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Five Fresh Rivalries WWE Need to Book in 2021

Published 01/14/2021, 7:15 AM EST

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In 2021, we saw a few fresh rivalries that completely dominated the main event scene in WWE. From Roman Reigns vs Jey Uso to Charlotte Flair vs Rhea Ripley, we saw some incredible first time rivalries. These match ups were interesting from the point of view that these wrestlers never faced each other. Dream matches aren’t WWE’s forte, but if they book a rivalry well, it can do wonders for the wrestlers’ careers.

Daniel Bryan and Shinsuke Nakamura tear down WWE SmackDown

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On SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura delivered a career best performance in a gauntlet match. He nearly became the number one contender for the WWE Universal Championship, but Roman Reigns and Jey Uso ruined his hopes. However, his match with Daniel Bryan was the highlight of the show.

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Bryan and Nakamura are two of the stiffest wrestlers in WWE. Give them twenty to thirty minutes to beat the hell out of each other, and WWE will have a guaranteed Match of the Year contender. Bryan vs Nakamura is a match fans have wanted since the latter’s debut, and it is time WWE gives it to us.

The Miz turns on John Morrison

John Morrison has an untapped babyface potential that could make him one of the top stars on Raw. His popularity and athleticism make him a genuine Superstar, but WWE are making a mistake by making him play second fiddle to the Miz. He is way more talented than the former IC Champion, and it is time for him to break out of his shadow.

The best possible way to move forward with this storyline would be for Miz to betray Morrison once he cashes in the MITB contract. This could lead to a potential WWE Title feud between the two which can be a sleeper hit of a match on a B-level PPV like Payback or Clash of Champions.

Io Shirai challenges the Queen of WWE Raw

The NXT Champion’s time in NXT is slowly coming to an end. Io Shirai has held the title for nine months, and it is time for her to drop the title to someone else. The main roster could benefit from a mega-star like her, and she could become a tremendous hit on Raw. WWE should not pair her with any other wrestler, but let Io roam free and choose her opponents.

Eventually, Shirai is going to cross paths with Charlotte Flair. Shirai and Flair were supposed to face each other in NXT, but the match ended in a disqualification. On the main roster, Shirai can pose a threat to the Queen’s queendom and challenge her for the Raw Women’s Championship when Flair inevitably takes it from Asuka.

Drew McIntyre meets the Fiend

Bray Wyatt has been out of the title scene for quite some time. Being the most profitable Superstar in the company, WWE should cash in on the buzz surrounding the Fiend. Once his rivalry with Randy Orton ends, the Fiend should get back to hunting and retrieving the WWE Championship.

The two-time WWE Universal Champion has had quite a good year on Raw and SmackDown. He has beaten the likes of Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan and John Cena in 2020, but it’s time for him to hunt for a bigger fish. Drew McIntyre is a big enough scalp for Wyatt to claim, and it is time for WWE to pull the trigger on this rivalry as well.

The Tribal Chief meets his equal

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In 2019, Kofi Kingston won the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Fan support and Kofi’s unbelievable determination fueled this title change.

KofiMania was a wonderful moment and we need another similar moment. In 2021, there is another New Day member whose time has come to win the big one.

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Big E might be the Intercontinental Champion, but he is currently on a collision course with Roman Reigns. The Tribal Chief might be on top of his game, and deserves a lengthy title run, but a feud with a babyface like Big E will do wonders for WWE in 2021. Both men are incredibly popular and absolutely fantastic at what they do. WWE should book this before the buzz around both men fades.

Is there a feud that you would like to see in 2021? These feuds would make the new year more enjoyable, despite the circumstances. We hope WWE does that smart thing and pull the trigger on these feuds.

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Written by:

Nathan Fulgado

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Nathan Fulgado is a WWE and AEW author at EssentiallySports. Having published close to 1000 professional wrestling articles, Nathan is currently pursuing his Journalism degree from Xavier's College. He has previously worked at Free Press Journal as a local journalist.
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