5 WWE Superstars Sami Zayn could've faced at WrestleMania 38 better than Johnny Knoxville

SmackDown saw Johnny Knoxville return and answer Sami Zayn’s open challenge for a match at WrestleMania 38. He responded with a cheap shot, some punches, and finished off his attack with a Helluva Kick.

This could only mean one thing: Zayn vs. Knoxville with the Intercontinental Championship on the line. Although the match hasn’t been announced officially, it's pretty much guaranteed to happen at WrestleMania 38.

However, a star of the former NXT Champion’s caliber deserves a high-profile match at ‘Mania. He has been underutilized for a long time but over-delivered and overachieved repeatedly.

WWE will be wise to reward The Great Liberator with a credible opponent at WrestleMania. That guarantees a classic at The Show of Shows and a just reward for all the hard work he has put in.

Here are five Superstars Zayn could face instead of Knoxville at WrestleMania.

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#5. Zayn gets a visit from Claymore Country

Drew McIntyre is spinning wheels in a feud with Happy Corbin & Madcap Moss. While it's fun to see him beat up the duo, he deserves to be higher up the card.

McIntyre is a world championship-level competitor. To get back into the world title picture, he'd have to make his way up the championship ladder.

That'd mean gunning for a mid-card title, and Zayn's the perfect foil for The Scottish Warrior. The Master Strategist playing mind games and messing with McIntyre will make for compelling TV.

The former WWE Champion winning the Intercontinental title would be another feather in his cap. It'd help him challenge the world champion at a later date.

#4. AJ Styles sets up a WrestleMania date with Zayn

AJ Styles has crossed paths with Zayn many times in WWE. However, they've never had the opportunity to wrestle a proper one-on-one match with a solid build and high stakes.

Giving the two a stage like WrestleMania and a worthy storyline guarantees a barnstormer of a feud. There's no doubt they'd tear the house down and set the bar high for the two-night extravaganza.

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#3. Big E meets The Conspiracy Theorist

Among the stars currently spinning their wheels in WWE is Big E. After his WWE Championship run came to a screeching halt, he found himself in a spot of bother.

Fighting Zayn for the Intercontinental title will be a great opportunity for him. By beating the champion, E will be served justice in the form of a WrestleMania moment.

Moreover, E could use the Intercontinental Championship as a stepping stone to challenge a world champion. When that happens, he'll be that much more of a credible challenger.

#2. Zayn takes part in a blast from the past

Remember the time Zayn faced the debuting Shinsuke Nakamura at NXT Takeover: Dallas? How can anyone forget the masterful match they had that night?

That magic hasn't been replicated by either star in the matches they've had on the main roster. Even though they have had a few contests, fans pine for something close to the classic they delivered in 2016.

Zayn and Nakamura recently faced off for the Intercontinental title in a match won by The Conspiracy Theorist. Nothing's stopping WWE from having the two contest a rematch at WrestleMania 38. If they get anywhere near their NXT match, they're stealing the show.

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#1. Zayn does battle under Rated-R terms

When Edge returned to WWE, fans made up lists for all the dream matches he could be having. If Zayn wasn’t on your list, you were doing it wrong.

The technical mastery of Zayn and the tenacity of Edge is a winning formula. With the latter announcing that he's looking for someone to step up and challenge him at WrestleMania 38, WWE could provide fans with an Edge vs. Zayn matchup.

Title or no title, the feud will be a masterclass in storytelling and in-ring work. Everything, from the promos to the match itself, will be a sight to behold.