5 WWE Superstars who could be champions in 2019, and 5 who could be fired

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are that of the writer himself and not of Sportskeeda.

As 2018 draws to a close, wrestling fans and critics alike can look back upon this year as one of the most controversial, exciting, and difficult to predict in the history of sports entertainment.

Wrestle Kingdom drew rave reviews and boasted the current favorite for Greatest Match of All Time -- Kenny Omega vs. Rainmaker Okada, for the International Wrestling Grand Prix heavyweight championship. Meanwhile, WrestleMania 34 fell largely flat, mainly due to the lackluster main event which saw Roman Reigns unsuccessfully bid for the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar's Universal title.

Chris Jericho threw his own wrestling themed cruise, which seems to be a huge hit. Cody and the Young Bucks made wrestling history when they produced and executed the biggest independent show of all time, All In.

WWE grew mired in controversy once more with the events leading up to Crown Jewel, and their top star is on the shelf indefinitely as he battles a recurrence of leukemia.

In short, it's been a wild year for wrestling. But what about next year? What will happen by the end of 2019? Surely, some wrestlers will rise....and others will fall.

Here are five WWE stars who might be champions by the end of 2019, and five who might be looking for work.

#1 Could be champion by the end of 2019: Drew McIntyre

Drew puts Angle in his own submission hold.

Drew McIntyre has one of the best comeback stories of all time in pro wrestling. Initially discovered by Vince McMahon at a golfing tournament in his native Scotland, Drew McIntyre was hand-picked to be a future WWE world champion someday. In fact, Vince McMahon himself even got in the ring with Drew on his debut and said as much.

Once in the WWE, however, Drew floundered despite a strong push and victories over veterans like Matt Hardy. McIntyre ended up enrolled in the comedy act 3MB, playing third banana to Heath Slater and air guitaring his way into ignominy.

After McIntyre was fired, most believed his career would take years to recover, if it ever would. However, a strong run in the indies, a constant dedication to improving his craft, and a successful run in TNA/Impact all paved the way for his return to WWE.

Why he might be a champion before the end of 2019: Drew has the size, the charisma, and the look to be a champion. His ring skills have come a long way, and he definitely plays his character better now. And let's not forget Vince's prophecy.

#1 Could be fired by the end of 2019: Braun Strowman

It might seem strange that Braun is on this list, at least as one of the potentially fired wrestlers.

This is because he just participated in the Crown Jewel event, where he made an unsuccessful bid despite a titanic struggle to defeat the Beast Incarnate Brock Lesnar. He was also the 'Monster in the Bank' having won the titular PPV event Money in the Bank to capture the briefcase which contains a guaranteed, signed sealed and delivered contract for a WWE world title shot which can be cashed in at any time.

So why is Stroman on the chopping block?

Why he might be fired by the end of 2019: Braun Strowman is someone the WWE has been very high on, as he is a huge man who can move quite well for his size, giving comparisons to the Undertaker. However, WWE doesn't see wrestling as a job, but rather as a lifestyle. The long hours on the road, fourteen hour days at arenas, and meeting with the press are all considered par for the course.

Strowman reportedly has a bad habit of coming to work late, leaving early, and makes many faux pas backstage with veteran wrestlers. Despite his obvious qualifications, WWE doesn't want to put the title on someone who isn't dedicated. Then there's the matter of Braun's knees; his issues with them are what led to his abandoning a strong man career, and now it seems they are affecting his wrestling as well.

#2 Could be champion by the end of 2019: The Glorious Bobby Roode

The Glorious Bobby Roode is, in many ways, a wrestler's wrestler, much like Arn Anderson --whom he is compared to in the most flattering of terms. What we mean by he's a wrestler's wrestler is that he is looked up to and well liked backstage.

Roode is a true veteran, having fought his way up the independent ranks to being a staple of TNA Impact wrestling. He had a great run with partner Tennessee Cowboy James Storm, where they competed as Beer Money. Beer Money had multiple tag team title reigns, and their feud with the Motor City Machine Guns -- Alex Shelly and Chris Sabin -- led to many 'Match of the Year' candidates.

Bobby Roode did sign with WWE, coming into the NXT brand with a new character; Glorious Bobby Roode. The new persona made him wildly popular on NXT, and he has been quickly moved up first to SmackDown, then to Raw -- which is still considered the 'main' brand of WWE despite claims to the contrary.

Why he might be champion by the end of 2019: Bobby Roode has all the tools to be one of the greatest WWE champions of all time. He's always been a gifted technical performer, but now he has finally mastered his character and promos as well.

#2 Could be fired by the end of 2019: The Ascension

Konnor and Viktor, collectively known as the Ascension

From at least the early 1980s, wrestlers have been painting their faces. It all began with "The Exotic One" Adrian Street. Street had a 'man's man' gimmick where he was billed as tough as nails. His big, powerful build didn't get him over with fans, however, until he adopted the 'effete' persona of the Exotic One. Then, as he put it in an interview, 'the promoters were throwing money at me.'

Other wrestlers followed suit, from the Great Muta to Sting to the Ultimate Warrior. However, the most famous of the face painted wrestlers were the Road Warriors. Hawk and Animal started off as leather-clad bikers, but when the Mel Gibson film The Road Warrior made its debut, they quickly adopted the movie's aesthetics for their ring gear.

The Warriors were so successful, they spawned many rip offs, like the Blade Runners and Demolition. However, the current inception of the face painted warrior, the Ascension, has struggled on the main roster.

Once major stars in NXT, the duo have floundered on the main roster almost since day one.

Why they might be fired by the end of 2019: The Ascension aren't the most over act in the WWE by a long shot. While they were compelling in NXT, they were also pushed heavily and were some of the larger wrestlers on the roster there. Now on the main roster, they don't seem as imposing and are just expected by the fans to lose.

#3 Could be champion by the end of 2019: Samoa Joe

Back in 2005, Joe was asked if he would someday work for WWE. Joe's response was classic Samoa Joe all the way; "When hell freezes over."

Joe wasn't actually opposed to the idea of working for WWE, he just figured he would never be on their radar because of his natural build, and the fact that most of his mystique revolves around his legit bad ass character and stiff and brutal wrestling style.

However, never say never, because Joe did end up signing with WWE. He was perhaps the biggest name to come through NXT at the time, an international Superstar and former world champion of multiple promotions. After becoming the first ever two-time NXT champion, he was elevated to the main roster.

Why he might be champion before the end of 2019: Joe has become a stalwart performer and reliable mic man for WWE. He pretty much has all the tools he needs to perform as the champion.

#3 Could be fired by the end of 2019: Zack Ryder

The man who would eventually become known as the Long Island Iced Z has been in the WWE for a very long time. He first cut his teeth in the developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2005. Ryder was groomed for the tag team ranks, a role he would eventually excel at.

Ryder made his official WWE debut in 2006 on the ECW brand, where he and Curt Hawkins pretended to be related as the Major Brothers. The Major Brothers only had a minor impact, and were quickly shuffled off to become Edge wannabes. They helped the Rated R Superstar win many matches as the Edgeheads.

When Hawkins was let go by the company, Ryder developed his Long Island Iced Z character based on Jersey Shore. He used his podcast and social media to leverage his way to becoming a bigger star with WWE, but his momentum seems to have fizzled in recent years.

Why he might be fired by the end of 2015: Ryder has been with the WWE for over a decade, and every time it seems like he might break out he ends up back in the lower to mid-card. Sooner or later WWE might cut their losses with him.

#4 Could be champion by the end of 2019: The Velveteen Dream

Sometimes, a wrestler seems like they should have all the tools to be a great success...and nothing of note happens.

Billy Gunn was big, muscular, and very over as part of the New Age Outlaws. Jim Ross declared it was his intention to push Billy Gunn 'to the moon,' but as we all know Gunn never really made it that far. In fact, he never made it out of the mid card as a singles star, and when WWE brought him back on a legends contract it was part of tag team New Age Outlaws.

Rob Conway is another man who comes to mind with great potential who fizzled. Despite having a great look, decent in-ring skills, and even some modest mic skills he never really became a breakout star.

Then there's the exact polar opposite; A wrestler who gets over without seeming to try at all, who only gets better and brighter with each match. That wrestler is Velveteen Dream.

Why he might be champion by the end of 2019: Without a shadow of a doubt, Velveteen Dream is the most successful character ever envisioned by NXT. While others have had great success, Dream is 'homegrown' and has shown excellent poise and charisma for someone so young -- he is only 23. WWE will be looking to invest in Dream for the long haul, and we wouldn't be surprised if that means gold around his waist by the end of next year.

#4 Could be fired by the end of 2019: Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows

Luke Gallows has had a tumultuous relationship with WWE over the years.

Many remember him during the inaugural Tough Enough competition, where he was crying naked on a beach while Taz asked him if he really wanted to be a wrestler. Others recall him as the country simpleton with a split personality, Festus. Who can forget Gallows becoming holy hell on wheels every time the bell was rung?

Then he became a part of the Straight Edge Society under his real name...and fizzled so bad he was let go. Gallows would become a major force in Japan, as part of Bullet Club, where he formed the team with Anderson and a friendship with AJ Styles.

In fact, it was due to AJ Styles that the team was hired in the first place; they were literally brought in to make AJ happy in his new WWE home.

Why they might be fired by the end of 2019: AJ Styles clearly is feeling quite at home in WWE: it's unlikely he'd depart at this late stage of his career if his friends were released. However, even with AJ out of the picture, Gallows and Anderson have struggled to get over with the American wrestling audience and can't be nearly as stiff as they had been in Japan.

#5 Could be champion by the end of 2019: Andrade 'Cien' Almas

Andrade 'Cien Almas debuted in NXT, the first time he'd wrestled without a mask in his career. While he was given a nice video package, he wasn't pushed as hard as some of the other up and coming stars in that developmental promotion.

Almas found himself taking a back seat to Shinsuke Nakamura, Finn Balor, and others as he mostly floundered in NXT despite his high degree of talent. He was missing a secret ingredient, something to get him over as either face or heel.

He found that something in Zelina Vega. Herself being a trained wrestler and former TNA Knockouts tag champion, Vega is one of the best mic workers in the business. She was able to not only provide Almas with a much-needed boost to his popularity, she also seems to have inspired him to work even harder. Almas was so impressive he wound up getting the called up to SmackDown much earlier than anyone anticipated.

Why he might be champion by the end of 2019: Almas and Vega are a great package, calling to mind Miss Elizabeth and Randy Savage. Almas brings the sizzle, whereas Vega brings the steak in the form of great mike skills. Together they could go all the way to the top.

#5 Could be fired by the end of 2019: Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin was once a professional football player -- until his bad attitude and tendency to rough up teammates and opponents alike led to his career's untimely demise.

A former Golden Gloves boxer, it's obvious Corbin can throw down if he wants to. However, in pro wrestling, the ability to legitimately fight isn't worth as much as you might think. Performance and character are the more important aspects, by far.

Corbin is a decent in-ring performer, but to paraphrase Larry Zybysko he wouldn't be hot if you set him on fire. His character is largely a dud, uninteresting and unrelatable. Perhaps that is why WWE has put him in a non-wrestling heel role as the Constable/Acting General Manager of Raw.

Why he might be fired by the end of 2019: Corbin has followed a similar path to wrestlers before him, where they started as in-ring performers and ended up with on camera but non-wrestling roles. Some of them, like William Regal, have done quite well; Others, like Chief "Val Venis" Morely, have not. Corbin doesn't have a lot of charisma or passion for the business, and it shows.

There you have it; Who do YOU think might be fired? Who will be champion? Please comment and let us know, and thanks for reading!