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Smackdown Live is called the “Land of Opportunity”. You would agree with it if you remember how careers of Superstars like Bray Wyatt, Rusev, The Miz etc. were re-elevated when they became a part of the Blue Brand. Smackdown Live currently has a stacked roster which consists of both homegrown Superstars like Randy Orton, The Miz etc. and former Indie sensations like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Daniel Bryan etc.
Booking on Smackdown Live has also been great this year. Every title is given equal prestige and importance. The WWE Championship is the brand’s top title and is held by one of the best wrestlers in WWE, AJ Styles. The US title has also been a major championship on Smackdown Live since 2017. Since 2017, the US title has been held by Superstars like AJ Styles, Randy Orton, Bobby Roode, Jeff Hardy etc.
The current Champion is Shinsuke Nakamura who won the title in July, this year by defeating Jeff Hardy. Nakamura then defeated Jeff Hardy in a rematch at Summerslam. After Summerslam, Shinsuke Nakamura announced that he wouldn’t defend the US title again unless he finds a worthy opponent. This storyline opens a door to several interesting possibilities.
Here, we take a look at 8 potential opponents "worthy" enough to challenge Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship.
#8 Harper
Harper was a major part of the Tag Team Division on Smackdown Live until Summerslam where his partner Rowan got injured. Rowan and Harper dropped the Tag Team Championships to The New Day on the Smackdown after Summerslam. Until Rowan returns to action, Harper must be booked as a singles competitor. Harper is a great wrestler and is even decent on the mic. Harper can work either as a heel or a face.
Harper had a singles run in 2014 after the Wyatt Family disbanded. Harper feuded with Dolph Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship. Because of that feud, we got to witness some amazing matches between the two. Harper’s singles run was great while it lasted. If given the opportunity, Harper can prove himself to be a suitable contender for the US title. The feud between Harper and Shinsuke Nakamura would be really fun to witness, considering the fact that both superstars have weird gimmicks.
#7 Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin was supposed to make his WWE return in 2016 but due to an injury, his return was delayed. Benjamin then made his WWE return on an episode of Smackdown Live last year as Chad Gable’s Tag Team partner. Gable and Benjamin’s team had the potential to be the top team of Smackdown Live but they came up short every time they went for something big. Shelton became a solo competitor after Gable got drafted to Raw earlier this year.
If you used to follow WWE back in 2003/2004, you must be aware of Benjamin’s work. He is a former Tag Team Champion, a multi-time Intercontinental Champion, and a former US Champion. He never fails to impress in the ring. Ever since returning to WWE in 2017, Benjamin hasn’t done anything prominent yet but if he gets the chance, he could become an important part of the mid-card scene and a fitting challenger for the US title.
#6 Any member of The New Day
Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E have been together as a trio since 2014. They are referred to as The New Day. The New Day has won Tag Team Championships on 5 different occasions. The team also holds the record for longest reign as World Tag Team Champions. The New Day is currently showing no signs of breaking up and it looks like the trio would continue to dominate the tag team division for a long time.
However, being a part of a stable doesn’t mean that members of The New Day couldn’t thrive as singles superstars. Big E, Kofi and Xavier Woods are incredibly talented superstars on their own as well. Xavier Woods was a part of a tournament earlier this year to crown the new US Champion. Kofi was a part of the Money in the Bank Ladder match this year. Big E competed in a gauntlet match on Smackdown Live to earn a chance to face AJ Styles at Extreme Rules for the WWE title. Any member of The New Day could feud with Shinsuke Nakamura for the US Title but I personally think that Big E would be the best choice right now.
#5 Cesaro
After several weeks of absence, The Bar finally returned to Smackdown Live in July. The Bar is currently trying to find their way into the Tag Titles picture. If Cesaro and Sheamus fail this time, they should break up. They have been together for nearly 2 years now and have enjoyed multiple reigns as the Tag Team Champions but it looks like the team has run its course.
If The Bar breaks up, Cesaro and Sheamus could once again become singles Superstars. Cesaro’s singles push has been long overdue. Cesaro can restart his singles career by stepping up to Shinsuke Nakamura and becoming the #1 contender for the US title. Cesaro and Shinsuke are capable of delivering some epic matches. Cesaro’s character has significantly developed by teaming up with Sheamus while Nakamura has improved a lot too. A feud between Cesaro and Shinsuke now would be much better than it would have been two years ago.
#4 Andrade “Cien” Almas
Almas has been wrestling for WWE since 2015. Almas spent his first 3 years in NXT. Although it looked like WWE had no faith in him, a heel turn in 2016 and an alliance with Zelina Vega in 2017 did wonders for him. Almas became NXT’s top star in no time. Almas defeated McIntyre to win the NXT title in November 2017 and had an amazing match against Johnny Gargano in January 2018. Almas made his main roster debut in April when Vega announced in a pre-recorded video that both she and Almas would be coming to Smackdown Live.
Ever since arriving on Smackdown Live, Almas has been a part of some great matches with the likes of AJ Styles, Rusev and Daniel Bryan. Unlike other heels on the roster, Almas has been booked quite differently so far. Almas himself challenges his opponents for a match to prove himself. Sometimes, Almas wins and sometimes he loses but his in-ring work has been really impressive so far and he has a well-built character too. All of the things mentioned above make Almas a suitable and worthy challenger for Shinsuke Nakamura’s US title. Not only would Almas be a good challenger, he could also be a decent US Champion.
#3 Rusev
Rusev’s “Rusev Day” gimmick which was introduced last year is still quite over with the fans. Rusev’s increasing popularity has resulted in him getting some amazing opportunities to prove himself. Rusev battled The Undertaker in a casket match at the Greatest Royal Rumble and also challenged AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules.
Rusev is currently scheduled to team up with Aiden English in order to try and earn a shot at The Tag Team Championships at Hell in a Cell. If Rusev fails, however, he could enter the US title picture. Nakamura (face) and Rusev (heel) feuded earlier this year too which led to a match at Fastlane. Now that the roles are reversed as Nakamura is a heel and Rusev is a face, it would be interesting to see how this rivalry would play out.
#2 Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio shocked the World when he made a surprise appearance at this year’s Royal Rumble. Mysterio looked to be in great shape. Mysterio was a part of the final six with John Cena, Randy Orton, Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura and Roman Reigns. If rumors are to be believed, Rey Mysterio is set to make his WWE return this year.
Rey Mysterio would be a valuable addition to any of the main roster shows (Smackdown Live, Raw or 205 Live). However, an epic return by interrupting and confronting the US Champion Shinsuke Nakamura would put him directly into the US title picture. As you all may know, Rey Mysterio just needs the US Championship to become a Grand Slam Champion. Also if you have been following NJPW this year, you must know that Rey can work well with NJPW Superstars. Nakamura and Mysterio’s rivalry would be a perfect return feud for Rey and would also help Nakamura.
#1 Finn Balor
Finn Balor has been a part of WWE since 2014. His NXT run from 2014 to 2016 was quite successful but his main roster run hasn’t been great so far. Balor’s first month on the main roster was successful and he even went on to become the inaugural Universal Champion but an injury forced him to relinquish the title the next night on Raw. Balor returned 8 months later and ever since then, he hasn’t done anything special. Balor has hardly been a part of a significant feud. A superstar like Balor should be utilized properly.
As of now, it seems like there are no big plans for Balor on Raw as the main event and upper mid-card scenes are heavily crowded. However, a move to Smackdown Live could do wonders for him. Balor could lose a “Loser Leaves Raw” match in the coming weeks, booked by the acting GM and Balor’s arch-nemesis, Baron Corbin. Balor could move to Smackdown Live then, where he could make his debut by challenging Shinsuke Nakamura. Nakamura and Shinsuke have battled on NXT before so an epic match is guaranteed whenever they collide again.
