WWE: 10 Candidates If the Four Horsemen Were to Re-Form

For decades, the Four Horsemen were the dominant force in professional wrestling. Opponents lived in fear that if they were involved in an altercation with one member of the group, they'd soon find themselves involved with every other member as well.

They lived the high life in and out of the ring. They were wrestling royalty.

That mentality also planted the seed for later factions, including Degeneration-X and the nWo.

In an earlier article, the question was asked about whether the WWE was ready for a new dominant faction. The overwhelming majority of readers said yes, with the Horsemen being one of the most talked about groups.

And for good reason. No matter what the lineup was at a given time, the group always had it all.

There were ring scientists like Dean Malenko, Curt Hennig and Tully Blanchard.

There were powerhouses like Lex Luger and Sid Vicious

There were legendary talkers like Jeff Jarrett and Arn Anderson.

And through a majority of the years, there was the charismatic leader, Ric Flair.

But in today's world, would a new group be able to stand up and be able to do justice to what all of those talents have built?

Here is a group of 10 performers who might be able to make the grade.

Daniel Bryan

Bryan is one of the best technical wrestlers in the game, fitting right in with one of the ideals of the Horsemen (leave your Steve McMichael comments at the door). His submission skills are also second to none, calling to mind images of former Horsemen Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit.

True, his gimmick causes him to have delusions of grandeur, but he might just be as good as he claims to be. That attitude alone could make him the missing piece of the Horseman puzzle.

He may not be the best talker and his character might seem sort of plain at times, but then again Tully Blanchard was never scintillating and still was a huge part of what the Horsemen did.

Could Bryan be exactly what the group needs?

YES!

Jinder Mahal

There has been recent talk that WWE officials see big things for his future, so why not start with establishing himself as a calculating heel, one with the physical tools and unique look to carry him to the next level.

Mahal is still somewhat green in the ring, but he carries himself with the swagger of a talent of greater experience. He has shown a lot of promise on NXT, locking horns with major up-and-comers like Seth Rollins and Richie Steamboat, and with a bit more time, he could develop into something special.

With his charisma, he could easily make the jump to being a part of something special. Is it possible he could end up in the middle of the ring holding up that famous four-finger salute?

Cody Rhodes

Cody’s father Dusty fought the Horsemen for years in the NWA, so in keeping with his attempts to step out of his shadow, Cody could make the leap to the big time by actually becoming a member of the group himself.

At 27, Rhodes is at the exact time in his career where it becomes make or break for him. He has had a decent amount of success thus far, winning several tag-team titles with multiple partners and having two runs with the WWE Intercontinental title.

But until he takes that next step, he may never reach the upper echelon of the talent roster. Becoming a Horseman could be that next step, and Rhodes could be poised to become a huge part of that movement.

The Miz

Miz has essentially done it all in the WWE.

He has been a part of some well-known teams (with John Morrison, Big Show and R-Truth). He has been a notable singles worker, with runs as WWE champion, United States champion, and as the current Intercontinental champion. His promos are among the best in wrestling today.

He is also one of the hardest workers in the company, constantly attempting to make himself better by pushing himself to the limits.

Seemingly, the Miz has it all.

Wouldn't being the leader of a legendary sports entertainment stable look great on his ever-growing resume as well?

Zack Ryder

Laugh at this idea all you want, Ryder is a polished worker who delights crowds anywhere he goes. Granted, his persona might be a little bit too upbeat for a Horsemen reunion, but that never stopped perennial nice-guy Sting from joining the group in 1989.

Ryder is that rare breed of performer who makes those around him look better. He may never be the breakout star of a group like the Four Horsemen, but there’s little doubt that he could be a reliable and steadfast member for the long run.

Joe 'Michael McGillicutty" Hennig

Come on, his father Curt "Mr. Perfect" Hennig was a Horseman, so why not him?

Seemingly buried as a throw-in member of the New Nexus and saddled with a ridiculous name, not much was thought of Hennig at first. But his steady ring work and wrestling pedigree are enough to get his foot in the door.

Also working in his favor, none other than Triple H is said to be a big fan of the second generation star.

Damien Sandow

Never mind that his mic work is borderline perfect, Sandow’s aggression and steadfast belief in what he is doing make him dangerous and deceptive. He is calculating, cold and, most importantly, incredibly talented.

In other words, the perfect Horseman.

Ted DiBiase

The wrestling world has been talking about DiBiase being the next big thing, the next mega-star. So far, despite limited runs in the limelight, the hype has been just that. With a family line steeped in wrestling greatness, it is getting close to do-or-die time for DiBiase and his career.

His most notable run with the company was when he was involved with another faction, Legacy with Randy Orton, and a fellow member of this list, Cody Rhodes. As as it seems that he has his best success in the comfort of a team, why not pair him back up with Rhodes to form a young but experienced tag-team machine?

The Horseman always thrived using a team mentality, so it stands to reason that DiBiase would factor heavily in what they might be trying to accomplish.

So would a run with one of the most dominant and notorious groups in wrestling history aid him in making a permanent mark on the WWE? You bet your bottom dollar it would.

Kofi Kingston

A dark-horse candidate to be sure because he seems to lack that certain killer edge, but other than that, what prevents Kofi from being considered?

When he burst onto the scene in early 2008, big things were expected of Kofi and he did not disappoint. On his first night on the RAW roster, he defeated Chris Jericho for the WWE Intercontinental title, which he has won two additional times. He has followed that up with multiple reigns as a tag-team champion and United States champion.

Now poised to become a Triple Crown champion with the addition of a World title to his collection, could the Horsemen be the catalyst to skyrocket this high flier into the stratosphere of the WWE universe?

Dolph Ziggler

As one of the older members of this list at age 32, Ziggler isn't getting any younger. He has the smugness and drive of Flair, and the talent in the ring to back up any claims he makes. He is a seemingly tireless worker and would put forth all the effort necessary to make a new incarnation of the Horsemen be the best it could be.

He has already won the Triple Crown of the WWE. With other strong members of a group behind him, there is no telling what the future could hold for Ziggler.

Do Ric Flair and Arn Anderson Need to Be Involved?

The Horsemen always thrived having the four members. But there was almost always a fifth (or sixth) member of the group who contributed to their greatness.

At the outset, J.J. Dillon led the group and was a vocal piece of an already well-spoken puzzle.

Throughout the years, Debra McMichael and Woman also both were associated with the group as valets of multiple performers. The group even had a referee in the fold, "Little Naitch" Charles Robinson.

With that said, is it time that Flair and Anderson step back into the spotlight in the WWE to guide this group to the heights that it promises to go?

Can a Four Horsemen re-branding really take place without the most notable Horsemen?

Frankly, Flair would instantly bring legitimacy to the group. As the unquestioned leader for nearly every incarnation of the group, Flair's wild personality and attitude would easily rub off on his charges and make them better.

Anderson made his career by consistently being Flair's backup. The ultimate "best friend," Anderson rarely left Flair on his own and was a feared performer in his own right. In addition, Anderson's promos were cerebral and compelling, leaving both fans and opponents knowing that whatever he had said, he would likely succeed in doing.

And while it may not take both men to completely legitimize a new Four Horsemen group, wouldn't it leave us all on the edge of our seats if they were?