With Sami Zayn bringing back the WWE United States Championship Open Challenge on SmackDown, there are a lot of intriguing options.
From underutilized singles stars, to others who have been on the main roster for a while there are some exciting possibilities.
Here are 10 WWE stars to potentially answer Sami Zayn’s United States Championship Open Challenge.
10. Ilja Dragunov
With rumors that Ilja Draugnov could be returning to action sooner rather than later, perhaps answering Sami Zayn’s open challenge would be the perfect way to reintroduce “The Mad Dragon”.
With plenty of fan excitement surrounding his return after a long injury – the audience could be caught up in the joyful moment before being viciously driven into the ground when Draugnov turns heel on the beloved Sami Zayn.
On the other hand, babyface Dragunov could also come out and have a battle based in mutual respect with Zayn and everybody leaves happy.
Regardless of his future creative plans, fans will be excited to see the return of the Mad Dragon after a year out of action.
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9. Ethan Page
Already on a remarkable run as the NXT North American Champion – including an alliance with the main roster’s Chelsea Green and the Secret Hervice (Piper Niven & Alba Fyre).
Proving himself to be a menace set on world domination, perhaps Page could be tempted by becoming the WWE United States Champion.
Able to make a very amusing feud centered on Page’s desire to beat Zayn but refusing to actually challenge him, rather taking the heelish cowardly route of standing by to taunt – Ethan Page could become a presence on the main roster before ever departing NXT.
Eventually able to lead to a blow-off between the pair for Canadian supremacy – this feud could be iconic.
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8. Carmelo Hayes
While Carmelo Hayes has had some high profile matches since arriving on the main roster, his character hasn’t quite taken off.
Lacking an emotionally evocative storyline in his time on the main roster, fans are still left wanting to see more from Melo in the vein of his dominant NXT character.
Able to make the most of the Open Challenge moment, perhaps the bout against Sami Zayn could launch Melo into a new character direction.
If he were to get a little interference help from a familiar face from NXT – like Trick Williams or Hayes’ real life fiancée Kelani Jordan – it could be a whole new era for Melo.
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7. Nathan Frazer
A SmackDown star that hasn’t yet tasted singles success on the main roster is Nathan Frazer.
Before he established the dominant Fraxiom tag team with Axiom in NXT, Frazer joined the roster as a singles competitor.
Being trained by Seth Rollins, Frazer has technical abilities that deserve a spotlight in a one-on-one with Sami Zayn for the United States Championship.
Bringing about a new appreciation for the former NXT Heritage Cup Champion on the main roster, Zayn’s open challenge could open new doors for Nathan Frazer.
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6. Axiom
Separate from his Fraxiom tag team, Axiom could bring an incredible fight to Sami Zayn.
Bringing high flying and fast moving action, Zayn may struggle to keep up with the Spanish star who has continued to wow fans in WWE from beneath a mask.
However fans may also remember him as A-Kid from NXT UK – neither though have ever tangled with Sami Zayn one-on-one, making the first-time match up a fun one.
Able to tease a little bit of dissension between Fraxiom – as has continued to happen since their partnership began – the duo seem to work better with pressure on their dynamic!
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5. Tony D’Angelo
Seemingly poised to be called up to the main roster in the near future, Tony D’Angelo has already been taken out of rotation on TV.
“The Don” was seemingly written off of TV with an homage to the series finale of The Sopranos in a cliffhanger ending to the July 30 edition of NXT.
With both HBO’s Tony Soprano and NXT’s Tony D’Angelo meeting the same fate – being last shown in a restaurant, looking up at an unknown subject before the show cuts to black – it seems likely that D’Angelo is moving along to the main roster.
Perhaps best debuted in an open challenge concept whereby Tony D doesn’t need any particular reason to arrive – other than the opportunity at the United States Championship – the moment could launch the former NXT North American Champion on the main roster.
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4. Santos Escobar
One SmackDown name that could benefit from the open challenge opportunity is Santos Escobar.
After having relaunched with a more vicious and violent style in AAA, Legado del Fantasma hasn’t made the leap back to the main roster.
With Angel and Berto capturing the AAA Tag Team Championship and then losing them to Pagano & Psycho Clown in a storyline over the summer, there hasn’t been any WWE matches for the group since May.
Potentially able to answer Sami Zayn’s US title open challenge across three different weeks, the group could seek to wear Zayn down with Angel and Berto before meeting the boss Santos Escobar.
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3. Erick Rowan
While the Wyatt Sicks continue their dominance over the SmackDown tag team division, their in-ring action is somewhat limited.
Currently on SmackDown, the pair of Dexter Lumis and Joe Gacy are still the WWE Tag Team Champions on behalf of the Wyatt Sicks, leading to some more in-ring action for the duo.
However it would be a great deal of fun to see the Wyatt Sicks answer Sami Zayn’s open challenge for the US title and maintain some mystery about who Zayn might actually face.
Giving a showcase to the fan favorite Erick Rowan – a battle of the red beards would be a memorable match that would undoubtedly have a few thrilling spots thrown in for good measure.
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2. Tyler Bate
One potential candidate to answer Sami Zayn’s United States Championship open challenge would be Tyler Bate.
Last being spotted in the ring on the main roster at the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the SmackDown before WrestleMania 41 – he has appeared on Main Event in tag action twice.
While there were rumors back in early July that both Bate and his New Catch Republic tag team partner Pete Dunne were injured, Bate would later note he wasn’t injured but rather “waiting”.
Able to put on a thrilling and technical clinic with Zayn, showcasing Tyler Bate would be a great use of the Zayn’s open challenge.
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1. GUNTHER
Eventually someone will have to end the reign of Sami Zayn and perhaps the best person to squash the dreams of all the hopefuls who hadn’t yet gotten a shot is GUNTHER.
Still out of action due to an injury that in WWE storyline was referred to as “indefinitely”, the former WWE World Champion has posted recently on social media.
Sharing a sweet snap of himself holding hands and walking alongside his toddler son, GUNTHER captioned the pic “Recharge!” potentially signaling that after some family time – it will be back to work.
Possibly looking to return to SmackDown in lieu of WWE Raw and square off with old foe Sami Zayn – GUNTHER could reclaim a title in his first match back.
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