WWE WrestleMania 28: 5 Wrestlers Who Deserve WrestleMania Moments This Year

Not everyone is going to get the spotlight at WrestleMania 28, but some superstars are more worthy than most of shining on the grandest stage of them all in 2012.

The WWE is gradually going through a change of eras, with some of the biggest names in wrestling history nearing the end of their careers (or already ending them) and up-and-comers looking to cement themselves as the next top stars.

While today's biggest stars like Randy Orton (WWE title win at WrestleMania 24), John Cena (pick one) and CM Punk (two Money in the Bank wins) have already had at least one "WrestleMania moment," most of the stars of tomorrow haven't even had one.

That needs to change. And it needs to change this year.

Here are five superstars who deserve to have their WrestleMania moment in Miami at WrestleMania 28. 

5. Zack Ryder

Zack Ryder skyrocketed up the card in 2011, but all he has to show for it is a back brace, a neck brace and a bunch of butt whoopings from Kane.

It took Ryder what seemed like forever to finally beat Dolph Ziggler for the United States Championship at WWE TLC last December, and not long after he won the title, he dropped it to Jack Swagger during John Cena's feud with Kane.

Since then, Ryder has either served as Kane's whipping boy or been completely left off of TV to sell the storyline injuries. This is the best the WWE could come up with for Ryder? Really?

"Long Island Iced Z" rose out of the ashes to become a star last year, and after putting up with all the b.s. that came along with the Kane/Cena storyline, it's time to have this dude do something besides take huge, scary bumps for Kane.

The fact that he's injured is setting up almost perfectly for Ryder to do just that, and to come back from the injury to have his WrestleMania moment.

The WWE should hold off on Ryder's actual in-ring return until WrestleMania 28, give him a reasonably high-profile match, have him win it and then let the celebration begin.

Ryder deserves it after being the centerpiece of a Kane/Cena feud that went nowhere but should have served as a means to elevate him.

4. Cody Rhodes

Every time that Cody Rhodes steps in the ring or grabs a mic, he impresses me more than he did the previous time.

Rhodes has looked great in his last two major matches (the Royal Rumble and Smackdown's Elimination Chamber), and it's clear that the WWE was relying on him to be one of the stars of both matches. He didn't disappoint, either, lasting longer than any other superstar (besides The Miz) in the Rumble and having some memorable spots in the Chamber. 

It's not simply what he's done in he ring that makes him stick out, though. He just has a very "old-school" feeling about him, a combination of the way he cuts his promos, his mannerisms and his character as a whole.

Everything that Rhodes does is done for a purpose, and it makes him more entertaining to watch than perhaps any other rising heel in the WWE. Yet Rhodes still hasn't had a full-on main event level feud and has only tasted the World title scene.

I thought he would have been a perfect fit as the Money in the Bank winner if it were to take place at 'Mania, but since that's not going to happen, he needs to do something unforgettable during his match with The Big Show, something that becomes his WrestleMania moment.

Exactly what that is, I don't know. But as one of the wrestlers the WWE will build its future around, it's time to start building up Rhodes as the face of Smackdown.

3. Kofi Kingston

I feel bad for Kofi Kingston. I really do.

This guy is incredibly talented in the ring and is one of the most exciting superstars in all of the WWE, but every time it looks like something good is going to happen for him, he winds up right back where he started.

In late 2009, Kingston was on the cusp of becoming a bona fide main-eventer, only to have his push come crashing down after an in-ring incident with Randy Orton. Then in 2011, he formed a great tag team (by today's standards) with Evan Bourne, but dropped the titles after Bourne got suspended twice. Finally, Kingston was one of the best performers in both the Royal Rumble and Raw's Elimination Chamber matches, but this week he was relegated to performing on Superstars.

If I was Kingston, I would have just about lost my damn mind by now.

He continues to deliver in the ring on a consistent basis, he's been over pretty much since he debuted and he's been a quality mid-carder/tag team wrestler for the last four years now. Yet he can't seem to cross that barrier to the main-event scene.

I doubt that'll happen anytime soon, but after some stellar recent performances, the very least the WWE should do for Kingston is let him stand out in whatever match he participates in at WrestleMania and also let him get the victory.

2. Dolph Ziggler

What on earth is the creative team doing with Dolph Ziggler?

"The Showoff" was an absolute workhorse for the WWE in 2011, pulling double duty on multiple pay-per-views, often working both Raw and Smackdown and putting on some fantastic matches with guys like Randy Orton and CM Punk. But Ziggler's lone reward was a Royal Rumble title shot, in which he played third fiddle to Punk and John Laurinaitis.

Now Ziggler's plunge down the card continues, as he's now stuck in the middle of the feud between Laurinaitis and Teddy Long and, like Kofi Kingston, actually found himself competing on Superstars this week. 

Not long ago, Ziggler was the best United States Champion in recent memory, and then the No. 1 contender to the WWE Championship. But now he's just another Raw mid-carder despite the fact that he was arguably one of the top three wrestlers in the WWE (along with Punk and Orton) in 2011.

I realize that it's hard for everyone to get on the WrestleMania card, much less into a high-profile match. But when someone is as good in the ring as Ziggler is and has improved as much as he has, there should be a major effort made to get him into a big match.

And by big match, I don't mean one between two GMs.

1. Sheamus

Whether you like Sheamus or think he's just too pale to ever be one of the faces of the WWE, it's hard to argue against him deserving his push as a top superstar.

The Celtic Warrior isn't one of those main-eventers who's always in the World title picture. He hasn't had a real World title feud since 2010, and he earned one with his great 2011.

The WWE needed a new baby face to step up on Smackdown, and though not many people pictured Sheamus ever performing well as a good guy, he had a great face turn that has led to him becoming one of the WWE's most popular superstars. Along the way, he's shown to be a reliable performer in the ring, too.

Although Sheamus might never deliver a 5-star classic, he's probably the best full-time big man in the WWE and consistently delivers above-average matches. He's also somehow managed to stay relevant and over despite not having a legitimate feud since Christian got injured back in November.

Sheamus has patiently waited to have his turn in Smackdown's World title picture, being passed up by guys like Big Show, Mark Henry, Christian, Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton, as he's sort of been stuck in no-man's land.

Now comes the time to get Sheamus out of it. Now comes the time to get him a World title win on the grandest stage of them all.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter and ask him any wrestling-related questions on Formspring.