What's Next for Baron Corbin After WWE Money in the Bank 2017?

Fresh off his high-profile victory at WWE Money in the Bank 2017, Baron Corbin has fans wondering when he will cash in his contract, as well as what the immediate future holds for the winner of the 2017 Money in the Bank Ladder match.

Corbin was easily the most logical choice to come out on top in the bout. Whether they didn't need the blue briefcase in order to contend for the WWE Championship or held it before, none of the other combatants made as much sense as The Lone Wolf did as a possible victor.

Since his memorable debut at WrestleMania 32, Corbin has been slowly but surely building momentum as a singles star, with it becoming more a matter of when than if he would get involved in the main event scene. He has vied for the prestigious prize in the past, looking strong in defeat on each occasion.

Although he was unsuccessful in unseating Dean Ambrose as Intercontinental champion at WrestleMania 33, it was apparent following the Superstar Shake-up that bigger and better things were in store for Corbin. As I discussed in an article back in April, he has the potential to fill the void Bray Wyatt and The Miz left behind as the blue brand's lead heel.

Of course, Jinder Mahal stands atop SmackDown Live as its WWE champion, but it remains to be seen how long he will be in possession of the show's top title. Once his reign inevitably comes to an end, it would only be appropriate for Corbin to then cash in his briefcase and get his rightful run with the strap.

While Corbin is clearly WWE Championship material, the WWE would be wise to wait to pull the trigger on him as a main event player. In the coming months, he would benefit from continuing to grow as a performer by working with the best talent SmackDown has to offer.

First and foremost, Corbin must wrap up his recent rivalry with Sami Zayn as soon as possible. They contested a nice little match at Backlash, but contrary to his "ultimate underdog" gimmick, Zayn has gotten the better of Corbin in all of their encounters.

Before he can move on to other adversaries, he needs to avenge his string of losses against Zayn by defeating him decisively. From there, he can set his sights on the man he targeted in the Money in the Bank Ladder match: Shinsuke Nakamura.

Corbin initially attacked Nakamura on the June 6 edition of SmackDown following his main event match with Kevin Owens. It looked like he was merely trying to make a name for himself heading into the anticipated Ladder match, but his vendetta against The King of Strong Style was confirmed at Money in the Bank when Corbin ambushed him before the bout.

That put Nakamura out of commission for the better part of the matchup, and despite a valiant comeback and an amazing battle with AJ Styles, he fell short of becoming Mr. Money in the Bank thanks to Corbin.

Credit: WWE.com

That would seem to suggest that Corbin vs. Nakamura will be a prominently featured program on SmackDown coming out of the event. It could be what's best for both men at the moment as they inch closer and closer to contending for the WWE title.

Nakamura should unquestionably be kept undefeated in singles competition for a little while longer, but a series of matches vs. Corbin could lend a ton of credibility to The Lone Wolf while also keeping Nakamura busy. In fact, July's Battleground event would be the perfect place to host that heated clash.

Beyond Nakamura, Corbin vs. Styles could be a fun feud as well, especially considering how well they worked together earlier this year. Corbin once pinned Styles in a Fatal 4-Way match days prior to the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, so The Phenomenal One is always game to elevate fresh faces.

Finally, Corbin should eventually run through Randy Orton in his pursuit of the WWE Championship. A multi-time champion in his own right, Orton would be an excellent opponent for Corbin around SummerSlam season, as he could help legitimize Corbin in the eyes of fans.

Needless to say, the WWE will have plenty riding on Baron Corbin as Mr. Money in the Bank and must resist having him lose frequently, but a proper and gradual buildup in the remainder of 2017 will surely complete his transformation into one of SmackDown's hottest commodities.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, is an Endicott College alumni and aspiring journalist. Visit his website, Next Era Wrestling, and "like" his official Facebook page to continue the conversation on all things wrestling.