10 "Then Versus Now" WWE Dream Matches
The bouts we'll never see, but always imagine.
There's a lot to criticize when it comes to today's WWE, but the roster is beyond reproach. The company has spent the past five-plus years scouring the globe for the best independent and international talent in the biz, and the result is a workers' haven where any given show can offer fans a dream match in terms of names and quality.
Still, there are plenty of legends of yesteryear who, theoretically, could have stood toe to toe with the current generation of outstanding superstars. Even when the company was weaker in terms of overall talent, men like Randy Savage, Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, and more delivered classics that have stood the test of time.
It's tantalising to imagine the great workers of the '80s, '90s, and 2000s mixing it up with WWE and NXT's assortment of gifted grapplers. Not only would the matches be classics, but the idea of such lasting and powerful personalities simply coming face to face is enough to get any fan's imagination racing.
How would talents like Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, and Sasha Banks handle their predecessors?
Here is a collection of 10 "then versus now" WWE dream matches. Unfortunately, we won't be seeing any of the bouts anytime soon, but just considering them is still worth it.
10. AJ Styles Vs. Eddie Guerrero
Early this year, news broke that four of New Japan Pro Wrestling's top stars - AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson - were leaving their home promotion to try their luck in WWE.
For longtime fans, the announcement was reminiscent of one from 16 years earlier - in 2000, WCW talents Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn did the same thing, finding varying levels of success in WWE.
Out of the four Radicalz, it was Guerrero who carved the greatest legacy. Though substance abuse issues hampered his career, he was able to conquer his demons and achieve greatness before his tragic death in 2005.
Already recognised as one of the best workers in the world, Guerrero became a genuine superstar in WWE.
AJ Styles, who in three short months has become one of the company's top players, is a high-flying super-worker in a way that's not altogether different from Guerrero. Both made names for themselves with superior in-ring work, then spent years reaching the upper echelon of the wrestling industry.
A match between the two would be an incredibly exciting, superbly athletic encounter. Styles would have the edge when it came to pure high-flying, but Latino Heat's ring savvy and match leadership was second to none. This would be a mile-a-minute classic, no doubt about it.