John Cena will be defending his United States Championship against a mystery opponent at WWE Hell In A Cell. It was announced on Raw that it will be a US Open Challenge on Sunday's show, meaning that we could be in a for a major surprise. This list will rank the ten most likely contenders that WWE could book in the challenger spot. We know that away from the storyline, Cena is due to take two months off immediately after Hell In A Cell. That means a title change is very likely to occur. The mystery opponent taking up the Challenge, is almost certain to walk away as the Champion. It is a huge spot for somebody this Sunday. The style of booking is interesting. On the one hand, not advertising an opponent for Cena is weakening to his draw level. It doesn't feel like he's a key attraction this weekend, as there's no big build for a feud going in. But on the other hand, fans will be drawn in by the mystery of who his opponent will be. The challenge for WWE, is to ensure it doesn't end up being underwhelming, they must book someone relatively big in the angle. Here's the potential contenders.
10. Daniel Bryan
He's an outside bet, but if he's fit, there may be no better option than Daniel Bryan in the surprise slot this weekend. Imagine Cena making the open challenge, then a lengthy pause, before that YES music hits. The crowd would erupt. It would be a sensational way to book Bryan's return to wrestling. But the question remains, is he ready? He was due to see a third doctor recently, who was going to either pass him or fail him in a medical. If he got passed, then there's no reason why he shouldn't return in this mega Cena angle on Sunday. It'd be a great spot for him, and winning the US Title would get him back on track. It would also be a great moment for Cena to go out on, and they could do a rematch upon his return.