WWE Day 1: Five possible finishes for WWE Championship match

WWE Day 1 is the first pay-per-view of 2022, and it's also the first event of its kind. The company usually has an event in December, but in 2021 they switched things up this year by waiting until the new year.

It was initially supposed to be Seth Rollins vs. Big E at Day 1, but the match changed drastically. A lot of factors have impacted the event. Kevin Owens re-signed with the company and was inserted into the WWE title feud.

Owens won a match and was added to the contest. Bobby Lashley attacked everyone on the same night. He successfully beat all three men on another episode of RAW and was also added to the fight.

With that, Day 1 had its match for the WWE Championship. Some obstacles have emerged in the final week, such as rumors of a COVID breakout in the company.

Regardless, the company is operating under the notion that 'the show must go on.' Here are five possible finishes for the WWE Championship match at Day 1.

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#5. Bobby Lashley leaves Day 1 as the new WWE Champ.

Lashley was the latest addition to the title match at WWE Day 1. He attacked the rest of the men in the match to close out a recent episode of RAW.

Because of that attack, he was inserted into the WWE title match. RAW has a stacked roster, and Lashley is a credible threat to win the title for the second time due to his athelticism.

His initial reign as WWE Champion legitimized Lashley as a main-event star. Before that, he was an upper mid-carder with potential. His pairing with MVP was the perfect recipe for his success.

Since Lashley was the last person added to the match, he could win the title back, continuing to battle with the other three men on the Road to WrestleMania.

#4. Kevin Owens could walk out of WWE Day 1 with the title

Kevin Owens' journey to WWE Day 1 has been strange. He entered 2021 as a face but slowly turned heel over the last month, reluctantly aligning with Seth Rollins. The two former foes have tried to manipulate the title match at the upcoming pay-per-view.

The duo teamed up against Lashley and Big E a few weeks ago and hit the former with a Curb Stomp. On the go-home RAW for WWE Day 1, Owens fought Cedric Alexander.

Owens is among the most competent stars in the industry, and his promos are always entertaining. Since he also recently re-signed with WWE before Day 1, perhaps he will be rewarded with a title win on Saturday.

Owens could walk out as Champion. The Prizefighter is long overdue for another major title run, and it could begin at WWE Day 1.

#3. Big E retains the title at WWE Day 1 after interference from MVP

Bobby Lashley was presented as a tweener or monster face in the feud for WWE Day 1. His recent misunderstandings with MVP might affect the outcome of the title match.

Both men have claimed they could beat Big E. The Almighty wanted his manager to have a shot, but other factors stopped that from happening.

MVP appeared alone on the go-home RAW for WWE Day 1, but former Hurt Business members Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin showed up to help.

MVP could turn on Lashley and cost him the title at WWE Day 1. It would make sense if his interference allowed Big E to retain since he claimed he could beat the WWE Champion.

Aligning with Alexander and Benjamin against Lashley would be a fresh matchup. MVP costing his client the belt would also solidify a possible face turn for Lashley.

#2. Seth Rollins could win the title at WWE Day 1

Rollins' status for WWE Day 1 was put on hold when he revealed he may have contracted COVID over the Christmas weekend. He was not present for RAW this Monday.

The Monday Night Messiah won a shot at the WWE title. However, it didn't materialize into a one-on-one match as Owens and Lashley were added to the bout at WWE Day 1.

Owens and Rollins worked together during the build-up to the title match. They even brutalized Big E and Lashley following a recent tag team bout.

Rollins seems to be the favorite to dethrone Big E out of the three challengers. He's one of the top stars in WWE, and the company likes having top stars holding titles on the Road to WrestleMania.

He might ride this outlandish character to another run as WWE Champion with a win at Day 1. Big E doesn't need to be pinned to lose the title, so Rollins could use that to win another major title.

#1. Big E gets a clean win at WWE Day 1

Big E should walk out of WWE Day 1 with the championship. He won the belt a few months ago and should have a decent run with it. Losing it at the pay-per-view would undermine all of his hard work.

The big man also represents the purest face in the scenario. Roman Reigns has ruled Smackdown for a year-and-a-half so having a face Champion on RAW balances that dynamic.

The most logical scenario at WWE Day 1 is that Big E walks out with the WWE title in his biggest match. He could still be challenged by the men who weren't pinned and new challengers like Randy Orton or AJ Styles.

Big E could become a favorite to win the Royal Rumble if he loses at Saturday's event. There weren't a lot of believable winners of the Battle Royale outside of former winners like Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, or Rollins. But a clean win for The Powerhouse of Positivity would still be the best outcome for WWE Day 1.