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Daniel Bryan has been cleared to compete in a WWE ring once again, and you’re unlikely to find a single professional wrestling fan who isn’t happy with that news. The former WWE champion is returning to what he loves more than anything else, and as such, the endless discussion of ‘dream match’ scenarios have already begun.
But aside from SmackDown Live and Monday Night Raw, there are actually quite a few superstars down in NXT who would be fantastic choices to have a bout with Bryan in the near future. Of course, that’d require either DB going to Full Sail or Takeover for the night, or one of these guys being called up to the main roster.
Whichever way it needs to get done, WWE needs to oblige, because these potential showdowns would all be Match of the Year contenders.
With that being said, here are five NXT dream matches for Daniel Bryan’s return.
#5 Andrade 'Cien' Almas
It wasn’t all too long ago that fans and media members alike were resigning Andrade ‘Cien’ Almas to failure. His babyface character wasn’t working and for whatever reason, he just couldn’t seem to connect with the crowd. That all changed, however, once he was paired with Zelina Vega and he turned to the dark side.
Almas’ current run has been sensational, and it’s led him all the way to the NXT Championship. Plus, when you consider what he was able to do with Johnny Gargano at Takeover the other month, it’s unbelievably exciting to consider the possibilities of what could happen if he went one on one with The American Dragon.
#4 Velveteen Dream
He may not be the most conventional and he’s certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, but Velveteen Dream may just be one of the most intoxicating performers in all of professional wrestling right now. He’s got the character, he’s got the look, and he’s certainly got the in-ring ability to hang with just about anyone William Regal puts in front of him.
At the age of just 22, he’s already on a fast track to the top, and there’s no better man to help him get there than Daniel Bryan. The SD Live GM has proven many times in the past that he’s capable of some tremendous character work, and he would likely create magic with Dream. Plus, the height dynamic would create for some fantastic in-ring sequences.
#3 Adam Cole
Independent wrestling fans rejoice, because we may just get to see Adam Cole vs Daniel Bryan in a WWE ring. These two men are considered to be among the biggest stars to have ever come from Ring of Honor, and with that in mind, it makes all the sense in the world for WWE to put these two ‘indie darlings’ in the ring with one another on a big stage.
They can redo the storyline they conducted with Roderick Strong a few months back, whereby Undisputed Era attempt to employ Daniel Bryan in order to help them take over NXT. After rejecting them, the seeds are then planted for a Cole vs Bryan feud somewhere down the line, and you just know that the storytelling between the duo would make for great television.
#2 Pete Dunne
This may seem like a little bit of an unconventional one, but it’s worth the potential risk. Pete Dunne is one of the best all-around performers WWE has at their disposal, as evidenced by his string of five-star matches across his tenure with the company. He’s hard-hitting, he’s a fan favourite, and you can’t deny that he has a unique look.
Bryan is notorious for his ability to kick someone’s head off their shoulders, and if they let these two loose at a Takeover, it’d be like watching a hybrid of strong style and old-school British wrestling. The Bruiserweight would throw everything he has into this match, and in turn, Bryan would be able to elevate Dunne to an entirely new level.
#1 Johnny Gargano
This may well be the best option of the bunch because it’s a match that wouldn’t need any kind of build from WWE – because it’d build itself. Johnny Gargano is the modern day incarnation of Daniel Bryan’s character from back in 2013 and 2014, as his popularity as the ultimate underdog of NXT continues to grow with each passing week.
The former DIY member is one of the most popular stars in developmental, and he’s proven that he can have great matches against just about anybody. With Bryan coming back to the ring, you just know that these two men would have incredible chemistry with one another due to their backgrounds alone.
We aren’t guaranteeing a classic, but in this case, it’s pretty likely.
