We're not so far away from hitting 2020 now, and as the 10s decade comes to an end, it feels like there's a lot we can look back on with a smile on our face. On the opposite end of the spectrum, though, we also want to look ahead to the future.
There are plenty of reasons to be excited, and while some of them are quite obvious, a few haven't been covered in quite as much detail as we would've first anticipated. With that being said, it's time to have a think about what could go down - or could begin to transpire - within the next few months.
10 The Fiend Is The Face
The face of WWE does not need to be a babyface. He also doesn’t need to heel, and he doesn’t need to be a tweener.
What we’re trying to get across here is that he doesn’t ‘need’ to be anything (or she). If they have the best character in the company and can go in the ring, then strap the rocket to their back and see what they can do. In the instance of Bray Wyatt, it’s obvious to see that The Fiend has taken him to new heights. He will be the face of this company sooner rather than later.
9 John Cena Returns
It might seem unlikely and perhaps even a little out there, but we think Hollywood sensation and 16-time world champion John Cena will return to WWE on a semi-permanent basis in 2020.
We believe he will, for a six month period at the very least, resume a full-time schedule. He’ll find some time in which he’s not working on another project and he will confirm that when he said he’d never leave WWE again, he meant it. That’s the kind of storytelling we’d be on board with for Big Match John.
8 NXT Struggles
NXT’s big move to the USA Network really does scare us in more ways than one, and we aren’t quite sure how it’s going to go for them. They’ve got enough big stars to make it work on a long term basis, but in the first six months, we think they’ll struggle to get into a rhythm.
Adding that second hour is incredibly risky and the commercials are going to make the production of the show even riskier. Oh, and did we mention it’s going to be live?
They will bounce back as they always do, but it isn’t going to be pretty for a little while.
7 The Revival Walk Away
WWE has pretty much offered The Revival everything they could from decent money to a stable with Randy Orton to the tag titles. Even with this being the case, though, we just can’t picture them hanging around for the entirety of 2020.
There are too many interesting matches waiting for them outside of WWE, with the primary one being the showdown with The Young Bucks that quite literally all fans of tag team wrestling are waiting to watch. Dawson & Wilder deserve to test the waters outside of the comfort of WWE, and we’re excited to see it.
6 The UK Worry
NXT UK itself should be okay and we aren’t all too worried about that, but in terms of WWE’s influence in the United Kingdom, we do think there are going to be a few changes. In addition to some of their more notable independent promotions over there going through a few dry spells, there’s also the impending TV deal shift to worry about.
BT Sport, which is available in way fewer homes than Sky Sports, will be taking over as the new broadcaster of WWE in the United Kingdom. It’s a huge risk to pull themselves out of the Sky deal which has been going on for a good few decades now, and we think it’ll backfire.
5 Saudi Arabia Cancellation
They may have signed a 10-year deal or something equally as ridiculous when it comes to their Saudi Arabian shows, but we just feel like WWE is going to come to their senses and put a stop to their trips over there.
From being unable to showcase women’s wrestling to their many human rights violations to the unbelievable distance between the United States and Saudi Arabia itself, there are just too many red flags for this deal to carry on functioning as it has done. Sorry, Saudi fans, but it’s true.
4 AEW Shots Are Taken
All Elite Wrestling is coming, and there’s no way of avoiding it. Those guys are going to do everything in their power to cause WWE issues regardless of what they try and make it seem like. They are at war with WWE, and that much is a fact.
So then, we can only imagine that it won’t be too long until the AEW shots start coming on WWE programming. We’ve already seen Triple H, Sami Zayn, and Corey Graves all make references to either AEW or AEW talent specifically, and that was tame in comparison to what they’re capable of.
3 Brand New Production
The big move to FOX for SmackDown Live is coming, and we think big changes are coming as a result of that. One of the key factors that we believe will be shifted is the stage and general production of the show, and the same goes for Monday Night RAW.
We can see both weekly shows moving to more of a sport-based presentation which, ironically enough, fits in kind of perfectly with what All Elite Wrestling will try and do. WWE has needed to mix things up for a while when it comes to set design, and we’re intrigued to see what they do.
2 Vince Slows Down
The return of the XFL is just a matter of months away and while Vince says he isn’t going to be quite as involved in the gridiron league as many believe he will be, it seems like only a matter of time until he slows down when it comes to his commitments to WWE.
It’s not like that’s going to serve as a major hit to the company, either, because Triple H is there to run the show. Vince is in his 70s now and he cannot continue to maintain this kind of neverending schedule.
1 Schedule Shift
Speaking of schedule, we just have a funny feeling that the changes aren’t going to be restricted to the things we’ve already discussed. We are picturing a scenario in which either RAW, NXT or SmackDown Live changes either the date or time that it will air (from the SD Live Friday night slot that has already been confirmed).
That might be because of AEW and it might not, but one way or another, we’re predicting that a shift of some description will be made – and while it’s unlikely to be RAW, just imagine the outroar and reaction.