It has been three weeks since John Cena snatched the United States Championship away from the clutches of the ruthless Rusev. At Extreme Rules, the two men will engage in the rubber match of their rivalry, battling for the stars-and-stripes title in a Russian Chain Match … or will they?

Cena has enacted a weekly open challenge on Raw for his U.S. Title that has so far been answered by the likes of Dean Ambrose, Stardust, Bad News Barrett and Kane. The Champ has prevailed on all four counts. Should Cena make it past The Super Athlete on Sunday with his reign intact, who should be next to answer the call?

A few editors at WWE.com decided to put their heads together and figure out who they’d like to see answer, and perhaps even emerge victorious from this latest challenge. Among them include a top NXT prospect, a previous rival of Cena’s, WWE’s new sensation, a former U.S. Champion and a certain resident vigilante.

Sami Zayn

If the recent debuts of Neville and The Lucha Dragons has shown the WWE Universe anything, it’s that NXT has some incredible talent honing their craft down in Florida. Chief among those still competing at Full Sail University is a man who would give John Cena more than a run for his money: Sami Zayn.

With an offense unlike anything Cena has seen in his career, Zayn would be an imposing opponent who could push The Champ’s abilities to their absolute limit. The talented young Superstar spent years honing his skills around the globe, which could force Cena to bust out tricks that the WWE Universe has yet to witness.

Answering The Champ’s weekly challenge is a perfect opportunity for Zayn to make an instant impact. Not only could he secure a championship in his first match, but it would be over the face of WWE for the last decade. As the face of NXT himself who possesses the same never-say-die attitude, it’s time for the WWE Universe to go in-Zayn. — MIKE MURPHY

Rob Van Dam

In June 2006, at WWE's second and final ECW One Night Stand, Rob Van Dam became the first Superstar to cash in his Money in the Bank contract with advance warning. The champion that RVD challenged was the only other man in possession of the Halliburton to do the same since, then-WWE Champion, John Cena.

That night, RVD won Cena's title in front of ECW's faithful in New York City. Wouldn't Cena love to get his win back?

Amazingly, RVD hasn't aged much in nine years. Slightly less amazing is that The Whole Dam Show has never held the United States Championship. Could you imagine a WWE crowd exploding when RVD's "One of a Kind" hits after Cena's weekly challenge? I can, and I want to see it. — JOEY STYLES

Neville

Give Neville this much: He’s doing it right. The former NXT Champion has been going after, and hanging with, some of the biggest, baddest dudes in the yard since debuting on Raw the night after WrestleMania. He went the distance with the WWE World Heavyweight Champion in only his second match, in fact, so what’s to stop him from making a run at a title only a few weeks in?

Neville has already shown he has no fear when it comes to whom he faces, and the only Superstar who didn’t need a distraction or disqualification to do any damage to him was Dolph Ziggler. So it seems like now would be the ideal time for The New Sensation to take John Cena up on his offer. Hell, Cena has gone toe-to-toe with just about everyone, so he knows how to plan for them. Maybe some new blood will be the thing that stumps him. Man Who Runs the Place, meet The Man That Gravity Forgot. – ANTHONY BENIGNO

Kurt Angle

When Kurt Angle encouraged a new star an opportunity to seize the moment, John Cena boldly answered the call. Angle would come to regret it.

Cena marched onto SmackDown — fresh from Ohio Valley Wrestling — slapped WWE’s top grappler and insisted he had enough ruthless aggression to prevail. The rookie Cena fought valiantly, but Angle managed to save face and steal a victory. When Angle refused to shake Cena’s hand after the match, it sparked a long, bitter rivalry.

Cena has since grown into the face of sports-entertainment, while Angle hasn’t stepped inside a WWE ring in nine years. With the now-veteran Cena mirroring Angle’s footsteps by offering open challenges, he has invited anyone who “wants some” to come “get some.” Thirteen years after he mistakenly opened the door for Cena, no Superstar would want to answer that call more than Kurt Angle. — JEFF LABOON

Sting

Perhaps one of the most interesting things about the United States Championship is how the title’s lineage originates in WCW and not WWE. Therefore, it seems fitting if one of the rival promotion’s greatest heroes would step forward to reclaim one of WCW’s greatest trophies — or, in this case, a vigilante.

The excitement of seeing Sting in a WWE ring shouldn't obscure the fact that he didn’t just emerge to introduce himself to today’s fans of sports-entertainment. No, he stepped out of the darkness to prove that his accomplishments, and the proud tradition of the company where he originally plied his trade, were no fluke.

Part of Sting’s resume includes two tours of duty as a United States Champion. If he wants to secure that part of his legacy, then The Stinger will need to go through a modern-day icon like John Cena to do it. And as long as the Cenation leader remains U.S. Champion, an “open” invitation remains on the table for the WCW legend. — MATTHEW ARTUS