5 Potential Contenders to the WWE United States Championship

WWE.com

3. Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin has shown improvement since his time in NXT. Some fans thought his call-up following winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was premature given his in-ring ability. However, the Lone Wolf has not only improved in the ring and on the mic but has become one of SD Live’s most legit “monster” heels.

Corbin was one of SmackDown’s top draft picks and has been treated as such. He was involved in an SD Live classic, when he took on Styles and Dolph Ziggler in the main event of the final SD Live of 2016. At the Royal Rumble, he was the one who eliminated Raw’s monster, Braun Strowman. At Elimination Chamber he viciously beat down Dean Ambrose setting up a feud over the Intercontinental Championship, a feud cut short by the Superstar Shakeup.

The Lone Wolf is nowhere near the level of the aforementioned talents (Styles and Nakamura) but winning the United States Championship could be beneficial. Corbin presents himself as a loner, isolated from the rest of the talent. Given the current state of US politics, art has the chance to imitate life. With so many isolationist and populist movements around the globe, a heel that is known as the Lone Wolf holding the US title could generate nuclear heat.

Not to mention, Corbin has targeted “little guys” and “indie darlings” in the past. The only time he has been cheered by the WWE Universe is when he beat up the Miz and eliminated Strowman at the Royal Rumble.

So if he were to become the US Champ, he could feud with someone like a Tye Dillinger, someone who is over with the fans and has an extensive background in the business. The Lone Wolf could maul the Perfect 10 and disrespect his life-long career in wrestling.

Corbin mocking wrestlers who spend 10-15 years in the independents and/or developmental would be the perfect antagonist for someone — like Sami Zayn.