5 opponents that could've replaced Kane in the Universal Title match at the Royal Rumble 2018

Rumours often ruin ‘the spur of the moment’ surprises in the modern era of professional wrestling. Ever since the rumor of Kane being one of the men pegged to challenge Brock Lesnar for the Universal Title at the Royal Rumble 2018 circulated, majority of the WWE Universe were dreading the day when the information was going to be proved true. Therefore, when Kurt Angle made the match official, many fans were left dissatisfied.

Although Kane is a living legend with a Hall of Fame career, the last 5 years have been extremely disappointing for the “big red machine”. From corporate Kane to concession stand Kane, WWE has regrettably presented the former World Champion as a caricature of himself. The renowned big man has one unfortunate purpose in this match, to take a predicted F5 in order to protect Braun Strowman’s invincible aura.

Veterans like Kane are best utilized when creating a new rising talent. However, his involvement in this main event will have no impact on the company going forward. Rather, WWE should have given the prestigious third spot to superstars that can potentially affect the Wrestlemania 34 card, and have a positive effect on the product in the long run.

Here are the 5 opponents that could’ve replaced Kane in the Universal Title match at the Royal Rumble 2018:

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#1 John Cena

Cena is the only detour on Brock Lesnar’s road to Roman Reigns

A couple of months ago, “Big Match John” was pegged as the last legitimate threat to Brock Lesnar’s Universal Title reign. “The face that runs the place” vs “the Conqueror” is a blockbuster showdown that requires little to no build. Add an angry “monster among men” to the fray, and WWE has an electric match that is worthy of main eventing Wrestlemania.

Although Cena returning from a lengthy hiatus straight into the World Title picture has become a cliché at this point, there is no denying that “the franchise player” has the greatest chance of dethroning Brock Lesnar on his clear-cut path to Wrestlemania 34. In fact, John Cena is no third wheel but could’ve been the potential dark horse in this mammoth encounter.

Cena is the only other superstar in WWE history that has held the same amount of World Titles as Ric Flair. The 16-time World Champion’s 17th World Title win is one of the biggest programmes WWE can present in 2018. Although most would predict Cena winning the WWE Title would ultimately break the “nature boy’s” legendary record, WWE could’ve had Cena accomplish two massive feats in 2018.

Win the Universal Champion for the first time in his storied career and become the first 17-time World Champion. However, the fact remains, “the beast” will face Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 34, but with all the discussed reasoning above, there’s no argument against whether Vince McMahan would pass on the opportunity of booking Reigns vs Cena in the main event of Wrestlemania. Thus, Cena would’ve added a sense of danger to Lesnar’s reign at the Royal Rumble.

#2 Bray Wyatt

This match was teased at the Royal Rumble 2016

In wrestling, credibility makes and breaks a superstar’s career. After suffering countless defeats at the hands of many legends and jobbers, Bray Wyatt’s credibility is at an astounding low. Therefore, the possibility of Bray Wyatt being a top tier main eventer in WWE is presently dimmer than his lantern.

Even though a career-defining feud with newly “Woken” Matt Hardy will be wonderful for the former leader of the Wyatt Family. WWE had already presented us with that supposed dream match on a random episode of Raw, which Wyatt had forgettable won. At this juncture, the only thing that can rejuvenate Wyatt’s foreseeable bleak future is thrusting him into a match with two of the hottest stars on Raw.

Kane was a monster of the glorious attitude era, who doesn’t need to main-event at one of WWE’s big four Pay-Per-View’s to define his career any further. The man in need of a career-defining performance is Wyatt. Even though wins and losses don’t hold that much importance in the world of WWE, Wyatt being the man to take the pin-fall, wouldn’t drive his career into obscurity any further.

Although the current main event is a meeting of beasts and monsters, Wyatt’s placement in this match isn’t as out of place as some might think of it to be. As he has confronted, provoked, and attacked Lesnar in the past, WWE can easily highlight the natural history between the two men. Also, WWE has a lucrative dynamic between Wyatt and his former protégé Braun Strowman. Unexplored angles and first-time matches could’ve been ignited at the Royal Rumble 2018.

#3 Jason Jordan

A superstar that has the potential to be a monumental heel

When WWE decided to add “illegitimate son of Kurt Angle” to Jason Jordan’s résumé, they never consider the pros and cons of that decision. As the ‘son’ of a legendary wrestling hero, WWE had projected that Jordan would be immediately endeared to the WWE fanbase. Unfortunately, Jordan went from beloved NXT breakout star to loathed baby face.

The reasons WWE has given the fans to gravitate even remotely towards Jordan’s character is a blank page. Instead, Angle’s ‘son’ has been drifting into other superstars programmes more often than Elias. Instead of demanding title opportunities, WWE took the standard baby-face approach of Jordan demanding matches against Raw’s elite.

And even though the whiny superstar had unpopularly forced himself into those matches with former World Champions, he had impeccably held his own and delivered memorable encounters with the likes of Roman Reigns and John Cena. That is why WWE portraying Jordan as a man on a mission to prove to his ‘dad’ that he can swim with the sharks on Raw, is a perfect fit for the triple threat match at the Royal Rumble.

WWE placing the young athlete in an earth-shattering encounter between Lesnar and Strowman would be a perfect illustration of his character going forward, as Jordan is an eager baby face, who bites of more than he can chew.

Thus, a loss for the former Tag Team Champion would finally push him over into heel territory. While most will argue that Jordan’s presence in this main event wouldn’t at all affect the outcome of this match, it is certainly better to build up a future main eventer in Jordan than highlight a done & dusted one in Kane.

#4 Kurt Angle

Angle is worth one more title match

Ever since Kurt Angle took his rightful place among the other legends in the WWE Hall of Fame, wrestling aficionados have clamored to see the Olympic Gold Medallist lace up his boots for one more match. WWE has been generous enough to provide the WWE Universe with two occasions when Angle wrestled again. He first filled in for Roman Reigns at TLC 2017 and then WWE had the former World Champion lead his team into brand warfare at Survivor Series 2017.

Despite the fact that main eventing back to back Pay-Per-Views is an honor, WWE underutilizing one of the last active veterans on the roster in multi-man tag team action is an enormous waste. To be more specific, it is a waste of star power, nostalgia, and opportunities. Angle is a Hall of Famer that has accomplished every feat imaginable in his wrestling, except one, becoming the Universal Champion.

Although having Angle at this stage in his career go after another accolade is unnecessary, going after Raw’s top prize can lead to a programme that will make Angle’s return worthy. Kurt Angle standing toe to toe with his old-time rival in Brock Lesnar would’ve been an unforgettable moment etched in Royal Rumble history. More importantly, it would’ve been the last straw in his shaky relationship with his ‘son’.

Ever since Jordon arrived on the flagship show, he has tried his utmost best to prove himself as a legitimate star, and prove he can be as good as his recently discovered ‘dad’. Jordon witnessing his ‘father’ take a golden opportunity which he as a young talented athlete deserves, would’ve been a perfect reason for him to finally turn on Kurt. Thus, Angle’s involvement in this main event would’ve resulted in a career-defining character shift for Jordon.

#5 Samoa Joe

WWE need Samoa Joe to complete this equation of unpredictability.

After ranking all of Brock Lesnar’s adversaries that challenged him for the Universal Title in 2017, his electric programme with Samoa Joe ends up topping the list each and every time. Even though Joe’s match with “the beast” had an anti-climactic finish, which resulted in Joe’s exit from the title picture, “the Samoan bada**” has never taken his eagle-eyed target off the bullseye on Lesnar’s back.

Although Samoa Joe’s claim for a title opportunity might be unwarranted, as Lesnar had flattened him with one F5 in their Universal Title match back in May. However, the same can be said about “the monster among men”, as Lesnar disappointingly defeated him at No Mercy 2017. Yet, Strowman has another opportunity against “the beast” at the Royal Rumble 2018.

“The Samoan submission machine’s” involvement in this blockbuster showdown wouldn’t only replace the aging monster Kane, but it would kick-start a likely rivalry between two of the three competitors in this Royal Rumble main event. It is a potential feud between Samoa Joe and Braun Strowman, that will most likely culminate in a massive match at Wrestlemania 34. The only issue surrounding a World Title triple threat match between Lesnar, Joe, and Strowman, is that one monster will have to take the fall.

Lesnar cannot be the one beaten as he is slated to take on Reigns at “the show of shows”, Braun Strowman is too hot to lose clean, and Joe has been a surprisingly highly protected superstar this year. All three competitors are bulletproof and that is a perfect scenario for this match. A World Title match at an important PPV like the Royal Rumble doesn’t always have to be a predictable bout, but it must create uncertainty about who is leaving champion. This is the biggest favor WWE can do for themselves heading into Wrestlemania season, create unpredictability.