4 Potential Opponents for Buddy Murphy at WrestleMania 35

Buddy Murphy has been one of the biggest breakout stars of 2018. The current Cruiserweight Champion went from being an afterthought in NXT to one of the most talked about stars in the entire WWE in a matter of months.

Ever since joining the 205 Live roster in early 2017, Murphy has been one of its star performers, putting on excellent matches against the likes of Mustafa Ali, Cedric Alexander, Kalisto and Brian Kendrick. Murphy has been the cornerstone of the division and has been its champion for more than 120 days.

With WrestleMania 35 only two months away, the Aussie would need a credible opponent for WrestleMania 35. Murphy has already faced and defeated almost the entirety of the 205 Live roster, but here are four credible opponents for The Juggernaut at WrestleMania 35.

#5 Cedric Alexander

Cedric Alexander

Ever since losing the Cruiserweight Championship to Buddy Murphy at WWE Super Show Down in October, Cedric Alexander has fallen down the ranks in the cruiserweight division.

After being one of the standout performers in the Cruiserweight Classic, even earning "Please Sign Cedric" chant from the crowd after his second-round loss to Kota Ibushi, Alexander was destined for bigger and better things inside a WWE ring.

In August of 2016, it was announced that Alexander would be a part of WWE's revamped cruiserweight division.

2018 was the year when Alexander truly came out of his own when he made it to the finals of the WWE Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. Alexander faced off against Mustafa Ali in the finals of the said tournament at WrestleMania 35.

His match against Ali was one of the most well-received matches of the night with Alexander winning the Cruiserweight Championship in front of a sold-out crowd at the Mercedes Benz Superdome.

Given how thin the 205 Live roster and the lack of credible faces on the roster, a rematch against Murphy at the Grandest Stage doesn't seem too far fetched for the North-Carolina native. Alexander and Murphy have produced some of the memorable matches of 2018 and we see no reason why they can't do it again in 2019.

#4 Mike Kanellis

Mike and Maria Kanellis

Mike Kanellis' WWE run hasn't been anything to write home about. The former ROH and Impact Wrestling star debuted in the company along with his real-life wife, Maria Kanellis, at Money in the Bank 2017 and was immediately put in a feud with Sami Zayn, which is the only major singles feud that the former Mike Benett has had ever since arriving on the WWE.

Mike and his wife Maria had a long lay-off from wrestling due to Maria's pregnancy and Mike's battle with drug abuse, which saw the duo being off for TV for the major part of 2018.

The duo made their return to the WWE in late 2018 as part of the cruiserweight division. While Mike hasn't done anything substantial since arriving on 205 Live, he could be in for a huge title opportunity in the near future.

With the recent reports of the Kanellis's requesting for their release for their company and the cut-throat competition following the announcement of AEW, Mike could well on his way to a cruiserweight title match against Buddy Murphy at WrestleMania 35.

Kanellis is a very good worker inside the ring and if given the right opportunity can be a major player in the cruiserweight division. A match against Murphy at the Grandest Stage will not only allow Mike to showcase his skills in front of the whole world but would also be a moment of redemption for the 205 Live star, given the hardships he has been through over the past one and half year.

#3 Drew Gulak

Drew Gulak

One of the underrated talents on the WWE right now, Drew Gulak is one of the few superstars who is equally effective both in the ring and on the microphone. His Powerpoint presentations for a better 205 Live was one of the highlights of 205 Live in 2017, and Gulak has been one of the most consistent performers in the cruiserweight division.

But despite being the most versatile performer on the division, Gulak is yet to get his hands on the Cruiserweight Championship. Gulak has come inches within the Cruiserweight Championship on multiple occasions but sadly hasn't been able to record a win in a championship match. But all that could change in the coming months.

With the Royal Rumble in the backburner, we are officially on the road to WrestleMania. WWE would need to book a huge match for the Cruiserweight Division at The Showcase of Immortals, and Murphy vs Gulak fits the bills perfectly in our opinion. Murphy and Gulak have been standout performers in their division and seeing them locking horns at Mania would be a huge treat for the WWE Universe.

#1 Kushida

Kushida

After losing the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship to Taiji Ishiimori at Wrestle Kingdom 13 last month, Kushida officially announced his departure from New Japan. The Time Splitter is considered by many to be one of the greatest Junior Heavyweights of all time and has won championships all around the world. The Time Splitter is a former ROH Television Champion and won champions in promotions like CMLL and All Japan Pro Wrestling.

Kushida is also an accomplished mixed martial artist holding a professional record 6-0-2 and is world-renowned for his submission game. Kushida is expected to sign with the WWE, now that his contract with New Japan has officially expired.

The Japanese Sensation is excepted to either join the NXT or 205 Live roster once he arrives in the WWE and we are pretty pumped up to see Kushida inside a WWE ring.

Kushida would be a star attraction in 205 Live and given his resume, he should be put in a title programme against Buddy Murphy at WrestleMania 35. WWE has already messed up Japanese stars like Hideo Itami and Shinsuke Nakamura, and they can't afford to do the same to Kushida if they were to sign Japanese stars in the future.

Kushida is a superstar who would bring star-power to the ailing cruiserweight division and his match against Murphy will undoubtedly be one of the biggest highlights of WrestleMania 35.