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Whether you're a fan of the current product or not, there's no denying WWE fans have gotten to witness some epic dream matches over the years. Some of them wouldn't be nearly as epic if it weren't for the buildup to the match.
Think back to The Rock vs. Hulk Hogan, Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels, The Rock vs. John Cena. Whether it's a matter of timing, luck, casting egos aside, or a combo of all three, sometimes dream matches become a reality.
Unfortunately, there are cases where fantasy feuds and dream matches simply just aren't meant to happen. Today, we'll look at three instances where despite fans' anticipation, things didn't fall into place.
#3 Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk
It's a shame the WWE Universe never got to see a one-on-one Punk-Rollins feud. While both wrestled each other occasionally, an actual feud between the two would have been awesome.
Although he's more respected for his in-ring work, Rollins can cut great promos. As for Punk, his work speaks for itself. He was excellent at cutting promos on the indie circuit way before the Pipe Bomb saga on WWE.
Both these competitors share countless similarities and this feud could have been epic. But since Punk's departure from WWE in 2014, he hasn't been too keen on getting back in a WWE ring. However, there is hope.
During an interview with Starcast, Punk said he was open to talking with Vince or Triple H about a possible return, but he wouldn't be the first one to make the call.
Until his return is official, his feud with Rollins is still something that many fans wanted, but never got to see.
#2 Stone Cold Steve Austin vs. Goldberg
Apart from the similarities in their looks, Stone Cold Steve Austin and Goldberg didn't have much common when it came to their characters' portrayals on WWE.
Goldberg was a silent assassin who brutalized his opponents in a matter of minutes with a style so intense, it left you wondering whether his opponents were legitimately going to be hospitalized after the match.
Meanwhile, some of Austin's best work was outside of the ring. His famous Austin 3:16 promo and pretty much every segment with Vince are perfect examples.
A match between the two superstars was a no-brainer. Goldberg wasn't known for his technical wrestling skills and neither was Austin. It probably wouldn't be a 30-minute classic, but then, would it really need to be?
Just two bald, no-nonsense brutes going at it for a few minutes would probably be enough to send the fans home happy.
#1 AJ Styles vs. Shawn Michaels
Many fans believed AJ Styles was the Shawn Michaels of his generation even before he made his WWE debut. Those are huge shoes to fill, but looking at the repertoire of both superstars, it's not hard to see why someone would think like that.
When Styles was with both TNA/Impact Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling, he wasn't just a mat-based wrestler; he was a performer who could take it to the air, tell a great story, and execute every move with exceptional precision.
All of this can be said for The Heart Break Kid as well.
The two discussed a possible match during an edition of table for 3, but nothing has come to pass. Michaels stays retired following his loss to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26. (That's if you don't count the tag team match at Crown Jewel in 2018.)
