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This year, at WrestleMania 35, we already know many of the main event players.
Brock Lesnar, the Beast Incarnate, will defend his WWE Universal Championship against rival Seth Rollins. Ronda Rousey will put her Raw Women's Championship on the line against two challengers, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch.
However, nothing ever stays the same, and several years from now it could be a completely different main event picture at the biggest sports entertainment extravaganza of the year. Superstars retire, or suffer injuries, or switch to work for different promotions.
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With that being said, what will the WrestleMania main event picture look like in the coming years? Which up and coming talent will rise to the very top and gain a coveted main event spot at sports entertainment's biggest annual event?
Here are nine rising stars in pro wrestling that could wind up main eventing WrestleMania in the future.
Potential WrestleMania main eventer #1: King of Bros, Matt Riddle
Real Name: Matthew Riddle
Height and Weight: 6'2", 215 lbs.
Years in the Wrestling business: 5 (journeyman.)
In ring style: Striking and submissions
NXT rising star Matt Riddle, the King of Bros, is no stranger to the spotlight. He was a contestant on the popular Ultimate Fighter reality series, and proved to be quite a draw despite losing his second match and being knocked out of the tournament.
Nevertheless, UFC signed Riddle to a contract, and he had several entertaining bouts before being fired after testing positive for marijuana. For whatever reason, Dana White decided to make an example out of Riddle.
Mixed Martial Arts's loss was pro wrestling's gain. Riddle started working the independent circuit and gained rave reviews for his work ethic, charisma, and ability to tell a story in the ring. He was snapped up by WWE and assigned to NXT where he has been an instant sensation.
Why he will main event WrestleMania someday: Matt Riddle represents the future of pro wrestling, with a mix of athletic ability and mainstream media appeal. His charisma alone would propel him to the main event, but his personality all but seals the deal.
Potential WrestleMania Main Eventer #2: Johnny Gargano
Real Name: John Anthony Nicholas Gargano
Height and Weight: 5'10", 199 lbs.
Years in the Wrestling business: 14 (veteran.)
In ring style: Technical wrestling with some striking and submissions, and high flying. Basically if there's a move, Gargano knows it, and six ways to counter it.
Johnny Gargano's supreme wrestling skill got him on the radar of WWE as early as 2007, barely two years into his professional career. He wrestled and lost to MVP and Brodus Clay but was never signed to a contract.
However, Gargano remained on the WWE's 'someday' wish list of talent, and he indeed signed with the NXT brand several years ago. Gargano was an instant hit with the NXT audience, who dubbed him 'Johnny Wrestling.' His tag team with Tommaso Ciampa was perhaps doomed to split up at some point, because both men were seen by the WWE as future singles stars.
Now Gargano is on his own, flirting with a rise to the main roster, and is competing for the NXT Championship at Takeover New York.
Why he will main event WrestleMania someday: Johnny Gargano is one of the best pure wrestlers to come down the pike in a long time. He can get the crowd emotionally invested in his matches and has plenty of experience to rely upon while entertaining the fans
Potential WrestleMania Main Eventer #3: WALTER
Real Name: Walter Hahn.
Height and Weight: 6'4", 300 lbs.
Years in the Wrestling business: 12 (veteran.)
In ring style: Power wrestling.
Fans of Pro Wrestling Guerrilla know Walter well, especially by virtue of his performance against Zack Sabre Jr, which was rated five stars by the well respected Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
A fixture of the European and US independent circuits, Walter is another of those deceptively fast big men whose grace belies their apparent bulk. Though Walter can easily dominate just on virtue of his power, he also can wrestle a more technical style if that's what the situation warrants.
Why he might main event WrestleMania someday: Walter has the perfect mix of size, speed, and charisma. His dark glower is just as intimidating as he obvious size and strength, and he could be a fitting top monster heel of the WWE.
Potential WrestleMania main eventer #4: Io Shirai
Real Name: Masami Odate
Height and Weight: 5'1", 115 lbs.
Years in the Wrestling business: 12 (veteran.)
In ring style: high flying and technical wrestling.
The Queen of the Sky Io Shirai has been in the wrestling business for over a decade, first teaming with her sister Mio Shirai and then breaking off as a singles star.
Io Shirai has had a successful career in both her native Japan and Mexico, capturing numerous titles along her way. Shirai is widely recognized as one of the best wrestlers, male or female, currently working in the business today.
Why she could main event WrestleMania someday: Io Shirai has the skills, the athleticism, and glamour, and the charisma to be every bit as successful as her countrywoman Asuka, who has already had a WrestleMania main event spot and could soon have another.
Potential WrestleMania main eventer #5: Aleister Black
Real Name: Tom Budgen
Height and Weight: 6'0" 215 lbs.
Years in the Wrestling business: 17 (veteran.)
In ring style: Striking and technical wrestling.
Formerly known as Tommy End, the man now known as Aleister Black has been training in traditional martial arts and kickboxing since he was old enough to walk.
His combat sports training was a great boost to his pro wrestling career, giving him a spectacular move set right out of the box. However, Black is more than just another 'karate guy' striker. He has fleshed out his repertoire with a variety of more technical moves, and can trade submissions with the best of him.
Black was one of those independent scene superstars who no one ever thought would be signed with WWE, and yet here he is, about to be moved up to the main roster.
Why he might main event WrestleMania someday: Aleister Black has the total package in terms of look, skills, and charisma. WWE is obviously heavily invested in Black, perhaps even seeing him as a spiritual successor to the Undertaker.
Potential WrestleMania Main Eventer #6: Limitless Keith Lee
Real Name: Keith Lee
Height and Weight: 6'2", 300 lbs.
Years in the Wrestling business: 6 (journeyman.)
In ring style: Power wrestling and high flying mixed with strikes.
Keith Lee turned down the chance for a promising professional football star because he has been a life long wrestling fan. Much like Kenny Omega, he spent a lot of his youth also watching anime and reading manga, which might be why he was once introduced as "the prince of all Saiyans, with a power level well over nine thousand."
Keith Lee, much like Samoa Joe or Apollo Crews, has speed and agility that belie his massive bulk. Lee can use his considerable power game, but he's equally at home flying through the air like a cruiserweight on 205 Live.
Why he might main event WrestleMania someday: Keith Lee has great charisma, and is simply astonishing to behold. A big man capable of displaying such agility is a rarity in any sport, and Lee could have the total package to go all the way in this industry.
Potential WrestleMania Main Eventer #7: Lacey Evans
Real Name: Macey Estrella-Kadlec
Height and Weight: 5'10", 135 lbs
Years in the Wrestling business: 5 (rookie.)
In ring style: Power wrestling and some strikes.
Lacey Evans was a former Marine, trained to act as a Military Police officer. Evans was so talented in this role that she joined the Special Reaction Team, something similar to the SWAT teams employed by civilian law enforcement agencies.
Once her military career had ended, Evans trained for the professional wrestling business at the American Premier academy. She was signed shortly into her professional career by WWE and assigned to NXT.
She has appeared in the Mae Young Classic, and challenged for the NXT Women;s Championship on several occasions before she was elevated to the main roster.
Why she might main event WrestleMania someday: Evans has a glamorous look that belies the toughness of the woman playing the character. WWE has been high on her since her debut and seems to be determined to make her a superstar in the women's division.
Potential WrestleMania Main Eventer #8: Adam Cole
Real Name: Austin Jenkins
Height and Weight: 6'0", 210 lbs.
Years in the Wrestling business: 11 (veteran.)
In ring style: Technical wrestling.
Adam Cole cut his teeth in the Combat Zone Wrestling promotion, a brutal federation that is most widely known for its bloody hardcore matches and was also the birthing place for Lunatic Fringe Dean Ambrose, among others.
Cole was one of the more technically gifted members of the CZW roster, so it's no wonder he was snapped up early in his career by Ring of Honor. He distinguished himself as part of a tag team with Kyle O'Reilly called Future Shock, then went on to form his own stable, the Kingdom, and capture the ROH World Championship.
He also served as leader of the Bullet Club for a time in NJPW prior to signing with the WWE and again leading a faction, this time the Undisputed Era.
Why he might main event WrestleMania someday: Adam Cole is one of the most complete pro wrestlers in the game today, with literally no flaws in his ring style. He can adapt to any opponent placed in front of him, and has all the charisma necessary to get not only himself over, but a full stable of wrestlers as well.
Potential WrestleMania Main Eventer #9: The Velveteen Dream
Real Name: Patrick Clark Jr.
Height and Weight: 6'2", 227 lbs.
Years in the Wrestling business: 5 (journeyman.)
In ring style: US standard worker with some high flying.
The Velveteen Dream was once a contestant on the Tough Enough program. He quickly distinguished himself for his ability, but many on the show believed him to be arrogant.
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Velveteen Dream is now working on the NXT brand, and while he's as arrogant as ever his persona has been completely transformed. No longer 'slugger' Clark, he has embodied the new image of metrosexual fabulous that became popular with the current generation. Despite his relative inexperience in sports entertainment, Velveteen Dream has excellent poise and charisma, which makes him seem much more seasoned than he actually is.
Why he might main event WrestleMania someday: Velveteen Dream came into NXT playing the heel role, but his style and panache have made him a fan favorite. Already he has tasted gold, winning the NXT North American title from a very game Johnny Gargano, and in a few years he might be wrestling in the main event of WrestleMania for another strap.
There you have it; Ten rising superstars who might main event WrestleMania someday. Questions or comments? Please leave them after the article and as always, thanks for reading!
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