5 feuds AJ Styles needs to have before he eventually retires from WWE

When AJ Styles joined the WWE in 2016, it felt like something that was long overdue. He was the best wrestler in TNA/Impact for almost his entire run with the company and he further cemented his status as one of the best ever during his stints in New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor.

He was even too good to stay there, even. So along with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson and Shinsuke Nakamura from NJPW, he joined the WWE in 2016.

Recently, the Phenomenal One revealed that he planned on retiring once his current deal expires. It wasn't a huge surprise given that Styles is over 40 and has put over 20 years of wear and tear on his body. During his time in WWE, he's feuded with Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura and John Cena, just to name a few.

But with limited time left regrading his in-ring career, there are several more people with which he can feud before his time is up. He ups the profile of anyone he feuds with but there are particular people that would offer better feuds for Styles than others. Here are five people that he needs to feud with before his retirement.

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#5 Johnny Gargano

Johnny Wrestling has been one of the top stars in NXT over the last few years.

If you aren't a fan of what Johnny Gargano has done in NXT, then you might need to check your pulse. He's been involved in some of the best, most emotional storytelling in WWE over the last three years.

From his partnership (and then feud) with Tomasso Ciampa to his ongoing struggle against Adam Cole, Gargano is an archetype in all of wrestling. He's the face that has fought for everything that he has and will not stop fighting. He's already had a main-roster dance by appearing in this year's Royal Rumble.

It wouldn't be hard to write a potential feud between he and Styles due to the journey both men have taken to get to the WWE. They share similar backgrounds and are both experts at in-ring storytelling. Gargano might stick around initially as NXT transitions to the USA Network but he's overdue for a permanent call-up. One of his first feuds should be with Styles, especially if Styles remains a heel.

#4 Drew McIntyre

McIntyre needs a change to get out of the position of constantly putting others over.

While Drew McIntyre returned to the main roster after WrestleMania 34 and immediately made an impact as a dangerous threat on RAW, things have changed drastically for the Scottish Psychopath.

After his partnership with Dolph Ziggler ended, he's been hovering around the main-event scene of RAW - albeit with little success. He hasn't had much of a chance at the Universal Championship and has recently been relegated to being Shane McMahon's lackey. He's quickly becoming another Samoa Joe or Sami Zayn - really talented guys who fall into the role of putting over others. In this case, Cedric Alexander or Ricochet.

Perhaps he needs a face turn or a new push, but he and Styles haven't really had a prolonged feud with each other. They are both among the best in the WWE and, while Styles has ascended to the top, McIntyre is still waiting to get there. They should cross paths soon, and an attack from the OC on McIntyre would help get the audience behind him. It needs to happen before Styles hangs up his boots.

#3 Adam Cole

Cole is likely to be the initial focal point of NXT on USA.

Adam Cole and AJ Styles were together briefly in New Japan Pro Wrestling, when both were members of the Bullet Club. Both men would eventually end up in WWE, as Styles went right to the main roster and Cole has helped to anchor NXT.

As he is currently the NXT Champion, this potential feud would obviously happen down the road. Both men are a part of factions at the moment and they both are heels. Both groups are also very cocky and arrogant, and use the numbers advantage more often than not.

They could have a faction war or battle individually, but these two men would put on a fantastic series of matches. Just watch any of their past individual matches. Cole is obviously the future in WWE, while Styles would represent the present and a older lion on his way out.

It doesn't mean that the feud wouldn't be fantastic, but Styles would obviously be putting Cole over. All it needs is a main-roster Cole but he's going to be featured on USA as NXT changes it's broadcast home.

Still, anything is possible - as they say - in WWE.

#2 Finn Balor

Styles replaced Bray Wyatt when the latter was sick and unable to perform.

At the point in the above photo, Finn Balor was immersed in his first feud with Bray Wyatt. Those two were set to square off at TLC in 2017, but due to a sickness affecting a portion of the locker room, Wyatt was unable to compete. Styles swashbuckled in to save the day and he helped to provide the fans with one of the dream matches we had hoped to see since he joined the company.

There have been multiple backstage segments with both men, but only in passing. They have never officially feuded with each other, as they have traditionally been on opposite brands. That is still the case, but before he took time off after SummerSlam, WWE teased the OC offering Balor help if he needed it. He might join the group upon his return or he might go on his own path.

While their match in 2017 was still great, it didn't have a proper feud surrounding it due to the unfortunate circumstances. They didn't necessarily need a storyline to build to it ,because of their great in-ring work, but before Styles officially retires, they need to have a feud as the first two leaders of the Bullet Club. It won't matter who the face is or who the heel is because the fans will simply eat up the match due to it simply happening.

#1 The Fiend

The two briefly crossed paths a couple years ago.

Okay, so just about anyone and everyone should feud with Bray Wyatt's new persona. It's one of the most well-crafted ideas ever conceived in wrestling, and Wyatt's dedication to it has already made it a smashing hit. His entrance to the ring alone was the highlight of SummerSlam.

Styles actually lost his WWE Championship during an Elimination Chamber match a few years ago. Wyatt pinned both John Cena and Styles en route to capturing his first main-roster title. He eventually lost it right away to Randy Orton at WrestleMania that year in order to cap off the whole "Orton joining the Wyatt Family" storyline.

The reason why they need to feud before Styles retires is nothing more than two top-tier performers showing down. Styles didn't get to face the Undertaker and the Fiend might just be the spiritual successor in terms of the supernatural Superstar of this generation. Wyatt's new persona needs to be put over and be put over by big-name stars in WWE. Styles would be one of those stars due to the success he's had in his short WWE career.

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