The Undertaker competed against some of the biggest names in WWE history throughout his legendary career, sharing the ring with icons from multiple generations before bringing his in-ring run to an end.

Given the incredible list of opponents he faced over the decades, it’s always interesting to hear which current WWE Superstars catch the Hall of Famer’s eye. While today’s roster is filled with talented performers across both the main roster and NXT, only a select few have done enough to leave a lasting impression on The Deadman.

During a recent appearance on the Insight podcast with Chris Van Vliet, The Undertaker was asked which current WWE stars he would have liked to step into the ring with if he were still an active competitor.

After reflecting on the question, he praised a few of WWE’s modern standouts, explaining what makes them appealing opponents.

The Undertaker’s Dream Modern Day Opponents

One name in particular stood out because of his appreciation for the Superstar’s deliberate in-ring style and ability to tell a compelling story between the ropes.

The Undertaker also highlighted two rising stars who he believes have enormous futures ahead of them, including one performer he feels could become one of the biggest stars in the entire industry.

Sharing his thoughts, The Undertaker said: “[Gunther] would be a good one for sure. I like the way he works, and I like the way he takes his time and builds to a crescendo in a match.

The three Superstars The Undertaker named were Gunther, Trick Williams, and Oba Femi, giving each of them a significant endorsement.

His comments were especially notable regarding Trick Williams, whom he believes has the potential to become one of WWE’s biggest attractions in the years ahead.

Meanwhile, Gunther has already established himself as one of WWE’s premier main-event talents thanks to his hard-hitting, methodical approach inside the ring, while Oba Femi continues to emerge as one of the company’s most dominant and promising stars.

Although fans will never get to see The Undertaker share the ring with any of the three, his praise serves as a strong vote of confidence in WWE’s current generation and suggests the company’s future remains in capable hands.

Aston Villa have agreed a deal worth in excess of £20m to sign Atletico Madrid star Matteo Ruggeri, according to Marca.

The Villans have had a very busy summer so far after bringing in Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, and Alejandro Garnacho, while they have lost Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Morgan Rogers.

Unai Emery is keen to bolster the squad after they won the Europa League and qualified for the Champions League, and a new left-back to compete with Ian Maatsen is among the priorities, which has seen them move for the Italian.

Aston Villa Agree Deal for Ruggeri

Ruggeri, who has been described as ‘extraordinary’, has been deemed surplus to requirements at the Wanda Metropolitano by Diego Simeone heading into the new season, and Villa have moved to strike a deal for the 24-year-old.

According to a report in Spain, Villa have now agreed a deal worth an initial €18m (£15.4m) plus a further €6m (£5.1m) in add-ons to sign the left-back after making him a top target.

The only thing left is to get the green light from Ruggeri himself before a move to Villa Park is finalised, although it is understood that he is leaning towards accepting the move despite interest from Juventus, Roma, and a late enquiry by Liverpool.

Ruggeri was scheduled to fly to Korea with Atletico Madrid as part of their pre-season training camp, but the deal is now so advanced that he is not expected to be on the flight with his teammates.

It is now expected that he will join up with Emery’s squad this summer and compete for a starting spot for the Villans, with the Premier League outfit delighted to get a deal over the line before the new season begins.

Newcastle United have made contact with Benfica over a deal to sign midfielder Richard Rios to replace Bruno Guimaraes, according to Football Insider.

The Magpies have undergone a major summer of change so far in this window with Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali already sold, Eddie Howe resigning from his position as manager, and captain Guimaraes on the brink of a mega-money move to Arsenal.

The club have already brought in Ewen Jaouen, Bazoumana Toure, Seun Steur, Aladji Bamba, and Lukas Hornicek to try and replace those stars, and now new manager Matthias Jaissle could be set to welcome another star to the squad.

Rios, who has been described as ‘world-class’ by Jurgen Klopp, made the move to join Benfica from Palmeiras in the summer of 2025 after an impressive run of performances at the Club World Cup.

The Colombian made 45 appearances for the Portuguese side, scoring eight goals, in his first season, and those performances have attracted the attention of the Magpies as they look to rebuild their team.

The 26-year-old is someone who has been identified as a target by the Toon, and they have now made a preliminary move to accelerate their interest in signing a new central midfielder.

It’s understood that Rios would be considered as a direct replacement for the Brazil international, with his powerful style and ability to win possession back a huge benefit to what Newcastle need.

It’s unclear how much a deal would cost, or whether either of Rios or Benfica are open to a deal, but Newcastle are looking to make their move in the final weeks of the window to ensure they are able to be competitive in the 2026/27 season.

Newcastle Need a Statement Signing

REUTERS/Ibraheem Al Omari via Action Images

Newcastle’s business up to this point in the transfer window has clearly had one eye on the future, rather than winning immediately. But with the captain and leader of the group on the move, alongside stars who have already left, they need instant quality.

Rios has got plenty of experience at the top level, having been capped 37 times for Colombia since 2023, and his performances at the World Cup this summer showed he is capable of being a quiet leader too.

Newcastle need a statement signing to be made in the final weeks to get the fans back onside, but also to show the players still there that they have every intention of continuing to compete and challenge, rather than slipping away.