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Shinsuke Nakamura v AJ Styles is the first match announced for Wrestlemania, a match which has been talked about ever since both these guys jumped ship from NJPW to WWE back in 2016. Their final match in NJPW was a classic encounter against each other, and the expectations for their forthcoming encounter are definitely high.
However, Nakamura may not have been the most fitting opponent for a superstar who's reaching sky-rocketing popularity as a face in WWE currently. Nakamura is still a face and so is Styles, which is a weird proposition since WWE rarely indulges in such matches.
We look at five opponents who could've been a better choice as AJ Styles' opponent for a match at the grandest stage of them all.
#5: Randy Orton
The Viper is currently in midst of a US title feud and has stayed nearly two years as a face now. He has never really been a great babyface, and has always made highlights with his heel persona. Randy Orton needs to turn heel soon, and a heel turn against the biggest babyface on the roster would've been picture perfect.
Randy Orton v AJ Styles is still a dream feud for many WWE fanatics and it's a travesty that both these tremendous athletes have still not crossed paths in WWE. Their one-off number one contender match was a decent match which displayed what a full blown out rivalry between them could be.
A Heel Orton v The Face that Runs the Place could have torn the house down at Wrestlemania.
#4: Bobby Roode
Yet another superstar on Smackdown Live who is stuck with a bland face character, Bobby Roode has given some of the best performances of his long and glittering career as a heel. Even in his short stint with WWE, Bobby Roode has excelled as a heel during his NXT Championship run.
Roode is one hell of a performer and would have been a perfect foil for the Phenomenal One. Both these former TNA stalwarts are quite capable of giving a five start match on any particular day, and a confrontation at the grandest stage of them all would have been massive.
#3: Seth Rollins
You think of the great heels in WWE in the last few years, the mind directly goes to The Architect Seth Rollins. Seth Rollins is one of the best wrestlers in WWE today and has found little to no success ever since his 2016 face turn. The Curb-Stomp has returned, could the Heel Seth return too?
Seth Rollins has been stuck in a limbo, wrestling the Bar week-in,week-out and a switch to Smackdown Live would have helped his career massively. Him and AJ Styles together is a dream confrontation for many fans, and would help WWE rival the Okada-Omega match quality from 2017.
Seth Rollins may not be fighting for the WWE Championship this year, but him vs AJ is something everyone wishes to see.
#2: Samoa Joe
If AJ Styles is the best babyface on the roster currently, there is not a single doubt that Samoa Joe is the best heel in WWE. Samoa Joe and AJ Styles have a storied history, and have given fascinating encounters on the indie circuit before.
Samoa Joe's push on Monday Night RAW was an exciting thing to see, although he is still to win a single title on the main roster. Samoa Joe could be the perfect monster opponent for the underdog AJ Styles. Both of them could have promo battles which would make for must-see television.
AJ Styles is not short on a list of dream opponents, and Joe is definitely on top of that long list.
#1: Finn Balor
Imagine Finn Balor winning Royal Rumble, showing up on Smackdown Live with the Club and Beating Down AJ Styles. A move over to SDL would have been a perfect catalyst for a heel turn for Balor, who is struggling break the proverbial glass ceiling on Monday Night RAW.
Balor and Styles have faced off in a one-off match at No Mercy last year, and the match was breathtakingly good. However, the addition of the biggest title in sports entertainment at the grandest stage of them all could mean an even better encounter between the two former Bullet Club leaders.
Do you think Nakamura is the perfect opponent for AJ? Or should WWE have positioned someone else?
