Who will be the absolute mega star after Roman Reigns?

[robreynolds1234]

Austin replaced Hogan.



Cena replaced Austin.



Reigns replaced Cena.



Who will be the next absolute mega star after Roman Reigns?



As of now, I don't see any obvious wrestler. In 2013 or 2014, we could see WWE was grooming Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose (as a Shield or singles) and Reigns turned out to be the next mega star WWE wanted, Rollins is good but can't see him ever reaching that level. Ambrose is not the absolute but one of the top guys in AEW.



I know HHH will decide this one, but if I had to just guess someone, the best answer is Sami Zayn.

[yieldtonothing]

zayn is too old and he is not that guy. you're nuts

it's gonna be bron breakker

cody is gonna have a nice little feel good run, but the steiner kid is the next face of the company. roman and cena and orton will all put him over at some point.

[BigElephant]

Ezekiel showed promise, but I think Elrod is pretty special keep your eyes out for him.

[ChristmasFnatic]

Ezekiel showed promise, but I think Elrod is pretty special keep your eyes out for him.

I had hopes for Zeke too but he had a career ending injury. I agree, Elrod is where the future is.

[Deathstroke]

Otis

He’d be closer to it right now if wm36 and his mitb run happened outside the Covid era

No fans to grab onto him when he rallied was that was the time he was supposed to blow up. Except the left unleashed Covid ugh

[WWFE]

it's gonna be bron breakker
cody is gonna have a nice little feel good run, but the steiner kid is the next face of the company.
roman and cena and orton will all put him over at some point.

Surprised no mention of the obvious Bron v. Bron they would do, not to mention Sheep-Braun and Bray.

Austin Theory is the same age and an inch taller and already in the main picture, so he seems like another possibility. Definitely a lot more entertaining to watch.

I had thought Karrion Kross was some young guy but apparently he's 37, same with Baron Corbin but he's already 38, and LA Knight in 40s, time flies I guess. Dalton Castle if he ever ports over from AEW/ROH is someone I think should get a title run but obviously can't be the mega star since he's 36 already.

Ilja Dragunov is only 29 so I think he's someone to keep an eye on, very entertaining in the ring, but I don't know if they'd push a Russian face on the main shows any time soon as they have in NXT. Seems more likely they'd try to make him a Kozlov/Rusev type heel, but I really hope they use him.

-

what are the odds Dominik makes it to that level?
I know he seems cringe now but he's still only 25, is 6'1" and seems to have a lot of potential to grow in the ring.
Mysterio was still in WCW at that age chasing the Cruiserweight Championship.
Eddie in 92 was just shifting from CMLL to NJPW and AAA and didn't do ECW+WCW until 95 when he was 28.

Otis
He’d be closer to it right now if wm36 and his mitb run happened outside the Covid era

He's already 30, only 5'10" and very obese, hard to see it coming.
At best he gets to Kevin Owens tier which isn't quite carrying the company.

[LinuxJon]

If they don't fuk it up again, bray could easily go on a multi year run.

[JPG13]

How has only one person mentioned Bron Breaker so far? He's the only one with "the look". Every mantle guy listed in the OP had "the look", and it sure ain't the Otis or Bray look.

Bron as the baby face and Austin Theory as the heel. Cena and Edge redux. Maybe Orton

[BrickEX]

The name Bron Breakker in itself sucks—can they change it in a logical way? Why didn’t they tag him with something else to begin with? What are the odds there is a Bron and a Braun?

[Berries1]

Its someone not even in developmental yet.

[cheerupemokid]

If it’s going to happen, I don’t see that person on the roster.

[yieldtonothing]

The name Bron Breakker in itself sucks—can they change it in a logical way? Why didn’t they tag him with something else to begin with? What are the odds there is a Bron and a Braun?

then can and should call him Bronson Steiner

[ChristmasFnatic]

The name Bron Breakker in itself sucks—can they change it in a logical way? Why didn’t they tag him with something else to begin with? What are the odds there is a Bron and a Braun?

Born said he chose that name. lol. Also, he just wanna make his own legacy.

But yeah he will be a future world champ.

[stayhomeneet]

Hopefully nobody

Do we want another Cena? Another Reigns?

My hope is they go back to the 90s-early 00's style of having 4 or 5 guys in the mix at the top end who are all booked as if they are able to beat any of the others on any given day.

I want a bit of ****ing unpredictability not more "multi year runs" **** that it's boring, 2-4 title changes a year, please.

[robreynolds1234]

Hopefully nobody

Do we want another Cena? Another Reigns?

My hope is they go back to the 90s-early 00's style of having 4 or 5 guys in the mix at the top end who are all booked as if they are able to beat any of the others on any given day.

I want a bit of ****ing unpredictability not more "multi year runs" **** that it's boring, 2-4 title changes a year, please.

Yes, that would be good for a change. We had it like that from 2002-2005. SD was really good in 2003 and RAW was awesome in 2004. From 2006-2012 or these days the entire focus is on 'one megastar' and buildup to the PPV's. Usually all the big matches take place on PPV only.

They were trying to do that with Reigns, Rollins, Ambrose and Bray Wyatt in 2014-2015, but something didn't click right.

[squat_blaster]

Reigns is not a mega star

He is just happens to be the character the WWE corporate machine has been shoving down our throats the last 5+ years. Yes, Cena, Hogan, Austin, Rock were all pushed, but they were also over organically meaning they got over huge on their own and WWE attached the marketing rocket ship to their coat tails.

Roman is still not over organically. He came close, but failed with the leukemia story. I'm not saying I don't have empathy for that, but it seemed like a last ditch effort to try anything to get over and instead of using something storyline based, they went personal and it failed.

Roman is all fluff and no substance.

Don't believe me? What do you think would happen if Roman came out to the ring by himself and was told to cut a promo for 5 minutes? FLOP.

Anyway agree next potential mega stars could be Bray and Bron.

[JUSA]

Reigns is not a mega star

He is just happens to be the character the WWE corporate machine has been shoving down our throats the last 5+ years. Yes, Cena, Hogan, Austin, Rock were all pushed, but they were also over organically meaning they got over huge on their own and WWE attached the marketing rocket ship to their coat tails.

Roman is still not over organically. He came close, but failed with the leukemia story. I'm not saying I don't have empathy for that, but it seemed like a last ditch effort to try anything to get over and instead of using something storyline based, they went personal and it failed.

Roman is all fluff and no substance.

Don't believe me? What do you think would happen if Roman came out to the ring by himself and was told to cut a promo for 5 minutes? FLOP.

Anyway agree next potential mega stars could be Bray and Bron.

I agree, except with Hogan.

Hogan came in hot but instantly got a mega push, Vince knew exactly what he wanted to do with him. To Hogan's credit, he took it and ran with it. Hogan shows up Dec 83, wins the title by midlate January 84. Hogan had been around before in the WWWF but as a heel and nothing like what he was when he came back.

So I would argue he was shoved down the fan's throats, just that they immediately accepted it and were good with cheering him and saw him as a mega star to go along with his mega push.

[squat_blaster]

I agree, except with Hogan.

Hogan came in hot but instantly got a mega push, Vince knew exactly what he wanted to do with him. To Hogan's credit, he took it and ran with it. Hogan shows up Dec 83, wins the title by midlate January 84. Hogan had been around before in the WWWF but as a heel and nothing like what he was when he came back.

So I would argue he was shoved down the fan's throats, just that they immediately accepted it and were good with cheering him and saw him as a mega star to go along with his mega push.

Disagree about Hogan being shoved down our throats. I started watching mid '83. Backlund was out. There were no other baby faces around and Hogan was just off the heels of Rocky 3 and was the right place at the right time to beat Sheiky Baby. Hogan was a huge draw so I'd hardly call that being shoved down our throats. He wasn't on TV a lot compared to today. It was just monthly house shows at MSG or SNME or PPV. It wasn't the over-saturation like we get today. Unless you're talking about the marketing that came with it like the cartoons, the toys, dolls, posters, shirts etc...then I can see your point.

[robreynolds1234]

I wouldn't be counting out the idea that Seth Rollins is the ultimate choice to beat Roman Reigns for the world title, and establish him as the top wrestler (this time it's a face) for a couple of years. Whether he becomes a megastar or not, depends on his performance.

[WWFE]

What are the odds there is a Bron and a Braun?

weirdly after Carrion Cross comes back they change Nikki ASH back to Nikki Cross...

We also had John Cena co-existing with John Morrison, Paul Heyman coexisting with Paul Bearer (and Paul Levesque)

[JUSA]

Disagree about Hogan being shoved down our throats. I started watching mid '83. Backlund was out. There were no other baby faces around and Hogan was just off the heels of Rocky 3 and was the right place at the right time to beat Sheiky Baby. Hogan was a huge draw so I'd hardly call that being shoved down our throats. He wasn't on TV a lot compared to today. It was just monthly house shows at MSG or SNME or PPV. It wasn't the over-saturation like we get today. Unless you're talking about the marketing that came with it like the cartoons, the toys, dolls, posters, shirts etc...then I can see your point.

"Shoved down our throats" is maybe the wrong wording -- he got a mega massive push, like Reigns, but unlike Reigns, the fans accepted it fully.

No argument Hogan pre-88 was a massive star, took the business to the next level and became a mainstream household name in the 80s.

[JUSA]

Austin replaced Hogan.

Cena replaced Austin.

Reigns replaced Cena.

Who will be the next absolute mega star after Roman Reigns?

Between Austin and Hogan you had Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels presented as the top guys for a time. Also between Austin and Cena you had HHH. None took things to a Hogan/Austin level, sure - but if you're going to suggest Reigns replaced Cena, then you should include them on the list.. because if you are not including them b/c they were not mega stars (and I like Bret, but they weren't) then why the fuk is Reigns included?

Cena's heir has yet to be crowned, IMO. Wrestling still exists in the void he left behind when he semi-retired.

[yieldtonothing]

Between Austin and Hogan you had Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels presented as the top guys for a time. Also between Austin and Cena you had HHH. None took things to a Hogan/Austin level, sure - but if you're going to suggest Reigns replaced Cena, then you should include them on the list.. because if you are not including them b/c they were not mega stars (and I like Bret, but they weren't) then why the fuk is Reigns included?

Cena's heir has yet to be crowned, IMO. Wrestling still exists in the void he left behind when he semi-retired.

reigns takes a lot of chit and he def deserved most of it, but he and brock did as good as anyone else could've to keep the main event scene going during the post cena era

[Murph0408]

i dunno how many more football/soccer stadium mega events Roman needs to headline before you guys ...... acknowledge....the fact that he is indeed a star. the denial is strong with some of you. the company has thrived financially with him at the top. that doesn't mean he's responsible for that success by himself but you just sound silly denying his stardom at this point.

Theory had the keys to be the next big thing. I don't know what happened but he clearly lost some footing after Vince was out. "breakker" is obviously a top prospect. I do agree they should roll with Bronn Steiner instead.

Logan Paul at age 27 is definitely somebody they'd love to invest in long-term. he just seems like a guy who will want to move on to other things.

[underbak]

I guess time will tell

[squat_blaster]

i dunno how many more football/soccer stadium mega events Roman needs to headline before you guys ...... acknowledge....the fact that he is indeed a star. the denial is strong with some of you. the company has thrived financially with him at the top. that doesn't mean he's responsible for that success by himself but you just sound silly denying his stardom at this point.

Theory had the keys to be the next big thing. I don't know what happened but he clearly lost some footing after Vince was out. "breakker" is obviously a top prospect. I do agree they should roll with Bronn Steiner instead.

Logan Paul at age 27 is definitely somebody they'd love to invest in long-term. he just seems like a guy who will want to move on to other things.

Just because Roman is headlining, doesn't mean everyone wants to see it and it doesn't mean the company is thriving financially. Hasn't the WWE gone through the most amount of layoffs this past year than any other point in time? There is HUGE difference between "headlining" and "drawing". Roman can headline for another 2 years and he still wouldn't be a needle mover. He's not a draw, because he isn't over. You know who was a draw?
Hogan
Warrior
Austin
Goldberg

Yes. They were all mega stars. Roman is not.

[Murph0408]

Just because Roman is headlining, doesn't mean everyone wants to see it and it doesn't mean the company is thriving financially. Hasn't the WWE gone through the most amount of layoffs this past year than any other point in time? There is HUGE difference between "headlining" and "drawing". Roman can headline for another 2 years and he still wouldn't be a needle mover. He's not a draw, because he isn't over. You know who was a draw?
Hogan
Warrior
Austin
Goldberg

Yes. They were all mega stars. Roman is not.

those guys were great but aren't really what i'm arguing about here. we can debate the necessity of those layoffs too - many of those folks have come back to the company both on TV and behind the scenes. the stock is at its highest since mid-'19.

to me you're moving goalposts when it comes to Roman. so if the company is making a ton of money and he's the champion - both of the heavyweight titles btw - it doesn't count towards his legacy. yet every time they want to do an event in a football stadium (including major international events like the Castle in September), there's Roman at the top. but somehow that doesn't boost his legacy either and he shouldn't get credit for those tickets, the merch, the ratings etc?

so what are we killing roman for? crowd reactions? have you been to an event lately? all the dirt sheets also report that the bloodline merch is the top seller by far. why do you think that is? the usos?

It's odd Roman doesn't get a fair judgement by the IWC now that he's gone heel and been very good at it. he's a top draw as a monster heel. been that way for years at this point.

[LiftBigEatBig]

Heel Reigns is a bonafide star.

Anyone who disagrees with that has their blinders on, or hasn't been watching wrestling long enough.

The next top star isn't in the company yet.

[OT2000]

Reigns is not even on the same level of Hogan, Austin, Rock or even Cena.

**** the first three I mentioned are the goat in regards to popularity.

Reigns is nothing. And he still has no charisma.

[JUSA]

Reigns is not even on the same level of Hogan, Austin, Rock or even Cena.

**** the first three I mentioned are the goat in regards to popularity.

Reigns is nothing. And he still has no charisma.

Reigns isn't even close. While WWE *is* making bank these days, it's off of Blood Money from Saudi and lucrative deals they've cut -- not viewership.

Less than 2 million people regular tune in these days, normally barely over 1-1/2 with no real competition on Monday nights. WWF and WCW were pulling worlds more viewers and WWF Raw alone was generally triple what you get nowadays.

Business is on a major downturn, it's just that it doesn't matter as WWE is pulling in so much from good business decisions, discounting the whole morality of it all. HHH may turn that around, he seems to legitimately care about making stars and having a watchable product, Vince clearly not only didn't care but actively worked against that goal to ensure nobody got bigger than the company and held leverage. The past 5+ years, it's been all about the "WWE Brand" not the stars, and Reigns, nor anyone else in that environment, was going to break out and rival Hogan, Austin, Rock or John Cena.