'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The WWE Universe is firmly on the road to WrestleMania 37, an event that will surely offer a plethora of exciting matches. The Showcase of the Immortals is often viewed as the pinnacle of WWE's year.
But in recent years, some of the biggest creative shake-ups and storylines can happen on WWE television once WrestleMania has come and gone. Some within the WWE Universe see the show as the "season finale" for WWE after a year's worth of storytelling. In many ways, it's the end of a chapter in the neverending storybook that is WWE.
For this reason. WWE Superstars who were not previously used or featured in the build-up to WrestleMania have renewed opportunities. A few lucky stars usually receive pushes once the dust has settled from the Super Bowl of Sports Entertainment.
Jack Swagger, who won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in 2010, and AJ Styles, who challenged for the WWE Championship in 2016, are two examples.
So, which WWE Superstars could get pushed after WrestleMania 37?
#5 Mustafa Ali (WWE Monday Night RAW)
Not many WWE Superstars have the potential that Mustafa Ali possesses. The former WWE 205 Live standout is a fantastic in-ring worker, and he has the exemplary promo ability and charisma to back it up.
Ali has been close to breaking WWE's fabled "glass ceiling" on several occasions. It was reported in 2019 that he was set to receive a push, which would have included a WWE Championship Match, during WrestleMania season.
But an eye injury sustained during a match against Randy Orton caused WWE to change these plans. Ali floated around aimlessly for a while, but he has returned to the spotlight in recent months. As the leader of the villainous faction known as RETRIBUTION, Ali has regained his status as a prominent player.
Even though Ali has added some legitimacy to the group, RETRIBUTION's booking and presentation has left a lot to be desired.
Conceived to be a chaotic, rebellious faction that was going to take over WWE, RETRIBUTION has been instead booked as a weak stable. The faction is often hamstrung by lack of logic and ideology.
The only bright spot during this time has been Ali's performance and his developing personality and promo skills. After WrestleMania 37, Mustafa Ali should break up RETRIBUTION and once again focus on his singles career in WWE.
Perhaps WWE will finally see the talent that he possesses and elevate him to the main event scene on RAW, as that's where he deserves to be.
#4 Shinsuke Nakamura (WWE Friday Night SmackDown)
Shinsuke Nakamura's WWE career is truly the tale of two halves. When he arrived in 2016, the WWE Universe was eager to see how The King of Strong Style would adjust and transition to WWE.
Right away, it was clear that the former New Japan Pro-Wrestling star could thrive in WWE. Nakamura and Sami Zayn delivered a five-star classic match during Nakamura's NXT debut at NXT TakeOver: Dallas.
The former IWGP Intercontinental Champion then went on to have a standout year during his NXT run. He won the NXT Championship on two separate occasions and had memorable matches against the likes of Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode and Finn Balor.
After one year in NXT, Nakamura made his WWE main roster debut on SmackDown in 2017 after WrestleMania 33. In his first appearance, he received a huge ovation, which made it an iconic SmackDown moment.
Nakamura's success in WWE continued on the main roster, and he won the Men's Royal Rumble Match in 2018. But at WrestleMania 34, Nakamura unsuccessfully challenged AJ Styles for the WWE Championship, and he turned heel after this defeat.
After this heel turn, WWE writers seemingly began to lose interest in The King of Strong Style. Nakamura was quickly relegated to the mid-card, and he won the United States and Intercontinental Championship.
Shinsuke Nakamura later formed a successful tag team with Cesaro, as the duo won the SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Still, the WWE Universe has grown frustrated with Nakamura's lack of a main event presence.
The popular babyface that debuted on SmackDown in 2017 and the current presentation of Nakamura almost feels like two completely different people.
That being said, in recent months, Nakamura has turned babyface once again. He brought back the beloved "Rising Sun" entrance theme, which could indicate that the "old" Shinsuke Nakamura will return after WrestleMania.
#3 Chad Gable (WWE Friday Night SmackDown)
Chad Gable is arguably one of the most underrated WWE Superstars currently on the roster. Gable has the distinction of holding all the Tag Team Championships currently available in WWE. He has held the gold on all three brands with two partners, Jason Jordan and Robert Roode.
Gable has been utilized as a tag team specialist, but he has a lot of potential as a singles star.. The former Tag Team Champion competed at the 2012 London Olympics, and he has an impressive amateur wrestling pedigree.
Gable also has a distinct charisma to him, and this persona has often come across during his WWE career. Plus, the man formerly known as Shorty G is one of the top in-ring performers on the WWE roster today.
Gable's success in WWE has been somewhat limited by his size. The former Olympian's height even became the basis of a storyline in 2019, where a few Superstars mocked him for being "short."
This storyline was the catalyst for Gable's repackaging as "Shorty G," a gimmick that was supposedly meant to endear Gable to the WWE audience and thrust him into the main event spotlight.
Of course, the "Shorty G" gimmick did not work, as it was universally panned by WWE fans and critics on social media. Since then, Gable has reverted to his original name.
Still, in recent months, Gable has once again found himself in a tag team. This time, his partner is former Money in the Bank contract holder Otis. Again, many fans hope that Gable will break out and find success on his own.
In fact, it has been rumored by the likes of AEW wrestler Dax Harwood that Gable's WWE contract is set to expire soon. Perhaps WWE will be forced into pushing Gable after WrestleMania. Otherwise, he might leave the company completely.
#2 Ricochet (WWE Monday Night RAW)
Ricochet's fall from grace in WWE is unmatched. In February 2020, Ricochet was set to challenge for the WWE Championship at WWE Super ShowDown in Saudi Arabia against then-champion Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar and Ricochet had a brief feud on Monday Night RAW in which The One and Only helped Drew McIntyre eliminate The Beast Incarnate from the Royal Rumble Match.
Though nobody expected Ricochet to Brock Lesnar at the pay-per-view, many fans were excited to see the former NXT North American Champion in a major match against a huge star.
These fans were quite disappointed by the outcome of this bout. At Super ShowDown, Brock Lesnar dominated Ricochet, as he conquered his challenger in just 1 minute and 34 seconds. Ricochet had been squashed and buried before the fans' very eyes.
Since this crushing defeat, Ricochet faded into relative obscurity in WWE. He briefly teamed up Cedric Alexander on Monday Night RAW, but the duo was fairly unsuccessful. Nowadays, Ricochet regularly competes on WWE Main Event, and he occasionally appears on RAW.
This role is not what many fans envisioned for Ricohet, based on the potential he showed during his NXT run and his early days on the main roster.
It's unclear why the fan-favorite star went from being the number one contender for the WWE Championship to wrestling on Main Event. Still, with his ability to defy logic and physics in the ring, Ricochet should and could be doing so much more in WWE.
Hopefully, after WrestleMania 37, Ricochet will get another chance to be heavily featured on Monday Night RAW.
#1 Samoa Joe (WWE Monday Night RAW)
There's no doubt that WWE is fully aware that Samoa Joe is a huge asset to the company. As a competitor, The Samoan Submission Machine is one of the best in-ring performers of his generation. Joe has had incredible matches and feuds in every promotion he has performed in.
For many years, fans assumed that Joe would never sign with WWE. But Joe finally made his WWE NXT debut in 2015. During his time with the black-and-gold brand, Samoa Joe became the first ever two-time NXT Champion. He was also the winner of the inaugural Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, alongside Finn Balor.
After his successful run in NXT, Samoa Joe made his debut on the main roster in 2017. He went on to become a two-time WWE United States Champion. But many fans want to see WWE push Joe as a main eventer.
The WWE World Championship has escaped Joe's crasp throughout his run on the main roster. The former United States Champion has come close on several occasions, as he unsuccessfully challenged world champions like Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles.
But Samoa Joe's time spent inside the ring has been nonexistent in recent months. After he suffered a series of concussions in 2020, Joe joined the commentary team on Monday Night RAW.
Whenever asked, Joe has been quick to state that his in-ring WWE career is not over, and he has vowed to compete again in the future. But Joe is arguably too good in his role as a color commentator; he has shined as a member of the red brand's commentary team. As a result, WWE could be reluctant to push him as a wrestler again.
Nevertheless, one can hope that Samoa Joe will indeed to the ring in the near future, perhaps to claim the illusive WWE World Championship that he craves. After he has spent more than a year on the sidelines, the perfect time for Joe to return to physical action would be after WrestleMania.
