Long-time Bray Wyatt ally, reignite major past rivalry? - 4 potential opponents for Uncle Howdy at WWE WrestleMania 41
WWE has numerous big and interesting stars on its roster. Between names such as Rhea Ripley, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Damian Priest, Gunther, Randy Orton, CM Punk, and Bianca Belair, among others, the roster is absolutely stacked.
One of the more bizarre, yet interesting performers in the company happens to be Uncle Howdy, also known as Bo Dallas. He returned to television earlier this year as the leader of the dangerous Wyatt Sicks.
Joined by Erick Rowan, Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, and Dexter Lumis, The Wyatt Sicks were seemingly going to be heels, but they are instead a babyface act. The group honoring the late-great Bray Wyatt and fighting for those who have been abandoned is great storytelling.
For Howdy, it will be interesting to see what direction his career takes, especially following his in-ring debut under this gimmick. There is a chance he will be pushed further moving forward and he could even end up with a match at WrestleMania 41. This article will take a look at a handful of possible opponents that the spooky star could have at The Show of Shows.
Below are four potential opponents for Uncle Howdy at WWE WrestleMania 41.
#4. LA Knight and Uncle Howdy have a history in WWE
LA Knight is an absurdly popular WWE star. He broke out of the dead-in-the-water Max Dupri gimmick once Triple H took over the creative direction of the company and he has been in a prime spot ever since. Knight is currently the United States Champion.
The Megastar is not a stranger to Uncle Howdy. When Knight feuded with Bray Wyatt, in what was ultimately the final completed rivalry in Bray's WWE career, Uncle Howdy got involved. In fact, he even attacked Knight a handful of times.
Their rivalry could be renewed around WrestleMania season. Knight may see his loss to Bray Wyatt and overall in the feud as a detriment to his career. If he does, coming back for Uncle Howdy could be his attempt to correct what he may perceive as a past failure.
#3. Braun Strowman could be bitter that he is not involved with The Wyatt Sicks
Braun Strowman is one of the most powerful and intimidating superstars in modern WWE history. His strength and stature have served him well, as The Monster Among Men is also a former Universal Champion and even a tag team champion.
While Braun does not have much of a history with either Bo Dallas or his Uncle Howdy persona, he does have a significant past with Bray Wyatt. Braun was part of The Wyatt Family, which also featured The Wyatt Sicks' Erick Rowan.
Given his past with Bray and Erick, the 41-year-old star might be angry that he was not involved with The Wyatt Sicks. If he is in his feelings, Strowman may attack Uncle Howdy and the stable as a whole, turning heel in the process. Can The Monster Among Men put down the spooky Howdy and an entire stable? Bitterness and jealousy is a great motivator.
#2. He could chase Bron Breakker's Intercontinental Championship
Bron Breakker is the future of WWE. He started his career just a handful of years ago and immediately found massive success while performing on NXT. This led him to two reigns as the NXT Champion and he even held the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Fast forward to 2024 and Bron joining the main roster full-time. Now, Breakker is the reigning WWE Intercontinental Champion. Bron managed to defeat Sami Zayn to win the belt and then defeated the latter in a Two-out-of-Three Falls Match to further solidify himself as a prominent figure.
The Uncle Howdy persona only just made his in-ring debut, so needless to say, he has yet to win a title. The Intercontinental Championship could be the belt he chases. Supposing Bron holds onto the title until WrestleMania 41, Breakker vs. Howdy could be a big match on the show.
#1. A feud with Gunther could be extremely interesting due to their different presentations
Gunther's success in WWE cannot be understated. He joined the promotion through the NXT UK brand and quickly went on to win the NXT United Kingdom Championship. He then replicated that formula on the main roster with the Intercontinental Championship. Both reigns are the two longest in the history of each belt.
The Ring General is now the World Heavyweight Champion. He defeated Damian Priest to win the belt at SummerSlam 2024. He has since successfully retained his prized belt against Randy Orton in what many feel was a phenomenal bout.
Gunther and Uncle Howdy's presentation could not be any more different. The Austrian star is a serious wrestler while Howdy has a dark and spooky gimmick. However, their contrast could provide something entertaining. A Howdy-Gunther match at WrestleMania 41 could lead to a very interesting dynamic. How will the Imperium leader fair against the maniacal Howdy? Only time will tell.