5 WWE Stars Who Can Answer Ilja Dragunov's Open United States Title Challenge This Week On SmackDown

WWE star Ilja Dragunov has continued his Open Title Challenge from John Cena and Sami Zayn on SmackDown. Aleister Black was the first star to answer his version of the challenge, but Damian Priest gave him a hard time.

Names like Rey Fenix, Shinsuke Nakamuraand NXT's Je'Von Evans are among the names up for a title shot through the United States Open Challenge.

This week's SmackDown falls on Halloween, so expect some spooky programming. Any of the following five WWE stars could answer The Mad Dragon's call this week.

#5. Damian Priest is a former United States Champion

Priest has cost Aleister Black twice when he challenged for the United States Championship during the Open Challenges. Their feud seemed to end when Black won a game of Last Man Standing.

It was not to be, thus costing his opponent the opportunity to win a title, the former world heavyweight champion can try to get another singles belt.

This would allow Black and Zelina Vega to get revenge on The Archer of Infamy for costing him against Dragonov last week.

#4. Oba Femi debuts on SmackDown

Former NXT Champion Oba Femi has not been seen since losing his title to Ricky Saints at No Mercy in late September. That's over a month of programming, but it could be for a few reasons.

The first is that he is biding his time to return to NXT and reclaim his championship. The other is that it's being saved for a surprise moment or a possible call-up to RAW or SmackDown.

Femi looks like Brock Lesnar and Font Breaker in which he is a physical anomaly capable of impressive acts of strength. The former NXT Champion could announce his arrival by answering Dragunov's call to SmackDown.

#3. Nathan Frazer takes a shot

The two Fraxiom members chatted with Dragunov backstage last week following his win over Aleister Black. They enjoyed the action that the Open Challenges provided, and playfully encouraged both performers to step up.

Axiom lost to Jasper Troy in a Speed ​​Tourament match on this week's NXT. That means Nathan Frazer could be wrestling in singles action on this week's SmackDown.

The two go back to their days in NXT UK. Frazer could provide The Mad Dragon with a challenge other than a star with a fast-paced offense.

Since Fraxiom has been passively struggling with DIY, Johnny Gargano or Tommaso Ciampa could cost him the match.

#2. Montez Ford is distributed in individual action

With such a stacked tag team division on SmackDown, it makes sense for members of some duos to branch out into singles competition from time to time. Street Profits have been causing a breakout for months, but nothing has happened.

They already lost the WWE Tag Team titles to the Wyatt Sicks and fell short in their rematch. The next logical step would be for Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins to go their separate ways.

Ford already competed for the United States Championship in the 2023 Elimination Chamber match. He also competed in a Money in the Bank qualifying match in the same year.

#1. Santos Escobar is trying to add gold to his legacy

Santos Escobar re-signed with WWE in early October after his previous contract expired. He has been off SmackDown, but both Angel and Berto have continued to appear as members The Phantom Legacy.

What better way to return The Emperor of Lucha Libre than in an open challenge match for the United States Championship? Dragunov would probably have to deal with all three members in a potential matchup.

Escobar challenged for the title on many other occasions, so it wouldn't be much of a resurgence in another contest around the belt.