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AJ Styles defended his WWE Championship for the seventh PPV in a row and came out on top once again. His feud with Shinsuke Nakamura was termed as a dream feud but has been underwhelming for the most part. However, both these talented individuals produced a clinic at MITB. They wrestled each other in a Last Man Standing match, in what was their best match in this feud.
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AJ Styles' run with the WWE Championship has not reached the levels of his 2016 when he battled against the likes of Dean Ambrose, John Cena and Dolph Ziggler. This run has seen him face Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, and finally Shinsuke Nakamura. Smackdown has a plethora of heels in its roster waiting to step up to AJ.
AJ Styles is one of the best Superstars in WWE today, and WWE is leaving no stone unturned in order to treat him like one. Styles' heel run was one of the best in recent years, and WWE will be hoping that this run with the title reaches the same level.
Styles is a major fan-favourite, and along with Seth Rollins and Daniel Bryan, is one of the best babyfaces on the roster. Styles has been carrying Smackdown Live on his back for over two years now, and completely deserves a long run with the championship.
We look at five possible opponents for AJ Styles following MITB!
#5 Andrade Cien Almas
Almas may have transitioned from NXT to the main roster only a few weeks ago, but he has already shown glimpses of his talented persona. Almas fought in the first ever five-star match in WWE in over seven years and proved his mettle in the ring against a variety of opponents in NXT.
Almas is relatively new to the roster, and pushing him directly to the main-event picture may seem preposterous. However, Almas has all the tools to become the top heel on SmackDown Live, and a short feud with the Face that Runs the Place may help him achieve that.
The quality of matches between Almas and Styles will leave everyone jaw-dropping and that's a guarantee!
#4 Sanity
No, not the whole group! Sanity is one of the best factions in WWE in recent years, with the perfect blend of ruthlessness and insanity(no pun intended). Eric Young and Killian Dain have been performing exceptionally well in NXT for the past two years. They are yet to make their much-awaited debuts on the blue brand.
Interrupting Styles-mid promo, putting him to waste, will be a perfect way to announce their arrival on the biggest stage. Gallows and Anderson helping out their brother Styles will make it a delicious battle of factions.
Killian Dain and Eric Young both have the talent to go with AJ in the ring, and could produce a match of the highest quality.
#3 The Miz
The A-Lister is long overdue a run in the main event and could finally see a push to the world title picture. The Miz is one of the best superstars in WWE today and can make any feud worthwhile with his promo skills. The Miz and AJ Styles had a mini-feud back in early 2017 and displayed brilliant chemistry.
The Miz will be a proper step-up for AJ Styles, after having to face a number of weak heels in his title run. The Miz is a former world champion himself, and his inclusion in the main-event picture will be, awesome!
Miz v Styles is a long-awaited rivalry, and it could finally come to fruition this summer!
#2 Samoa Joe
Two TNA veterans, fighting for the top prize in WWE, in 2018. Unbelievable, but completely plausible. Samoa Joe is one of the finest booked superstars in WWE today, as he has taken just 3 clean losses in his entire main roster run. Joe's main roster run has been plagued by injuries but it hasn't slowed him down.
Arguably the most realistic and intense promo guy in WWE today, Samoa Joe has churned out some fantastic promos during his feud with Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. Samoa Joe v AJ Styles will be a contest for ages and could tear the house down in the upcoming PPVs.
The Destroyer is yet to win a title on the main roster and is long overdue a title run in WWE.
#1 Randy Orton
It is a travesty that "the Viper" and the "Phenomenal One" have been on the same brand for almost two years and haven't had a real feud. Randy Orton has been a babyface for over two years now and has failed to ignite any craze amongst the WWE Universe.
Orton is out with a surgery but is scheduled to return to WWE television soon. A heel Orton returning and taking out AJ, will send shockwaves into the WWE Universe. The 13-time world champion facing off against the Phenomenal One will be a star-studded feud, exactly what WWE craves for.
Who do you think should challenge AJ next? Sound off in the comments below!
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