EXCLUSIVE: Nick Aldis Names His 3 Dream WWE Opponents
The NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion on the WWE wrestlers he'd most like to face.
Nick Aldis has named three WWE headliners as his dream opponents in professional wrestling.
Speaking to WhatCulture's Adam Wilbourn ahead of this Sunday's When Our Shadows Fall pay-per-view, the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion mentioned Randy Orton first, outlining the right scenario:-
"Right now, I mean... if I could wrestle anyone for the title, in a title match, with that really sort of classic build that we like to do for title matches and at times luxuriate in and give it our full attention, Randy Orton."
Aldis was quick to add Edge to that list, revealing the extent of his personal relationship with and lifelong fandom of the Rated R Superstar, who worked a lengthy rivalry with Orton for most of 2020:-
"Edge, by the way, who will routinely text me and say 'I loved this promo' and 'I loved this match' and so and so. When he wrestled Randy in that Greatest Wrestling Match or whatever they called it, that match felt like an NWA Title match. And he paid me a very nice compliment when he said 'you're the kind of guy I like, and that kind of stuff is the stuff that me and Randy want to do.' For me, that's huge for a guy like me to hear it from Adam, because I grew up watching him. Like, he was one of my guys."
Finally, Aldis went with Roman Reigns, stating he has always been a fan of the current Universal Champion:-
"I've always thought Roman was the man, even when other people were trying really hard to sh*t on him. I've always thought he was the man. Now, he finally is because h hass actually been allowed to be himself and embrace his position. He's incredible. Dude, right now, if I was able to work with anyone, why would it not be him? He and I, think about that as a contrast. What a great story that could be."
Nick also mentioned NJPW's Kazuchika Okada as somebody he'd like to face outwith the WWE realm. Then, he pointed out that this kind of inter-promotional dream match used to be the norm in the '80s and '90s, referencing Ric Flair vs. Genichiro Tenryu and Hulk Hogan vs. The Great Muta.
The wrestling world has opened up immensely over the past few months. With AEW adding IMPACT Wrestling and NJPW to its existing working relationships with AAA and the NWA, plus talk of negotiations between WWE and NJPW, these matches, as Aldis pointed out, aren't necessarily outwith the realm of possibility anymore.
Nick Aldis defends his NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship against Trevor Murdoch at When Our Shadows Fall this Sunday, 6 June. See FITE for ordering information.