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After one of the better matches of 2020, AJ Styles is the new Intercontinental Champion. He defeated Daniel Bryan in the finals of the Intercontinental Championship tournament that has provided some good action from the SmackDown roster.
Bryan has been one of the top Superstars on the Blue brand since returning to action. AJ Styles, however, was traded to SmackDown right before the tournament. While the move was strange, it at least gives Friday nights another big Superstar and one that is tested as a Champion.
So after defeating Shinsuke Nakamura in his only prior match in the tournament, what's next for The Phenomenal One? The face side of things in SmackDown's mid-card is limited but there are potential feuds around the corner. Some are new to the brand while others could get the chance of their careers by challenging AJ Styles for the belt.
Here are five opponents for the new IC Champ AJ Styles. I would have considered Elias but he was hurt in the parking lot accident and was written off of TV because of a real-life injury. And since he just defeated Bryan in the finals of the tournament, he will also be excluded.
#5 Shorty G
He might be short if you didn't know, but the man formerly known as Chad Gable is one of the most underrated Superstars in WWE. He's put forth fantastic matches with practically every opponent he's faced and his biggest pushes have come in the tag team division. He was a finalist in the last King of the Ring tournament but he fell to King Corbin.
The reason why Shorty G works as a potential challenger is that he's always the underdog. WWE heels constantly chide him because he's short but they don't do the same to Rey Mysterio. The former Tag Team Champion can work with anyone and AJ Styles would mesh well with his in-ring game.
There aren't a plethora of faces available in the mid-card, especially after AJ Styles defeated Bryan in the finals. The New Day are a team, Elias is hurt and Braun Strowman is the Universal Champion. It's well past due to give Shorty G a shot at a mid-card title and perhaps even a run with the belt.
#4 Matt Riddle
It might be too soon to put Matt Riddle in a title program with AJ Styles immediately upon his arrival to Friday nights, but he has shown that he rises to the occasion in high-stakes matches. He may not have held any singles Championships during his time in NXT and lost Timothy Thatcher in their Cage Fight a few weeks ago, but the quality of his work has never been questioned.
Riddle seamlessly blends his MMA background with strikes and wrestling moves to offer up a complete package of moves that can trouble AJ Styles. The names might be silly (Bro Derek, Floating Bro) but the dude is a legit performer in the ring. The likes of Dolph Ziggler or The Miz are usually reserved to meet new faces to the roster.
One way to switch that tactic up, however, is to have him face AJ Styles at some point soon. It doesn't mean that he has to be the first challenger but why not for SummerSlam? Both men are great in-ring storytellers and both give and take offense just as hard. Some of us fans and analysts often argue that some Superstars are promoted way too soon but Riddle seems more than ready to make his mark on SmackDown.
#3 Drew Gulak
Here's a trivia question - who's the last man to pin AJ Styles? That's right, Drew Gulak. Right after he signed a new deal with WWE, Gulak faced AJ Styles on SmackDown on May 26th, 2020. It was an impromptu match but the former Cruiserweight Champ rolled up and got the three-count to put an impressive win on his resume.
Gulak also happens to be one of the faces in the mid-card that could work a great match with AJ Styles. Just see Gulak's offerings against Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan and Cesaro as recent proof of that. His matches in the Cruiserweight Division - and in a trip to NXT against Riddle and Kushida - also prove that Gulak is more than deserving of a title shot.
The roster is usually pretty fluid with people moving up and down from both the mid-card, main event and tag team divisions. But with the current restrictions placed on things during the global COVID-19 pandemic, WWE has been relying on a core group of Superstars. Gulak has been one of those performers. It would also be a good storyline as he's never had a singles title shot outside of the Cruiserweight Division. Gulak has been killing it during the no-audience shows so a title shot should be in his future.
#2 Sami Zayn
Depending on Creative, this one is a no-brainer. Sami Zayn elected to stay home as Intercontinental Champion and was stripped of the title. The tournament started to crown a new Champion and we now have that with AJ Styles.
The two worked a program in 2018 when AJ Styles as WWE Champion. Zayn and Kevin Owens even had a handicapped match for the title against the Phenomenal One. The in-ring product isn't in question but the alignments may be. Both men are technically heels as AJ Styles has acted arrogantly since rejoining the Blue brand. Zayn, on the other hand, has been doing fantastic work as a smarmy and smug heel for the last year or so.
He won his first singles title as a great heel and he was leading the faction with Nakamura and Cesaro. Since he never really lost the title, the feud with the new Champion writes itself. It's a ready-made program that might need a little tweaking once the former titleholder returns from quarantine. But the fact remains, it's an easy angle to write and pull off due to the caliber of both performers.
#1 Jeff Hardy
Sheamus is just the first stop on the "Jeff Hardy Redemption" arc that's currently playing out on Friday nights. Hardy said on WWE Backstage that he has one great run left in him and what else could he possibly mean other than a title run? In that case, AJ Styles could be a potential target for The Charismatic Enigma.
I think his time as a top Superstar has since passed, but he does still have value as a mid-card staple. He was also taken out of the tournament by way of the parking lot incident so he deserves a chance simply because of that fact. He didn't lose in the tournament but was forced out of it due to circumstances out of his control.
For that reason, I expect that once his feud with Sheamus concludes, he might be booked in a program with AJ Styles for the title. I don't see the Phenomenal One losing the title until the fall at the very least, so he's going to need challengers.
Jeff Hardy's name still carries tremendous value in WWE and he could even put over an up-and-coming heel if he does win the title. His best use - similar to like veterans like Mysterio - is to help put over younger Superstars of the future. That could start by challenging AJ Styles.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
