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We already know that several big names in WWE are slated to have big matches at the Show of Shows in April. Charlotte Flair won the women's Rumble and will face a Champion of her choosing. Drew McIntyre won his match and wasted no time in challenging Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship on the RAW following the Royal Rumble PPV.
The Fiend is reportedly penciled in to have a showdown with Roman Reigns while 'The Man', Becky Lynch, will have a huge match for the second year in a row. Seth Rollins will obviously factor into the PPV somehow as will King Corbin.
Those names are all among some of the top wrestlers in the company, but they aren't the only current performers who deserve a spotlight on the Grandest Stage of Them All. Many stars, like Daniel Bryan and Asuka, have done wonders in providing difficult challenges for their respective Champions. Bryan has been the stiffest test for the Fiend while Asuka reminded us just what a fired up Lynch can do during their recent feud.
Some performers shouldn't be shoehorned into the annual battle royales just in order to get onto the card. Bryan and the Empress of Tomorrow should be featured in some capacity in April but they are not the only stars. Many performers newer to the main roster have either been skyrocketed to the top (Lacey Evans) or have had slower builds to main-roster success. This isn't to say that no one else on the roster deserves a big match, but these five WWE stars are certainly worthy of being showcased in a big match of their own at WrestleMania 36.
Recently, Kurt Angle pitched the names of potential WrestleMania main-eventers in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda's Gary Cassidy and you can check that out before heading into the next part of the article!
#5 Kevin Owens
Regardless of his brand, Owens has always been one of the top performers. Whether he's running up the side of the RAW stage like he recently did or if he's cutting a scathing promo on Shane McMahon, Owens has proven that he's the type of act that should be showcased at WrestleMania.
His recent feud with Rollins will likely continue, but it might hit a brief snag with an injury to his running mate, Samoa Joe. While Joe could come back next week or in a few months, Owens still needs allies against the Monday Night Messiah and his disciples.
This current angle may or may not last until WrestleMania 36, but whether it does or not shouldn't prevent Owens from having a featured match at the Show of Shows. He's clicking on all cylinders with the WWE Universe and was willing to face McMahon for a good part of 2019. He needs to be rewarded for working with Shane and needs to be considered for a prime spot on the card. It could be in a multi-man match for any of the titles, but whatever the case is come April, Owens should be on main part of the PPV.
#4 Daniel Bryan
As mentioned on the first slide, Daniel Bryan did something that Seth Rollins was unable to do in his feud with the Fiend - get the crowd to root against Bray Wyatt's newest persona. It was probably too soon for a top babyface to get cheers against the new incarnation of Wyatt so Rollins was in a no-win situation. But the same thing briefly happened with The Miz as the Fiend was terrorizing the A-Lister's family.
Bryan is so beloved by the fans that fans will usually cheer everything he does, even as a heel. He's such a master of the craft that it was hard to question his motives when he turned heel in late 2018. Because he's such a valuable performer in the ring and backstage, Bryan needs to have an important bout on the card. He brought out the best in The Fiend both physically and mentally and he should be rewarded for that.
That's also not to mention the fact that Bryan puts almost everybody over (Roman Reigns, Buddy Murphy, Kofi Kingston, Wyatt). He does practically everything he is asked to do (except maybe go to Saudi Arabia) so his performances should be paid back with a big spot on the WrestleMania 36 card.
#3 Aleister Black
While fellow stars new to the roster like Heavy Machinery, Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross and Ricochet all received title shots in their time on the main roster, Black did not. Instead, he was left to cut promos in a dark room where he asked for people to come and pick a fight with him.
It did eventually lead to a great match with Cesaro at Extreme Rules, but the novelty wore off very quickly. He's at his best when he's cutting promos that directly lead to matches. In those matches, he's either quickly dispatched opponents with the devastating Black Mass kick or stolen the show against the likes of Buddy Murphy and others.
They need to strike while the iron is hot with Black. He's unique and unlike most of the rest of the WWE roster. Sure, he has some vague darkness behind him, but he's all business in the ring. There were even rumors coming from the Royal Rumble that he was being considered to win the match instead of Reigns or McIntyre. Paul Heyman is staunchly behind pushing the Dutch Destroyer and he should be.
Since Black was already considered to possibly win the Rumble and face The Beast at the Show of Shows, there's no reason why he shouldn't still have a prominent spot on the card. His entrance is also tailor-made for a grandiose stage like WrestleMania.
#2 Asuka
Last year at this time, it looked as if Asuka would be heading into the Show of Shows as SmackDown Women's Champion. It was a welcome sight since she had previously toppled Becky Lynch to keep the title. She also needed a push forward after some of her luster from NXT wore off by falling to Charlotte Flair the year before.
Well, we all know that Asuka was booked to lose the title to Flair two weeks before WrestleMania 35 so that the stakes for the women's main event could rise even higher. While it might have added another layer to that match, it derailed another promising push for arguably the most talented woman between the ropes in WWE.
It took a few more months after the Show of Shows until Asuka and Kairi Sane both regained some steam. They did so when they won the WWE Women's Tag Team titles from Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross. As the heel Champs, both women have been doing great work. That great work helped rebuild some of the lost mystique of Becky Lynch during their recent feud.
Some stars in professional wrestling just have that aura that screams star and the Empress of Tomorrow has it. Since she's had the unfortunate spot of not being a member of the Four Horsewomen of NXT, she's been overlooked in having a triumphant spot at WrestleMania. This is the year she more than deserves to not only have a big match at the PPV but also be victorious.
#1 Kofi Kingston/Big E
This could either be in different singles matches, a tag team match (very likely) or in one singles match. With Xavier Woods out of the picture for most of the first half of the year, Big E and Kingston are carrying the mantle of the New Day.
Big E's main role at last year's show was to be in Kingston's corner during his match with Bryan for the WWE Championship. He wasn't a part of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and he did not have a tag team bout on the card. For that reason, and the fact that he's incredibly entertaining and charismatic, Big E needs a singles showcase of his own at the Show of Shows. It was Kingston's chance last year, and even though he hasn't been in the company as long as the former WWE Champ, he's never really been used as a singles threat other than his early Intercontinental Championship win.
Kingston also deserves a huge spotlight this year. His ascension to the top of the WWE was one of the most emotional and deserved spots on the Road to WrestleMania last year. He regularly had great title defenses but it was disheartening when he lost the title to the Beast in such a quick fashion.
While he was quickly thrust back into the tag division due to shallow depth, Kingston still deserves a big match this year. I wouldn't be against both he and Big E facing each other in a sporting contest as a way to get on the card. It could test the boundaries of their friendship while also allow both men to shine on their own. However WWE would decide to book it following the show (a potential heel turn) would be up to their discretion. However it happens, both men need to be on the card in April.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
