CM Punk: 5 Wrestlers Who Could Win the WWE Championship If The Rock Fails

In case you forgot, the WWE Universe will be quick to remind you: CM Punk has been WWE Champion for quite some time. 

It's been 281 days, to be exact. By the time his next title defense happens, he will have passed The Ultimate Warrior's and Superstar Billy Graham's respective records for longest single reigns of 293 and 296 days. 

If Punk is going to extend that championship reign even deeper into the history books, he has two big obstacles ahead of him. The first will be John Cena, who it looks like Punk will name as his No.1 contender at Night of Champions in Boston. This will see roles reversed from 2011's Money in the Bank when Cena walked into Chicago with the WWE Championship. We all remember how that turned out.

Should Punk emerge victorious at Night of Champions (and I believe he will), one more even bigger challenge will await him at the Royal Rumble if he continues to keep and successfully defend the WWE Championship. It will be none other than The Rock, who will be facing the WWE Champion for the first time in what feels like an eternity.

Now, ask yourself this: If CM Punk defeats The Rock, thus earning the right to call himself the undisputed "best in the world," just who in the hell could finally become WWE Champion if The Great One cannot?

I've assembled a list of five distinct possibilities, and I invite you to let me know if these are good chances or not.

Let's get to it!

1. John Cena

While John Cena may not end CM Punk's reign immediately, Cena will never be one to give up either. He could potentially be the one to finally score a victory over CM Punk in the future, whether it is at Elimination Chamber 2013, WrestleMania XXIX or somewhere beyond. 

If this takes place, a trading of the title back and forth like what Cena did with Randy Orton for a while could happen. It would also keep the WWE Championship focused on the two most popular superstars in the company.

2. Daniel Bryan

I have said this before on B/R, and I have no problem repeating myself. Daniel Bryan is going to win the 2013 Royal Rumble.

By doing this and following a loss to CM Punk by The Rock, Bryan could win not only the endorsement of The Great One, but the hearts and minds of the WWE Universe. 

If there is any wrestler who could challenge CM Punk for the title of "best in the world," it is Bryan, and he already has wins over Punk. A victory to win the WWE Championship on a grand stage like WrestleMania would be a massive step for Bryan in cementing his name in WWE history books.

3. Brock Lesnar

While Brock Lesnar has a very publicly noted contract that only guarantees him a limited number of days, that is this year. 

Not next.

Paul Heyman noted something on his Twitter account recently, stating that he would not reveal his WWE plans after SummerSlam so as not to ruin a reason to continue tuning in to Raw. 

Absolutely nobody spoiled the fact that Heyman was coming back, and while it is a stretch, perhaps, WWE has been working with Lesnar to try and sign him for more time next year.

If that is the case, I see no reason why the man who may have ended Triple H's career can come back and become the unstoppable monster with gold around his waist.

4. Chris Jericho

While Chris Jericho's ability to win the big match was called into question by Dolph Ziggler (who also kicked him out of the WWE with a win), their match at SummerSlam proved that not only could Jericho win, he was capable of having one of, if not the best match of the show. 

Jericho has not personally announced his intentions on returning to WWE, so it is tough to say if and when he could challenge CM Punk for the WWE Championship again. That being said, if anybody could be the one to usurp "best in the world" from Punk, it would be Jericho.

5. Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins, known to long-time independent wrestling fans as Tyler Black, was the first to win the NXT Championship. This says a lot about his ability and potential in WWE. Once upon a time, Brock Lesnar was in the same position, winning the OVW Tag Team Championship three times with Shelton Benjamin. 

Brock Lesnar was WWE Champion less than half a year after his debut on Raw the night after WrestleMania X8. What better way to make an impact than for a new rookie like Rollins to defeat CM Punk in the middle of the ring for the WWE Championship?

I do not expect Rollins to go on the same path of destruction, obviously...but, if he were able to outwrestle Punk and pin him or even make Punk submit, a star would be born in a minute.  Crazier things have happened.

Thank you all once again for reading, and please let me know what you think by posting below!