Andrade “Cien” Almas (NXT)
… let’s start with NXT. The man formerly known as La Sombra is set to face former TNA original “Glorious” Bobby Roode at Takeover. There’s been a lot of buzz over this young man, as he dropped the mask and adopted a new look with suspenders and hat; an image I hope he drops as soon as possible.
It’s clear how good Almas is in the lucha libre department. By taking the mask away the mystique he built up in CMLL and NJPW has been wasted, but as we’ve seen before … if your name isn’t Rey Mysterio, you’re going to have a hard time getting over.
After looking through the Raw and Smackdown rosters, there’s many possible opponents for Almas, but the one I’m looking forward to is with fellow luchador Kalisto. Unlike Sin Cara and Hunico Sin Cara, Kalisto and Almas could put on a clinic fitting of Lucha Libre on a global scale.
Braun Strowman (Raw)
I scoured the Smackdown and NXT locker rooms for future opponents for the big man. But in the end there is only one logical opponent. Imagine in six months time, Bray Wyatt mentions bringing the family to both brands. Only problem is .. Strowman is happy doing things his way, and won’t be persuaded. The former Wyatt family member refuses to be in Bray’s shadow, and this leads to a match at Wrestlemania. It’s the most logical choice to get him away from the inevitable “Strowman sucks on his own and should get back with the family” comments.
Initially they could make it seem like Strowman is the victim, teasing a babyface turn … but then Luke Harper and Erick Rowan turn on Bray and leave Strowman to pick up the scraps. This would turn Bray babyface, while maintaining (and adding more heat to) the monster heel persona of Strowman.
American Alpha (Smackdown)
The most exciting and athletic tag team on Smackdown is bound to become the new champions of the blue brand. Only problem is, they don’t have much competition in The Vaudevillains, The Ascension, or The Hype Bros. Gable and Jordan interacted with SAWFT in NXT, as well as The Revival and The Authors Of Pain. They still need to avenge their losses to The Revival and The Authors Of Pain, but something tells me it’s going to be forgotten.
So who is left? Which tag teams could these two young men face in a cross-promotional tag team match? The New Day would be a decent choice, but in terms of making a feud that makes sense (good vs. bad) it would have to be the team of ‘The Doctors’ Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson.
Asuka (NXT)
The undefeated Japanese star is surpremely dominant. It almost feels like an insult to see her on NXT when she could be on the main roster tearing it up with the best. Her English needs work, but her ring work is head and shoulders above the rest.
She’s already beaten Dana Brooke, Emma, Nia Jax, and Bayley. In a way, I’m hoping she loses the title (through no fault of her own) back to Bayley so she can move up to the main roster.
There’s a few possibilities in Becky Lynch, Natalya, and Paige, but the two who could take her to the limit is former champion Charlotte, and the current champion Sasha Banks. Only thing is … I can’t see anyone beating her, and that’s why Asuka vs. Sasha, or Asuka vs. Charlotte for the Women’s title will be highly anticipated.
Sami Zayn (Raw)
I wanted to include Kevin Owens in this piece, but I couldn’t find any decent link ups (aside from someone I mention later). So instead I brought in Sami Zayn, who has a habit of working competitive and exciting matches with the right opponents.
And this is what I came up with. How about Sami Zayn vs. Austin Aries? Sami Zayn vs. Bobby Roode? I wanted to include Zayn vs. Hideo Itami or AJ Styles, but those matches happened already (dammit). The only other match I could think of was Zayn vs. Balor, but seen as they on the same brand we could see that sometime soon.
Dolph Ziggler (Smackdown)
He’s like Zayn, someone who has faced almost everybody. Still, there’s a few possibilities. Certainly wouldn’t mind Ziggler vs. Aries, or Ziggler vs. Almas. But there’s one match I really want to see as it reminds me of Dolph and Daniel Bryan. Ziggler vs. Hideo Itami … just think about that for a second and how exciting it could be!
Hideo Itami (NXT)
Yes he’s just returned from a severe injury and has wrestled only a handful of matches, but it doesn’t hurt to dream. Itami was one of the first big signings of recent times, as WWE went all out with Hulk Hogan and others being present for his contract signing. Despite Nakamura’s rise, Itami is still a valuable commodity who could rival him and shoot up the rankings as long as he stays healthy. He’s got some great talent to fight on NXT with the likes of Aries, Roode, Samoa Joe and Nakamura.
What about the main roster? Who could he face there? Well, there’s John Cena, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Chris Jericho, Cesaro, and many others, but there’s one guy he needs to go after immediately. Remember when he was injured and Kevin Owens was linked to (but not proven) being involved? WWE needs to remember that so when he moves up, he can get into a program with the cocky Canadian and teach him a lesson in humility.
Finn Balor (Raw)
He’s already faced some of the best talent in NXT, and his title match with Rollins at Summerslam is going to be an instant classic. So I want to ignore any possible match ups on Raw, and focus on Smackdown talent. Let me know which one sounds most appealing!
1) Finn Balor vs. Randy Orton
2) Finn Balor vs. John Cena
3) ‘The Demon’ Finn Balor vs ‘The Eater Of Worlds’ Bray Wyatt
4) Leader Of ‘The Club’? Finn Balor vs. AJ Styles
Randy Orton (Smackdown)
Randy may be facing ‘The Beast’ at Summerslam, but is there anyone else for him? After so many years it’s obvious he would have fought everyone by now, so we have to turn to NXT for fresh options. Personally I would love to see how he works with former TNA talents Austin Aries and Bobby Roode.
‘Glorious’ Bobby Roode (NXT)
I’m not sold on his ‘glorious’ gimmick just yet. I understand he needed a little extra to his character as he can no longer say “I’m the IT factor of professional wrestling” on a sports-entertainment program. The question is whether he can get enough heat or if it’s going to fall flat and die.
But for anyone who hasn’t seen him wrestle (shameful), you’re in for a treat! Roode is one of the best workers in the business, having proved himself against the likes of Sting, AJ Styles and Kurt Angle. He remains the longest reigning TNA World Champion over a single reign. He’s also a former TNA tag team champion with fellow NXT star Austin Aries, so I wouldn’t mind if they reformed ‘The Dirty Heels’. His tag team dominance with James Storm as Beer Money proves he can play the singles and tag team game and be a draw in his own right.
As a TNA original, Roode has an entire promotion filled with possible dream matches. Some say he reminds them of a younger Triple H, and I don’t mind the comparison as he does have a similar appearance and use of mannerisms. He’s the ultimate cheating heel with an aura of pomposity, which makes him the perfect opponent for someone like John Cena or Randy Orton. I also wouldn’t mind seeing a WWE version of AJ Styles and Bobby Roode, because their matches were nothing short of excellent and I’m glad I watched Impact and TNA’s PPV events to see them in action. Styles vs. Roode could main event any wrestling card for any promotion, as long as they have a belt to fight over.
Chris Jericho (Raw)
Yeah, so Y2J isn’t being used as a main event talent and that’s unlikely to change, but what he does bring is the ability to elevate new talent and get them over with the WWE audience. Just like Orton, you have to turn to NXT to find fresh matches. Aries, Roode, Itami, again these three men are mentioned because they are bound for the main roster.
But what about Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura? Two completely different animals for Jericho to sink his teeth into. Jericho already faced Nakamura in some live events in Japan, which is a clear indication of what the future holds. Exciting!
John Cena (Smackdown)
Ew, Cena in a dream match? You might be asking what I’ve been smoking. To be honest I ain’t been smoking anything, because there’s one match I want to see before he retires, and again it’s with the critically acclaimed Shinsuke Nakamura. One of the biggest names to come out of Japan against one of the biggest names in America writes itself, and I’m sure Cena would relish the challenge.
Austin Aries (NXT)
‘The Greatest Man That Ever Lived’ isn’t just a gimmick, it’s a fact of life. Aries is better than Gandhi, or Jesus, he is simply better than everyone who came before or after. But that’s enough selling, Aries is one of the best technical wrestlers on the planet. What about Cena? Or Orton? Or even Brock Lesnar? Will Aries be able to reach the top level and prove he can go with the biggest names WWE has to offer? He might be small, but a certain someone beat Randy Orton and Batista at Wrestlemania; so it’s not impossible.
Seth Rollins (Raw)
The man I consider most likely to walk out of Summerslam as the new Universal champion. There’s two big matches I want to see from ‘The Man’, and I’m sure both challengers would put his dominance at risk. Nakamura is going to be a force to be reckoned with, but we can all agree if there’s one match we want to see at Wrestlemania, it’s Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles. Sadly, AJ was drafted to Smackdown before the match could take place, but as long as they stay healthy … I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens in 2017.
AJ Styles (Smackdown)
‘The Phenomenal One’ is destined to be WWE Champion soon. You don’t put him in feuds with Jericho and John Cena without putting the belt on him eventually; it wouldn’t make sense otherwise. But when I look at the rosters, aside from the possible Seth Rollins encounter, you have to turn to NXT to find fresh matches.
But unlike Orton, Ziggler and others, Styles has already faced the NXT stars in TNA and New Japan. His matches with Samoa Joe and Bobby Roode were exceptional. Also I think he faced Aries a couple of times in TNA, but for some unknown reason the bookers didn’t want Aries and Styles for the World title; and I banged my head against the wall trying to figure out why it didn’t happen.
Aside from that, a rematch of the NJPW Wrestle Kingdom X classic against Nakamura is one I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing again. As long as WWE gives them enough time, we can’t complain as it would be a 4.5-5 star match without a doubt.
Samoa Joe (NXT)
The current NXT champion has a dream match of his own against Nakamura at Takeover. But what happens when he moves up to the main roster? Who does Joe have to contend with? Well there’s a few big guys on the main roster who I would love to see him work with. What about Sheamus? Rusev? Cesaro? Strowman? Big Show? There’s plenty of powerful guys he can contend with.
But the biggest of all, and I’ve seen this dream mentioned before … is Samoa Joe vs. Brock Lesnar. Think about that for a moment. I still think Lesnar would win, but Joe is a real wrestler and will take Brock to the limit. The biggest link to these men is Kurt Angle (Joe’s most famous rivalry was against Angle who ‘jumped ship’ and targeted his winning streak; Angle was the first man to beat him.), so bring in the Olympic Gold Medalist as special guest referee and it easily becomes a spectacle.
Brock Lesnar (Raw)
Speaking of ‘The Beast’ Brock Lesnar … who’s left? After Randy Orton at Summerslam, WWE will need someone to step up and face one of their biggest attractions. I could think of only three viable contenders …
1) Lesnar vs. Nakamura — Bit early to consider, but with how loved Nakamura is it would feel natural for the big bad Lesnar to destroy one of the WWE’s most beloved stars. I’m sure Shinsuke signed with WWE with the intention of facing stars like Lesnar, The Undertaker and John Cena.
2) Lesnar vs. Bray Wyatt — The seeds were planted back at the Royal Rumble. The Wyatt Family cost him a chance at the title, so it seemed like Brock vs. Bray would happen at some point. But it never happened … and Lesnar moved on to challenging for the WWE title at Fast Lane, and Dean Ambrose at Wrestlemania. I’m sure Brock and Heyman did not forget what he did to his chances earlier in the year.
3) Lesnar vs. AJ Styles — My personal favourite. If someone had said to me a couple of years ago they could see Brock Lesnar vs. AJ Styles in 2017, I would’ve said no chance in hell. Couple of years ago I had no hopes or dreams of seeing Styles in a WWE ring, so to sit here dreaming about this is a really nice treat.
That’s all for today! I’m looking forward to hearing what you guys and girls think. Please let me know if I missed any obvious dream matches from the list. In the case I left your favourite wrestler out, it wasn’t because I don’t like them … it’s because I couldn’t find a decent match up I want to see. Anyways, thanks for reading everyone! See you again next time.
