5 AEW stars who should be Paige VanZant's first opponent, instead of Brandi Rhodes

4. Thunder Rosa is a trained MMA fighter

If AEW wanted to find a star on their roster with an MMA background and a massive fan following, Thunder Rosa would've been a good choice.

The Mexican-born wrestler has been clawing her way through the women's roster since her debut. Melissa Cervantes (real name) has been a wrestler since 2014 and would be an excellent opponent for Paige VanZant.

Cervantes is currently in the midst of a feud with Mercedes Martinez and will likely have to topple her current foe before moving on. Hopefully the two former MMA fighters will eventually step into the ring together.

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3. Serena Deeb might be the best opponent due to her grappling skill

Serena Deeb calls herself the Professor of Professional Wrestling. The star even inherited the "Thousand Holds" nickname from Dean Maleko. Other than that, her reputation in the ring as well as her experience speak for itself.

Deeb might not be a hard hitter like Paige VanZant, but the 35-year-old would be an impressive opponent. Deeb is a former champion and has been trained by a host of legendary wrestlers and coaches, such as Al Snow.

Her in-ring experience would lend a lot of authenticity to the match as well as make VanZant look tough. "The Woman of a Thousand Holds" has been voicing her displeasure with the roster for some time. An eventual bout is not out of the question.