10 Best Candidates To Take John Cena's US Title
9. Zack Ryder
WWE may have badly missed the boat on Zack Ryder, but that doesn't mean that it's too late to get anything out of Long Island Iced Z. Ryder is still hugely popular and talented, and when he answered one of Cena's open challenges earlier in the year, he reminded a lot of people of those facts despite coming up short.
Ryder is the ultimate underdog, and any fan can respect seeing an underdog upset a franchise player. Cena - who once touted Ryder as a future Hall of Famer on TV - has been portrayed as a friend of the former United States Champion, and a handshake and a hug after Ryder's mammoth victory would be a respectable note on which Cena could take his leave of absence.
As for Ryder, who hasn't been taken seriously in several years, a few wins over established heels (The Big Show, King Barrett) will bring him back to his former glory soon.