Former WWE champion wants to face Jon Moxley, Cope, and many other top stars in AEW

After making a surprise AEW debut on the May 7 edition of Dynamite in a short but intense bout against Nick Wayne, Rhino has now set his sights on some of the company's biggest names.

In a recent appearance on The WHIP Show Podcast, the former WWE Hardcore Champion revealed that Jon Moxley, Cope, and Christian Cage were at the top of his AEW dream match list. Rhino also singled out Toni Storm as one of the toughest competitors inside the squared circle. He said:

“Moxley, I’ve never really mixed it up with him. Maybe Adam Copeland or Christian Cage. Both of them are on top of their game. I just watch them, and I’m blown away. Toni Storm, I would not want to get in the ring with her. I know you were talking about guys, but she’s tough. There’s countless talent there!" [H/T: Fightful]

Rhino’s AEW debut in Detroit carried personal significance. Wrestling at the historic Masonic Temple Theatre in his hometown was a long-time goal. “It’s like stepping into history,” he said on the podcast, cherishing the opportunity to perform for Tony Khan's promotion at the iconic venue.

Look who just shut down all of Tony Khan's critics! More HERE.

Having spent over 30 years in the ring, Rhino's focused on giving back to the industry. Whether it’s through mentoring younger stars or producing matches. What becomes of his career remains to be seen, but one thing’s for certain: The War Machine still has gas left in the tank to make his mark in the Jacksonville-based promotion.

You can watch the full podcast here:

Rhino could have teamed up with a top star on his AEW debut

One name among the many whom Rhino mentioned he wished to face in Tony Khan's promotion was Cope (AKA Adam Copeland). Leading up to this week's Dynamite, sources suggested an intriguing possibility that The Rated-R Superstar, who we hasn't seen on TV since the Dynasty PPV, could return at the Wednesday night show and team up with fellow hardcore legend Rhino and confront FTR, the reason behind Cope currently being sidelined.

However, the Jacksonville-based promotion took a different route with the 49-year-old, who eventually battled Nick Wayne for the ROH World TV Title.

Expand Tweet

It will be interesting to see if Rhino faces Cope in Tony Khan's company in the future.

About the author

Karan Raj is a senior writer in Sportskeeda's AEW division. He holds an engineering degree from Manipal University, but his passion for sports motivated him to pursue an MSc in Sports Business from the University of Liverpool. Karan has been in the sports marketing industry for the past seven years.

As a lifelong WWE fan and enthusiast of wrestling entertainment, he has always been drawn to the industry's unique blend of sports and storytelling. Karan was introduced to the business by his elder sister when he was 10 years old.

Before assuming his current role at Sportskeeda, Karan worked for several reputable organizations, such as Ting Works LLP and Sportz Interactive, wearing different hats. He also wrote the anthem of UP Rudras, a hockey team that played in the Hockey India League. Karan conducts thorough research while writing articles and only relies on credible sources for information.

Karan's favorite pro wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary's versatility as a performer and his ability to play both heel and babyface characters to perfection. Besides Rollins, Karan looks up to Roman Reigns for his storytelling skills and ability to captivate audiences.

In AEW, he enjoys watching Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. Karan loves The Aerial Assassin's technical in-ring ability and athleticism. If Karan could go back to the Attitude Era, he would combine forces with Jericho and promise to elevate his career to the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.When not writing about pro wrestling, Karan loves to play and watch football. It is a huge part of his life.

He is also a massive fan of tennis and is learning to play the sport. Apart from sports, he also knows how to play the ukulele.

Know More

Edited by Yash Mittal