5 Best options for Elias after his return on Friday Night SmackDown

Elias made his triumphant return to Friday Night SmackDown last week and one has to wonder what the company has planned for everyone's favorite drifter. Furthermore, one has to wonder who exactly Elias will cross paths with during his latest stint on SmackDown, which will no doubt lead to some interesting possibilities.

In fact, between Elias being able to spit hot fire whenever he gets on a microphone, to the way he is able to get a reaction out of the WWE Universe, he could become an essential part of programming over the next month. He might even work himself up to a mid-card title, if he is booked right.

With that stated, and 'The Drifter' now back from injury, here are five possible feuds for Elias going forward. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below and tell us who you think Elias should face off against.

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#5 Keep him floating.

Maybe just have Elias do what he does best?

Why not just keep Elias floating around? Not only does that allow WWE to continue to use him in whatever capacity the company desires, he can also act as a tool to help other talent get over. Beyond that, WWE could even use his talents to further other Superstars' storylines and leave fans on the edge of their seats in the process.

For example, let's say Elias was possessed by The Fiend in one way or another and used as a mind game trick against Daniel Bryan, or maybe WWE uses him in the ongoing storyline between Baron Corbin and Roman Reigns as a way to give Reigns an embarrassing loss after Corbin interferes.

Either way, there are a lot of ways WWE can use Elias without having to commit him to any one specific storyline and the company might want to take advantage of that.

#4 Kofi Kingston

Kofi Kingston versus Elias. Who wins?

What happens when Elias meets the power of positivity? Although it's probably not the most interesting question that can be asked when examining the SmackDown roster, it is at least a chance for Kofi Kingston to regain some much needed momentum. It is also a chance for Kingston's positivity to go up against Elias' stone cold one liners, which could make for some great zingers.

Elias is fantastic on the microphone and has proven that in segment after segment. He knows how to pull at the strings of the WWE Universe and get any reaction out of them that he wants. Contrast that with Kingston and how over he still is as a babyface and you have something special that can flourish in the mid-card.

It gives Kingston a chance to build up a string of victories as a singles Superstar. It also gives him an antagonist and should have no problem keeping the crowd on his side. Maybe it's a step down for Kingston, especially after being WWE Champion, but WWE needs to start building him up again and Elias might be the perfect Superstar to help do that.

#3 Braun Strowman

Will Elias get these hands from Braun Strowman?

Braun Strowman needs a new target and while there are a bevy of Superstars that could easily fill that role, why not just pair him with a returning Elias? At least that way, Strowman will have someone that can supply some levity to segments and allow 'The Monster Among Men' to focus on the physicality.

One of the best things about Elias is that he can get fans behind whoever he is up against and this makes his inevitable beat down intensely satisfying. Of course, a lot of that has to do with how he draws cheap heat throughout his segments, but it still provides fans with a satisfying pay off.

With that stated and Strowman's beatdowns being particularly fun to watch, why not make Elias into Strowman's next stepping stone to the top? It's not like the company seems to have big plans for either man right now and putting them together would at least keep both Superstars on television.

#2 Sami Zayn

WWE should be doing more with Sami Zayn.

Sami Zayn has to be one of the most undervalued Superstars on the entire WWE roster right now. The man made waves with his critic of the critics gimmick, but seems to have watered it down a bit since then. He now serves as a manager for Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro, but is capable of so much more.

It's no secret that Zayn deserves a lot better than to be a manager for a mdicard tag team and that is exactly why WWE should at least experiment with putting him up against Elias. Now this doesn't mean he has to stop being a mouthpiece for Shinsuke Nakamura and Cesaro, but it would certainly benefit him to have his own feud on the side.

Perhaps a feud with Elias would allow Zayn to flesh out his own character a bit more. In fact, maybe a singles feud is exactly what Zayn needs to recapture his critic of the critics role and could also allow Elias the opportunity to play the babyface. In the end, this dynamic would give both Superstars a chance to build upon something far greater.

#1 The Miz

The Miz really needs some character direction right now!

While The Miz used to be WWE's fastest rising babyface, he has quickly become background noise in the overall landscape. Sure, he has made sporadic appearances over the past couple of weeks and seems to be playing some kind of role in The Fiend versus Daniel Bryan saga, but he doesn't seem to have a path of his own.

With that stated and Elias suffering from the same issue right now, why not put the two against each other in an attempt to help one of them gain momentum? It would certainly be interesting television and serve as an entertaining midcard feud, especially with how good the two are at trading barbs on the microphone.

WWE has to do something with both Superstars and no matter who comes out of the feud with momentum, it is still at least something. Beyond that, it keeps both Superstars on television and allows them to hopefully be groomed for something even better later on.

Watching two of WWE's best on the mic compete against one another could provide for some interesting television in the weeks ahead.