Forever Bray Wyatt’s shadow, Luke Harper has been the dark horse of modern day sports entertainment. There is, at present, not one big man in the company that can put on the quality of matches that he does on a regular basis.
While his first singles run wasn’t a huge success at all, this time it seems like Luke Harper has far more momentum on his side. What’s in store for a babyface that looks and behaves in such an eerie and unconventional manner? We at Sportskeeda explore five real possibilities.
#5 Extending the feud with Wyatt/Orton
Yes, this is certainly the safest and most obvious route. Sometimes, the most obvious route is the best way to move ahead.
Luke Harper’s look, vibe and demeanour all exist as a direct result of the Wyatts. Even as a babyface, he isn't your traditional white meat clean-cut performer, he's an eccentric and strange individual. How does he fare without the support of the man who made him, shaped him, created him and gave him his very identity?
What happens when he goes one-on-one against a man who is not just a man, but a god, as he has claimed on several occasions in the past? More importantly, how does one Randy Orton fit into this whole confusing scenario?
The Viper has traditionally been his own man, except when he was a part of Legacy and Evolution. His intention to align for the Wyatt Family seems dubious in many ways really. Will the Wyatt family implode in the coming months? Will Harper be the man who causes the Wyatts’ dissolution?
#4 Alliance with Erick Rowan
Erick Rowan had been kicked out from the Wyatt Family too before he suffered his injury, that is. While he had been on the shelf for many months, he's been slated to make a comeback soon.
Also read: Erick Rowan spotted at Performance Center preparing for return
As we saw recently, when American Alpha laid out an open challenge for their Tag Team Championships, the opponents that came forth were little more than jobbers really. Erick Rowan and Luke Harper can make the division feel relevant again.
Assuming that American Alpha drop the titles to The Usos or The Ascension (who look like they’ll be getting pushed soon). Rowan and Harper can legitimately take on these heel tag teams and give them interesting, competitive storylines over the upcoming months.
It does not necessarily have to be for the title. Much like the women’s division has secondary storylines, Erick Rowan and Harper can create non-title feuds in the tag division as well, after the Wyatt storyline.
#3 Feud with Dolph Ziggler
We’ve seen Dolph Ziggler and Luke Harper face each other for the Intercontinental Championship before. Which is why we know that both the men have incredible chemistry. Plus, at present, Dolph Ziggler is a very different sort of character from what he used to be.
The showoff is gone, to be replaced by a dark, brooding, ultra-sadistic man. Can such a dark personality take on a man who truly embraces the darkness? We shudder to think of the destruction that will ensue.
#2 Challenging AJ Styles to a feud
There’s no better non-title program to get into, than one with AJ Styles for a brand new character. We know Harper can work, and so his matches with Styles will be off the hook, were they booked in a program together. It is also universally agreed that maybe with the exception of Cena and Orton, Styles is the biggest superstar on SmackDown.
A full-fledged program between a babyface with many heel traits and a heel who gets cheered like a babyface should be interesting on a lot of levels. It seems unlikely that Styles will be champion at Elimination Chamber, this leaves him free and can allow Harper to enter a program with Styles. Oh did we mention just how good the matches will be?
#1 Winner of the Andre The Giant Battle Royal
There’s no one who could benefit more from this battle royal than Luke Harper. In front of a packed crowd, Harper could have his moment and this could propel him to the next level, much like it did for Cesaro and Baron Corbin in the long run.
We suppose, that winning the Money in the Bank briefcase in due time, could be another feather in his cap. However, if he were to be booked in such a manner, we’re certain he’d be seen as a legitimate main eventer and maybe even WWE Champion, someday. He has the skills! He wouldn't be a traditional champion, but neither is Owens.
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