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The May 7 episode of WWE SmackDown Live saw AJ Styles and Sami Zayn challenge Kofi Kingston in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship.
Kingston was able to retain his title, withstanding the threat of Kevin Owens at ringside in the process, before surviving three Blue Thunder Bombs from Zayn to defeat him with Trouble In Paradise.
Styles, meanwhile, could only watch on from the outside of the ring as the final seconds of the match unfolded, meaning he has now failed to reclaim the WWE Championship on four occasions since his year-long title reign came to an end against Daniel Bryan on SmackDown Live in November 2018.
With the Money In The Bank pay-per-view approaching on May 19, Styles is currently preparing to face Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship in one of the featured matches of the show, but it is still alarming that his latest attempt to win a world title ended in failure.
In this article, let’s take a look at four reasons why WWE booked Styles to lose in yet another WWE Championship match – and, more importantly, why it matters.
#4 Increase frustration before his heel turn
When it became clear that the dream match between Seth Rollins and AJ Styles was going to take place earlier than expected at Money In The Bank, it looked as though the Universal Championship encounter would be built around respect and both Superstars’ appreciation of the other’s ability.
As it has turned out, we have seen a much more aggressive side to Styles’ personality in the last two weeks, starting with his cocky mannerisms during the contract signing between the two men on Raw.
This week, he continued to show signs of a possible heel turn when he abandoned Rollins during their tag match against Baron Corbin and Bobby Lashley, leaving him to lose via pinfall to Corbin following an End of Days.
Tuesday’s defeat in the Triple Threat match will only give “The Phenomenal One” more reason to build up frustration and take his anger out on Rollins, leading to what will likely become a full-on heel turn.
#3 He is already in a title storyline
One of the most anticipated matches at the Money In The Bank pay-per-view will undoubtedly be Seth Rollins vs. AJ Styles.
Over the last three years, Rollins has been the best in-ring performer on Raw, while Styles has been the best in-ring performer on SmackDown Live. Now, after the 2019 Superstar Shake-Up finally placed both men on the same brand, their paths will cross for the first time in a one-on-one WWE match.
Looking back to Tuesday’s WWE Championship Triple Threat, would it really have made sense from a storyline perspective for Styles to become a three-time WWE champion and make the MITB match a Title vs. Title encounter? No, otherwise WWE wouldn’t have had The Bar interrupt the Title vs. Title main event on Raw between Rollins and Kofi Kingston last month.
Out of Styles, Kingston and Sami Zayn, “The Phenomenal One” had the least to lose by not winning the match.
#2 Kofi Kingston vs. Sami Zayn was not a big enough WWE title match
Kofi Kingston put his WWE Championship on the line against Daniel Bryan in the main event of Monday’s episode of Raw. The match was perfectly suited to closing the show – it was a WrestleMania 35 rematch, after all – and, just like at ‘Mania, Kingston emerged with the victory.
One night later, Sami Zayn took advantage of the ‘Wild Card Rule’ by appearing on SmackDown Live to stake his claim for a one-on-one opportunity at the WWE Championship. With AJ Styles also present in the ring, Kingston agreed to defend his title not just against Zayn, but also against Styles.
Had the New Day member only faced Zayn, it would have felt very underwhelming for a WWE Championship encounter, especially when you consider that the former NXT champion has not won a televised match since March 2018.
With two-time WWE champion Styles added to the mix, he was able to add some much-needed star power and make it feel as though the match was worthy of being a contest for the biggest title in WWE.
#1 AJ Styles does not need another world title reign
Kofi Kingston produced one of the biggest feel-good moments in recent WWE history when he defeated Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35 to win the WWE Championship.
Since then, he has formed a short-lived alliance with honorary New Day member Kevin Owens, aka “Big O”, who has since turned against him to set up a match at Money In The Bank, while he defeated Seth Rollins via disqualification in a Title vs. Title match on Raw after WrestleMania.
Given that he only became WWE champion one month ago, it was far too early for AJ Styles (or Sami Zayn, for that matter) to defeat Kingston.
Styles has already had two reigns in recent years with the WWE Championship, including one which lasted 371 days, so if there is anybody who does not need another world title reign right now, it is “The Phenomenal One”.
