5 possible candidates for a post-WrestleMania push

WrestleMania is less than three weeks away, which means that WWE must start focusing on what they want to do for the show and after it. The groundwork must be set for the rest of the year. Expect that to happen during the post-'Mania editions of Raw and SmackDown and the following week's Superstar Shakeup. With how the last few months have gone, 2019 seems like a really exciting year in the world of WWE.

Every year, after WrestleMania, WWE decides to hand the ball to a couple of performers. Some of them are justified, but some of them are bizarre. Jinder Mahal in 2017 comes to mind. Last year, Big Cass was being featured up until the day he was released. This year should be no different, as WWE will try and elevate a couple of stars. Hopefully, they are performers who we want to see.

Here are five WWE superstars who could be in line for a post-WrestleMania push on either Raw or SmackDown.

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#5 Buddy Murphy

Murphy might leave 205 Live after WrestleMania.

Buddy Murphy will defend his Cruiserweight Championship at WrestleMania, against Tony Nese. It will be an incredible match and one that should feature a title change. Murphy has been the champion for almost six months, as he won the title in his hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Since then, he has defended the title on numerous pay-per-views, albeit the Kickoff Show on most occasions. Murphy has done all there is to do on 205 Live and he needs a change in surroundings.

Since Mustafa Ali is on SmackDown, the Australian Juggernaut would be a solid addition to the mid-card of Raw. His journey from being a tag teaming nobody on NXT to the biggest star of the division has been incredible, with his progress only continuing on the main roster. Murphy's 2018 has honestly been one of the best in the entire company and he has earned a solid position on the main card.

#4 Shelton Benjamin

They need to do more with him.

Shelton Benjamin has only made a handful of WWE appearances this year, entering the men's Royal Rumble and showing up on Raw to attack Seth Rollins. The brief interaction he had with Paul Heyman and the subsequent match with Rollins has reignited a bit of the buzz that Shelton has carried for so long. He even teased facing Kurt Angle in his final match on social media, before it was uninspiringly given to Baron Corbin.

The former member of Team Angle was one of the brightest mid-card talents during the Ruthless Aggression Era after he graduated from Ohio Valley Wrestling alongside the likes of John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Randy Orton, and Batista. After WrestleMania, it would be nice to see the Gold Standard have some renewed focus on him. Once he gets into his groove, there ain't no stopping him now.

#3 Mustafa Ali

Ali's momentum suffered a hit last month.

As previously mentioned, Mustafa Ali joined the WWE's main roster from 205 Live a few months ago. He has taken SmackDown by storm and was in line for a huge push last month heading into Elimination Chamber. However, he got injured and had to be replaced from the match. Kofi Kingston took his spot and has been killing it in the main event scene to the point where he is one of the hottest acts in the company, heading into WrestleMania.

Ali did get a WWE title shot at Fastlane, but the crowd hijacked the match as they were promised Kofi Kingston. However, the brilliance of the former 205 Live star ended up winning the fans over. Right now, he is stuck in limbo, with no real plans for WrestleMania. After the Show of Shows, WWE must go back to Mustafa Ali and focus more on him. He is a gem, both in the ring and out of it. At least a mid-card title reign should be in his future.

#2 Andrade

Big things could be coming.

Vince McMahon was said to have been impressed with Andrade in the past few months and rightly so. Ever since the turn of the year, the former NXT Champion has been on top form. He wrestled a couple of classics on SmackDown with Rey Mysterio and had a decent showing in the Royal Rumble match. After that, Andrade has basically been part of a crowded United States title scene, a title scene that has brought to us some tremendous action.

While Rey Mysterio is currently scheduled as the lone challenger for Samoa Joe's title at WrestleMania, don't be surprised if Andrade makes his way into the match. It will be another excellent match for a title that has slowly been reborn after Joe won it from R-Truth. After that, Andrade and Zelina Vega should be getting a massive push on either SmackDown or Raw. He is that good, and Vega is a fantastic manager. 2019 could well be the year of Tranquilo.

#1 Bray Wyatt

Wyatt has got to return right after 'Mania.

We have been here many times before. Bray Wyatt has been missing from WWE programming since the summer. He has made a couple of house show appearances, most notably at Starrcade when he faced and defeated Baron Corbin. But it has largely been a mystery. Wyatt has said on social media that he is close to returning and that it would be something huge. It'd better be huge after WWE has kept us waiting for so long.

The perfect time to have the return of Wyatt would be on the post-WrestleMania episode of either Raw or SmackDown, or possibly even the Superstar Shakeup. After many stop-start pushes with the Eater of Worlds, this next chapter in his story is extremely crucial. Hopefully, it is worth the wait and WWE do indeed push Bray Wyatt as far as he can go. Feuds with people like Drew McIntyre, Kevin Owens, Daniel Bryan and others do seem tasty.

Who knows, maybe WWE will go all the way and give Bray Wyatt the WWE Championship that he once held for a very short period of time. They don't know what they have in this guy. Whether it is in this character or a different one, Wyatt will nail whatever he portrays on WWE TV when he returns. Run.