Sami Zayn was the most recent star to win his first world championship, defeating Cody Rhodes and GUNTHER to become Undisputed WWE Champion in June.
Now a two-time Undisputed WWE Champion and remaining in the SmackDown main event, it feels like a full-circle moment to see Sami Zayn finally reach the top of the WWE mountain.
With WWE building several names up as future main eventers, there are a number of stars we could soon see win either the Undisputed WWE Championship or the World Heavyweight Title for the first time.
Here are five stars who could win their first WWE world championship soon.
Johnny Gargano
Johnny Gargano stood up for the first time in months on the September 4 SmackDown episode to challenge for CM Punk’s Undisputed WWE Championship.
With Sami Zayn winning the gold one month later, Gargano has been interfering in every WWE Championship match in attempts to earn a shot at the title.
While Gargano is often thwarted in these interference attempts, it could be to build to a major swerve, with the Rebel Heart potentially going on to win WWE’s top title.
Sami Zayn was the latest star to add his name to the WWE Championship lineage earlier this year, and we could see Johnny Gargano follow in his footsteps.
Bron Breakker
Ahead of unsuccessfully challenging for CM Punk’s World Heavyweight Championship on January 5, 2026, Bron Breakker was often touted as a future WWE main eventer.
2026 has been an odd year for the Vision member, who mostly competed in the tag-team division following his rivalry with Seth Rollins.
With the Vision dropping the World Tag Team Championship to Penta & Je’Von Evans at Crown Jewel, we could see Breakker return to the main event scene, and re-establish himself as the future of WWE.
Matt Cardona
Having not won a singles match on SmackDown since his return match in January, Matt Cardona feels like somewhat of a rogue choice for a future WWE Champion.
In reality, it would make a lot of sense to see Cardona win the company’s top title, with it being the last championship the former “Zack Ryder” would need to win to become a Grand Slam Champion.
Matt Cardona has stated on several occasions that his dream is to win the WWE Championship, including on SmackDown shortly after his return to the company.
Considering that WWE has acknowledged Cardona’s world title hopes on TV, it would make sense to see him finally finish his story, which could be re-established following his return from injury.
Penta
While Penta is now a World Tag Team Champion, we could also see him become a world titleholder in the singles division very soon.
The luchador is currently in possession of the Money in the Bank briefcase, meaning he can challenge for a world championship at a time of his choosing.
WWE clearly sees Penta as world championship-calibre, especially following him winning the World Heavyweight Championship #1 contender’s tournament earlier this year, and unsuccessfully challenging for Roman Reigns’ World Heavyweight Championship on September 14.
Whether its as a result of a Money in the Bank cash-in or in a traditional title challenge, it would make a lot of sense to see Penta reach the top of the WWE mountain in the next few years.
Oba Femi
Oba Femi has had perhaps one of the greatest main roster rookie years of any WWE star, with The Ruler being established as one of the most dominant stars in the company.
Following two wins over Brock Lesnar and his King of the Ring tournament victory, many believe that a world championship reign will be in Oba Femi’s future.
Oba Femi has called out World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns specifically on multiple occasions, most notably during the WrestleMania 40 and Money in the Bank post-shows.
Oba Femi becoming world champion feels more like a matter of “when” rather than “if” at this point, amid his monster push.
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