For a piece published by Sports Illustrated on August 19, Cesaro discussed how his goal working for WWE continues to be winning a world championship despite the company repeatedly using him as a tag-team performer and midcard wrestler. Legitimately one of the strongest men in the company, Cesaro is, with apologies to Lex Luger, the total package. He looks like a star. He can cut both serious and humorous promos. He speaks multiple languages, so he’s an ideal corporate face for a roster. One wonders why McMahon hasn’t put a major championship on this guy’s shoulder before September 2019. 

If Cesaro’s sit down with SI gives any indication of his future, it appears his split from Sheamus will remain intact even if the Celtic Warrior can return to in-ring action in the foreseeable future. No disrespect meant to Sheamus, but that’s best for the Swiss Superman. Cesaro’s prime is nearing its end (he’ll be 39-years-old by next January), and it would be a shame if WWE didn’t give him at least one run with a top title before he’s no longer able to wrestle at his best. Besides, AEW would happily push Claudio Castagnoli if WWE wasted Cesaro.

There are two reasons fans of Aleister Black should be concerned about the future of the character. First, the types of promos WWE has had Black cut since he became a singles act on the main roster aren’t getting him more over than he was while teaming with Ricochet. Secondly, Black and Bray Wyatt have teased a feud on social media. Whatever you may think of Wyatt’s “Fiend” gimmick, the company is clearly behind it and wants to push Wyatt as a monster heel. Black is probably doing the job if those two meet inside the ring at a pay-per-view. 

Black became a fan-favorite while in NXT because he won more than he lost, the company protected his finisher, and he wasn’t forced to cut long-winded promos that bored in-studio audiences and those of us watching at home. That same character can work on the main roster. WWE has desperately needed somebody to play anti-hero since CM Punk left the business to compete in the UFC. Black should fill that void, even if him doing so doesn’t necessarily mean him winning either the WWE or Universal Championship in 2020. 

The alleged WWE “women’s revolution” has been more of a miss than a hit on the main roster. Charlotte and Becky Lynch are recognized stars, but they’re the only two to rise to that level. Even Ronda Rousey was a cold and floundering character before her sabbatical following WrestleMania 35. Both Raw and SmackDown need fresh faces at the tops of those divisions. Enter Ember Moon, who hasn’t yet been given anything resembling a real push since the company called her up to NXT.

Like with Black, Moon’s lack of mic time in NXT gave the character mystique that made her stand out among other competitors. Athletically speaking, she can work as either a babyface or a heel depending on the feud. Her finisher is over among fans, it draws a pop whenever she hits it and it can be delivered on anybody who can take a stunner. Eventually, WWE will call the non-Rousey Horsewomen up to the main roster and likely push Shayna Baszler (more on her later). Until then, the company needs a new woman at the top of a brand, preferably somebody who can believably dethrone Becky Lynch. Moon can be that woman, if only until Baszler arrives to either Raw or SmackDown. 

The only reason we worry Humberto Carrillo won’t win the cruiserweight championship is that we’re not sure about the future of that division once NXT makes its debut on USA Network and SmackDown moves to Fox. Regardless of what’s in store for the purple belt, NXT will need new bodies and talent for weekly two-hour shows, and a babyface who isn’t Johnny Gargano will eventually be booked to topple Adam Cole and shove the Undisputed Era off that brand and onto the main roster. Carrillo, only 23-years-old, could be the best option. 

The last Mexican star WWE “made” was Rey Mysterio, who built his worldwide reputation in WCW and was already a money performer before he appeared on WWE television. WWE is about to enter a ratings war with AEW over their Wednesday night shows. McMahon will not tolerate losing, even if it’s his “minor league” brand that takes the L. Carrillo’s background, athleticism, and work rate could provide the NXT brand with the type of draw it needs to compete with AEW. In time, he’d be an excellent fit on SmackDown programs airing on Fox. 

Almost immediately after Kofi Kingston won the WWE Championship, fans assumed Big E was going to turn on his New Day partner, go heel and chase the title. As of September 2019, we’re still waiting for that to happen. WWE may not want to break New Day up because the group sells merchandise in stores and online and also because of fears that the three individuals may look to make their way to AEW as a unit for some dream matches with The Elite. All good things must come to an end, the adage teaches, and New Day isn’t moving the needle as it pertains to television ratings. 

Big E is a tremendous babyface who is funny and who can draw sympathy from audiences even though he’s usually bigger than his opponent. There’s nothing left for him to achieve in New Day, and his future as a solo act likely involves him playing heel versus somebody such as Kofi. The storyline explaining why Big E would turn on his friends and want a title writes itself. Besides, a match featuring Big E and Brock Lesnar clubbing each other for several minutes would be epic. 

Shayna Baszler in NXT is everything Ronda Rousey should have been on the main WWE roster, a killer heel who sometimes receives help from her friends but who, more often than not, gets the job done on her own because she’s a skilled fighter who can beat opponents multiple ways. There’s no suspending of disbelief necessary when watching Baszler choke women out in the middle of the ring. She’s done a phenomenal job in converting her mixed martial arts skills into an entertaining pro-wrestling style. One criticism is that she may be too good at selling in certain situations. 

Any perception Baszler is only where she’s at because she’s friends with Ronda Rousey is undeserved and unfair. Truth be told, Baszler and Rousey could have a fun feud working underneath the WWE umbrella, with the Queen of Spades looking to distance herself from her more famous friend. Before that, though, the MMA Four Horsewomen and WWE Four Horsewomen need to meet for a pay-per-view showdown. Baszler has the goods to emerge from that feud as a breakout star.