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With every hero, you need an equally appealing villain. That makes the hero look prominent and the story convincing. Similarly, WWE has seen its fair amount of rivalries that have become memorable with fans continuing to pay for well past the expiration date of a particular pairing.
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While rivalries like Austin-Rock, Hogan-Andre, and Bret-HBK, which rank amongst the greatest in history, a plethora of others got disregarded. Even today with many different storylines and angles, some feuds get carved into history but not all get the attention they deserve.
Here are four rivalries of 2018 which WWE could've be booked a lot better, and some of them still have a great chance to become unforgettable.
#4 Asuka - Charlotte
Asuka won the inaugural Women's Royal Rumble match in January and challenged Charlotte Flair for her SmackDown Women's Championship. Fans had been waiting for this rivalry since Asuka's NXT days, and there could not have been a better booking for the two top female athletes of the company.
At WrestleMania, Charlotte broke Asuka's 914-day undefeated streak and retained her title. While the storyline that had led towards the match was highly engaging and captivating, the two went their separate ways, and the feud abruptly ended.
WWE had a golden opportunity in the form of a scintillating rivalry that could've become the greatest one in the history of women's wrestling, even surpassing the likes of Lita and Trish Stratus. The creative didn't capitalize on the opening, and an enormous plot just got neglected.
#3 Ricochet - Velveteen Dream
In the hands of Triple H, NXT has transitioned from a developmental brand to a full-fledged promotion.
Because "The Game" is so involved with the creative process in NXT, the storylines seem more genuine are better portrayed than the flagship shows (RAW and SmackDown Live). One highlight of 2018 has been the rivalry between Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa.
Because NXT has circulated around the former members of #DIY for quite a while, one feud that probably got overlooked was between Ricochet and Velveteen Dream.
Two of the most technically gifted wrestlers in the world come from different backgrounds and thus, have different wrestling styles. But both possess charisma and personality which is second to none and their match at Takeover: Chicago stole the show, only to be again overshadowed by Gargano-Ciampa.
While the budding rivalry between them might still not be over, it certainly deserves a lot more thought and awareness from the officials. Ricochet and Velveteen are future stars of the company, and their feud could be the highlight of this year.
#2 Mustafa Ali - Buddy Murphy
The cruiserweight division is arguably the most underutilized talent of WWE today. In spite of getting just an hour of live TV, the matches put by the wrestlers are top notch and worth getting a lot more attention. One of the recent storylines involving Mustafa Ali and Buddy Murphy is exceptionally brilliant.
After making his transition from NXT to 205 Live, Murphy has outshone all his peers at the promotion and has been excelling as a top heel of the division. Mustafa, on the other hand, is a beloved fan favourite and is regarded as the "heart of 205 Live."
With undeniable charisma and unparalleled in-ring work, the two have put on quality matches everytime they have faced each other inside the squared circle.
Their last match, a no-disqualification match, should be a definite candidate for match of the year. The feud between them is highly underrated and deserves recognition from the officials as well as the fans.
#1 Seth Rollins - Elias
Ever since coming up on the main-roster, Elias has been gaining popularity day by day. Despite not having a proper booking, he was getting extremely "over" with the WWE Universe, and the efforts paid off when he was scheduled in a feud against Seth Rollins for his Intercontinental Championship.
The two had great promo segments which involved Elias hitting Rollins with his guitar, and "The Architect" avenging the beatdown by destroying Elias' most prized possession, "Custom made John Mayer's guitar."
After having a phenomenal match at Money In The Bank PPV, fans wanted more of the rivalry, but the Creative had Rollins set up against Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre.
Elias certainly has a lot of potentials, and his rivalry, had it lasted longer, could have gone on to become one of the talking points of the year.
Do you think these rivalries should have been given more limelight? Sound off your opinions in the comments section below!
