut his own promos and live and die by his ability to do so. He’s already shown he can wrestle great bouts, but can he take that next step up the card? If Seth Rollins did turn babyface, don’t count Rusev out as a possible opponent.