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WWE saw one of the most brutal matches in its recent history this week as Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher decided to settle their differences in the first-ever Fight Pit match.
While the match just seemed to involve a redesigned type of cage at first, WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle, who participated as a special guest referee, announced that the only way to win inside the Fight Pit was through knockout or submission.
This automatically increased the intensity of the fight as Riddle managed to knock out two of Thatcher’s teeth soon after the opening bell.
From there onwards, there was no stopping the two fighters as they continued to dish out punishment to one another. This lasted until Thatcher finally locked "The Original Bro" in a rear-naked choke where riddle passed out.
With so much brutality in the Riddle Vs. Thatcher clash, we can’t help but think which other Superstars would do extremely well in an NXT Fight Pit. Many current WWE Superstars seem to be tailor-made for such matches, and the new match-type could provide the company with a chance to book some big matches in the coming years.
As the concept was born in NXT, it may well stay exclusive to the brand - much like the War Games match has done. However, there would be nothing to stop Superstars from RAW or SmackDown making the jump to NXT in order to compete in the match.
With several names coming to mind, we have picked five top WWE Superstars who would likely fare well in the Fight Pit environment.
#5 Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe has been away from the WWE RAW ring for some time now, but he has managed to continue entertaining fans by heading to the back of the announce table and doing a great job on commentary.
The former United States Champion is one of the finest wrestlers the company has today. Joe has performed well in many different types of stipulation match during his career, even though he does not come across as the most athletic Superstar at first.
Can The Samoan Submission Machine make the best of WWE tap out?
Samoa Joe is one of the hardest hitting men in the business today and is known to train in jiu-jitsu and muay thai. These qualities have seen Joe develop one of the most unique styles in WWE, topped with a lethal submission maneuver called the Coquina Clutch.
Keeping in mind the stamina, power, and tactics required to compete in the Fight Pit, Joe certainly has the ability to knock out his opponents or make them tap at will. This would make him a force inside the Fight Pit.
While Joe left NXT a long time back, it is possible that he could return to the brand that built his reputation in WWE and compete for the NXT Championship once again.
#4 Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan is one of the most accomplished WWE Superstars in history. Bryan has proven time and time again that size does not matter if you know what you are doing in the ring.
Regarded as one of the most talented and best technical wrestlers of our time, the former WWE Champion has very few weaknesses in the ring.
Is Bryan the all rounder who can make the Fight Pit a success in WWE?
Bryan has won numerous big matches in his career and continues to push ahead as one of the greatest of all time. He has managed to prevail in almost every single match type he has been a part of - and the Fight Pit could be an ideal arena for Bryan to showcase his skills in.
Daniel Bryan has won Elimination Chamber and Steel Cage matches in the past, but the Fight Pit rules are different from other match types.
Given his great rappling ability and a large knowledge of submission maneuvers, Bryan posseses the agility, stamina, and experience to match up well against a variety of opponents in the Fight Pit.
Daniel Bryan made his full WWE debut as a cast member on the original season of NXT. Fans would surely love to see him match up in the Fight Pit on NXT against the likes of Johnny Gargano and Adam Cole.
#3 Bobby Lashley
Bobby Lashley is a man that most would blindly pick to win a fight - simply based on the fact that he has one of the most insane physiques in WWE. That’s not all he offers, though, as fans of the Superstar know. Before returning to WWE in 2018, Lashley built an impressive record in Mixed Martial Arts, winning 15 of his 17 fights.
Known to dominate his opponents right from the opening bell, Bobby Lashley has recently begun to show to the full extent of the power and talent he possesses. We are now seeing him run through his opponents on RAW, and this is something that could be used well if Lashley takes to the Fight Pit in NXT.
Will Lashley ever head to NXT to have a WWE dream match?
Bobby Lashley has never competed in NXT before, but a rivalry could take him to the black & gold brand as WWE is now clearly open to the idea of having cross-brand rivalry between stars of RAW, NXT, and SmackDown.
Keeping in mind Lashley’s style and moveset, including his Full Nelson submission hold, "The Almighty" could very believably make his presence felt in the Fight Pit.
Will we ever get to see Bobby Lashley vs. Timothy Thatcher inside the Fight Pit? We sure hope so!
#2 Shayna Baszler
Speaking of cage matches, how can we forget about the Susperstar known as "The Cagefighter", Shayna Baszler?
Baszler is arguably the toughest and most ruthless woman in all of WWE today, and she has proven time and time again that she is willing to improve her game in order to bring the best version of herself to the ring.
The "Queen of Spades" has had two incredible NXT Women’s Championship reigns, and now competes on Monday nights where she is among the frontrunners for a RAW Women’s Championship reign.
Is Baszler the perfect fit for a WWE match in a Fight Pit?
Baszler had an illustrious Mixed Martial Arts career during which she secured most of her 15 victories by submission. Apart from that, Baszler's character is one that enjoys injuring her opponents before defeating them - just to show that she is the superior Superstar.
That says a lot about a Superstar who could absolutely dominate inside the Fight Pit too, just like she did inside the Elimination Chamber earlier this year.
The Kirifuda Clutch has brought down many competitors in WWE, and we could see Baslzer head back to NXT one day and compete for the brand's Women’s title once again, this time inside the Fight Pit.
#1 Brock Lesnar
Last, but not the least, comes the man who left WWE over ten years ago to try his hands at several different sports, including MMA. Once there, Brock Lesnar ended up becoming the UFC Heavyweight Champion, something that the WWE refer to frequently.
Lesnar knows no boundaries inside the squared circle and has been known to leave several of his opponents nursing injuries after they have faced him.
We have seen the "Beast Incarnate" battle inside the steel cage in WWE, but a Fight Pit is a very different proposition, especially given its unique rules. Lesnar would definitely be at home in the Fight Pit.
Will the most valuable Superstar in WWE thrive in a Fight Pit?
The Fight Pit rules could work perfectly in favor of the man who throws lethal punches and has a great grappling and submission skillset that has allowed him to pick up many big victories, including one against Cain Velasquez in WWE.
Keeping in mind his talent and star power, Lesnar is one man we’d love to see in the NXT Fight Pit as he could show the rest of the roster how things are really done inside a cage.
While Lesnar may never compete in NXT full time, there is always the possibility of WWE developing a rivalry for him that is intense enough to bring him to the black and gold brand for a clash in the Fight Pit.
Given that NXT Superstars appeared on WrestleMania this year, this is a definite possibility if WWE wants to make it happen.
