Predicting the next 3 WWE World Heavyweight Champions after Gunther
Currently, all signs point to Gunther enjoying a lengthy run as the World Heavyweight Champion. The stacked WWE roster guarantees that the title picture's foreseeable future is bright.
The Ring General won the belt at SummerSlam, only a few months after losing the Intercontinental Title. He restored prestige to the company's illustrious workhorse title by embarking on a record-breaking 666-day reign.
Now, the Austrian superstar has his sights set on becoming one of the greatest World Champions in WWE history. Well, his title run is already off to a stellar start, thanks to a solid program against Randy Orton.
Sooner or later, though, Gunther will have to drop the title. That said, here are three WWE Superstars who will likely be the next World Heavyweight Champions.
#3. 16-time WWE World Champion John Cena
Between his incredible 72+ minutes showing in the Men's Royal Rumble match in 2023 and becoming the longest reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion of all time, Gunther hasn't hesitated about his desire to come after as many long-running records as possible.
If he succeeds in keeping the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist until the end of the year, there's a solid chance that he could be part of another groundbreaking milestone in 2025.
However, the aforementioned milestone wouldn't fall under his name. It would actually be attributed to John Cena if he triumphs over The Ring General to become a 17-time World Champion.
As announced, The Cenation Leader's retirement tour will begin in January 2025. During said tour, fans will heavily back him to finally break Ric Flair's iconic record. If WWE is up for that, it would make perfect sense for Cena to be the one to dethrone one of the most dominant heels of this decade.
#2. Bron Breakker
'Your time is up, my time is now' is a widely popular line from John Cena's theme song. It would be fitting for this line to come into play when the two-time Royal Rumble winner drops his 17th World Title.
Over the last few years, the wrestler-turned-actor has been vocal about giving back to WWE. Therefore, if he is the one to win the World Heavyweight Championship from Gunther, he would have an incomparable deal of momentum on his side, which would, in turn, be greatly beneficial to the star he drops the World Title to.
Bron Breakker would be the perfect candidate for that role. In less than a year on the main roster, he has already decimated a plethora of fan favorites and started to become popular with the live crowds.
Starting his first World Championship reign by ending John Cena's final one would instantly turn the second-generation pro-wrestling powerhouse into a made man. That would be WWE's way of asserting that Breakker's 'time is now.'
#1. Ilja Dragunov
The fact that every dog has his day has never stopped a dragon from ruling the night. That could be the case with Bron Breakker's potential first World Heavyweight Championship reign.
After beating each other up in NXT, Breakker and Ilja Dragunov renewed their feud on WWE RAW. So far, the current Intercontinental Champion has been getting the better of The Mad Dragon. But fans remain hopeful that it's only a matter of time before Dragunov gets his lick back.
Thus, their budding animosity keeps increasing the possibility of the 'UNBESIEGBAR' being the one to slay Breakker and snatch the World Heavyweight Championship away from him.
After all, Dragunov has already proven that making the mighty fall is something he is perfectly capable of. So, who's to say that he can't do it again?