5 potential opponents for AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble 

We already know that Universal Champion Brock Lesnar is all set to take on Braun Strowman and Kane at the Royal Rumble event. This begs the question, what are the plans for the WWE Champion for the second biggest pay-per-view of the year?

We've kept Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura away from this list as they're slated to be part of the Royal Rumble match, on the big stage. We've narrowed it down to some potential candidates, who can have a compelling contest with Styles.

These are not matches we necessarily want to see, but those we believe may happen. Let us know whom you believe Styles may be facing at the event, in the comments below.

Here are the five most likely contenders, in our opinion.

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#5 Finn Balor

Could Balor and Styles recreate their classic from 2017?

Their match was booked at the very last minute and there was absolutely no build for it, at all. However, nobody was disappointed with the TLC clash between Finn Balor and AJ Styles. The two best workers in the company took each other to the limit. They put on a classic.

WWE knows that they have a chance to recreate the magic from their previous clash, while the feud is still fresh in peoples' minds. They have an opportunity to do so at the Royal Rumble. Balor could be drafted to SmackDown Live, right before the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

It's not like he's in a program of any real importance on RAW either. He's been wrestling The Miztourage and Curtis Axel, in recent weeks, on the red brand.

A move to SmackDown Live, to face AJ Styles, may greatly benefit Balor.

#4 Shane McMahon

Could Shane McMahon and Styles recreate their WrestleMania magic?

This week on SmackDown Live, Commissioner Shane McMahon inadvertently cost AJ Styles his big match. He interfered in the main event between AJ Styles and Kevin Owens, to make sure that Sami Zayn wasn't a factor.

However, in doing so, he allowed Owens to pick up a win. The show ended with a piercing glare from Styles to The Commissioner. Many speculated at that point that the two men were on a collision course, for the Royal Rumble.

It is universally agreed that AJ Styles cannot have a bad match. Shane McMahon has proved that he can hang in there with Styles, to put on a decent showcase at a big stage. We're certain nobody will mind this clash, at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

Of course, there are some active wrestlers in the SmackDown Live roster, whom Styles can also face in a pretty solid match.

#3 Dolph Ziggler

Will the Ziggler storyline lead him to the WWE Championship?

We recently saw Dolph Ziggler win the US Championship and then relinquish it, in the middle of the ring. A US Title tournament is now underway, to determine the next champion to hold the coveted prize. Everyone expects Ziggler to come back and face the new champion. What if he doesn't?

Ziggler's frustrated ways could lead him straight to the WWE Champion's doorstep. He could challenge AJ Styles to a title match at the Royal Rumble, win the prize and then relinquish it in the middle of the ring too. This would be a fitting climax to the ongoing saga of the Show Off.

#2 Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens (Triple Threat Contest)

This is a very likely scenario indeed

We've seen Kevin Owens vs AJ Styles far too often, all year long. Sami Zayn vs AJ Styles will be a good match, but not a real Championship-Match worthy contest. Here is a possibility we can all imagine for the Royal Rumble. AJ Styles against two heels!

It is clear that the heel unit of Owens and Zayn was formed with a purpose in mind. They are slowly aiding in the dissolution of the Bryan/Shane McMahon team, the two men at the helm of SmackDown Live. Styles losing the WWE Championship, could be a chapter in that tale.

Owens or Zayn as WWE Champion could be the final straw that makes Shane McMahon snap and turn on Daniel Bryan. We know how opposed McMahon is to the two men even being a part of the company, in kayfabe. By losing to two men, Styles remains protected.

#1 John Cena

John Cena has a chance to create history once again

The last time these two men faced each other, it was voted as the 'Match of the Year'. Cena won that encounter and became the WWE Champion for the sixteenth time.

All records are meant to be broken. Cena has the opportunity to become a 17-time WWE Champion if he defeats Styles for the WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble. He would effectively beat Ric Flair's long-standing record of 16 reigns, in that case.

Don't forget that John Cena is a free agent. While he was last seen on RAW, he could just as well move to SmackDown Live, for a program with Styles.

The coming weeks should reveal who Styles' opponent is. Whoever it is, the outcome will be 'Phenomenal'. Styles is a performer who's always delivering the goods. He could wrestle a broomstick, and it'd still be great!