In 2019, WWE produced a full slate of memorable moments for fans.
There have been dozens of moments from 2019 for fans to replay at the end of the year. Whether it was Kofi Kingston winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35, Becky Lynch winning the Women’s Championships on the same night in the main event, the debut of Bray Wyatt as The Fiend or on a recent episode of RAW where Rey Mysterio became the United States Champion, which was one of the year’s most exciting moments.
It was a feel good win for a beloved wrestler. It is no secret that Mysterio’s best years are behind him, but he has learned to work a smarter pace, while still giving the fans a great show.
The Master of the 619 is back in a prominent role as US Champion and it appears that this victory will propel him for more television time. Now that the excitement of the win has started to fade, the next step is to figure out who challenges Mysterio next for the championship.
Mysterio has been a fan favorite for decades now. Whoever wrestles him next will be elevated higher on RAW just by being in the ring with him.
It is not a detriment to Mysterio to say that he probably will not have an extensive run with the championship. The wrestler who defeats Mysterio, to become US Champion, should be able to benefit from such a victory.
Here are three challengers for Rey Mysterio’s US Championship.
Karl Anderson
It is fair to want more for Karl Anderson as a singles wrestler and be happy that he is being featured on television more often now as a member of The OC. After numerous “Cesaro pushes” (the new description for the 50/50 booking of the WWE), the OC has finally found consistency on RAW.
The WWE fanbase may not be aware of how smooth Karl Anderson can be in the ring. To his credit, he hasn’t really been given an opportunity to showcase it.
A feud with Mysterio could be the platform for him to show fans what made him such a unique talent. The Master of the 619 is the right wrestler to help establish Anderson as a singles star.
Anderson and Mysterio have what it to takes to put on great in-ring wrestling matches against each other, especially if it leads to both Anderson and Gallows teaming up to put the underdog hero in peril on multiple occasions.
The wrestler who defeat current champion to become US Champion should be someone who breaks the heart of every fan of The Master of The 619 in victory. Anderson can benefit from the equity that comes with taking the championship from Mysterio.
Andrade
Since he came over to RAW, Andrade has flourished. His partnership with Zelina Vega has been an excellent blend of demonstrating the value of a manager and the excitement of how that manager can intervene during matches.
In the past, he has had great matches with Mysterio. A chase for the US Championship should help Andrade add just a little bit more substance to his character.
In their previous encounters, one of the main focuses has been the story of the old athlete hanging on for one last round against the younger stallion.
Andrade has been portrayed as everything that Mysterio was in his prime. Mysterio has fit the role of the old guard who can outsmart the younger wrestler.
One of the key components in their feud would be the presence of Zelina Vega. By serving as his manager, Vega has been essential to Andrade’s success. This should continue with Vega and Mysterio trading promos with each other to further enhance this feud.
Since coming to the main roster from NXT, Andrade has yet to win a championship during his time with either Raw or SmackDown, but a title win over Mysterio could be the perfect coronation for him.
Aleister Black
When the time comes that a wrestler loses a championship, the loss should help mold the winner as someone worthy of holding that championship. That is what Aleister Black can achieve in a feud with Mysterio.
Black has been treading water ever since WrestleMania 35. The silver lining to that is he is still a wrestler who you can’t miss when he comes on the screen.
Black has been able to avoid losing fan interest and it shows in his current feud with Buddy Murphy. This feud is already proving to preserve both men’s careers, but eventually, this feud will end. When it’s over, Black will need to be in a new feud to carry the momentum gained from his rivalry with Murphy.
This is where a match at the Royal Rumble against Mysterio is pivotal for Black’s character growth. It does not have to be a match designed around a hero and a villain. It can be a series of matches between a young wrestler who has championship aspirations and an older wrestler who is going to teach the youngster some respect.
Mysterio knows how to elevate the career of whoever he is in the ring with. A feud that ends with both men shaking hands and Aleister Black as the new US Champion is the right way for Mysterio to give back to wrestling.