5 challengers for AJ Styles' Intercontinental Championship at Summerslam

Usually, they don't want none, but there are plenty who want a shot at the IC Champion AJ Styles
Usually, they don't want none, but there are plenty who want a shot at the IC Champion AJ Styles

#4 Jeff Hardy vs AJ Styles

Jeff Hardy has had a polarizing return to SmackDown with his feud with Sheamus. The Charismatic Enigma has had his real life issues with addiction at the forefront of his storyline on the brand to some conflicting views from the WWE Universe.

With his rivalry with Sheamus seemingly over, a feud with the IC Champion AJ Styles would be a welcomed follow-up that has not been seen in WWE as of yet.

Although the two men have not crossed paths many times in the WWE, Hardy and Styles are quite familiar with each other from their time in TNA.

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Jeff Hardy made his TNA debut at their second anniversary show in 2004 against then X-Division Champion AJ Styles, to a loud pop and surprise of the TNA Asylum crowd. The two men battled that night to a no contest, but they were frequently connected throughout their shared time in the company.

In WWE, the two men were both challengers to Daniel Bryan's WWE Championship in the Elimination Chamber last year.

With AJ Styles as a constant pest heel to most babyfaces over the past few months, he would make an ideal next feud for Jeff Hardy. There is also the fact that Hardy was denied his opportunity in the Intercontinental Title tournament in which AJ won the strap.

Now that Hardy has put Sheamus in his rear view mirror (pun intended), he can now move on and challenge for the title the Celtic Warrior denied him the opportunity to vie for.

Not only do these two men have characters that would play off of each other extremely well, AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy are two of the best in ring performers that SmackDown has to offer.

A feud between the two would definitely deliver a great match at Summerslam. The over reliance on Hardy's addiction storyline may be the only hindrance that this potential feud has. There are also just a few other guys who have more momentum and a better story to forge with Styles that keeps Hardy at this spot.

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