5 Superstars who should not get a shot at the WWE title

The WWE Championship on SmackDown Live has had an interesting run the last few years, with AJ Styles holding the title for almost a year, in turn becoming the longest WWE champion in SmackDown history.

Styles has had feuds with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, Shinsuke Nakamura, a brief feud with Rusev, and then one with Samoa Joe, which has been the most interesting feud that Styles has been involved in since winning the title last year from Jinder Mahal.

Following the Superstar Shake-up, SmackDown has several top singles stars, including the likes of The Miz and Daniel Bryan.

Here, we look at 5 Superstars who should not get a shot at AJ Styles' WWE title:

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#1 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles haven't faced each other at a PPV or for the WWE title, since Bryan was injured when Styles made his switch to the WWE.

After Bryan was cleared by WWE doctors to wrestle again, the duo faced each other on a SmackDown Live show, which ended in a disqualification after Shinsuke Nakamura interfered.

Bryan and Styles could put on a great story in the ring and outside of it, with both being superb in-ring wrestlers, who are also good on the mic. But Bryan and Styles shouldn't feud anytime soon as both are babyfaces on SmackDown Live, and unless one of them turns, the WWE may not go ahead with this feud.

With Bryan in a long-awaited feud with The Miz right now, the WWE will not pull the plug on it, and perhaps could end the feud at the end of the year. While Styles' feud with Joe is simmering as well, a Bryan vs Styles feud for the WWE title should happen sometime after Royal Rumble, with one of them turning heel.

#2 Shinsuke Nakamura

Shinsuke Nakamura's win at Royal Rumble earlier this year had the WWE Universe grinning from ear to ear. WWE had finally given them what they want, and Nakamura was to face off against WWE Champion AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34 - the quintessential definition of a dream match.

But Nakamura and Styles's feud did not hit the heights many expected it to go and WWE fans were left disappointed. There was something missing that couldn't elevate their feud to their NJPW feud.

Nakamura deserves another shot at the WWE title, but not when Styles is still the WWE champion. We could perhaps get Nakamura turn face and feud with the likes of The Miz or Samoa Joe, if either of them win the WWE title in the future.

#3 Randy Orton

AJ Styles and Randy Orton haven't had a significant feud on SmackDown Live, but I think a lot of fans will agree that Orton has possibly lost his edge and is no longer one of the top heels in the WWE or SmackDown Live.

At 38 years of age, Orton is three years younger than Styles, but having been in the WWE for nearly 15 years, Orton has, dare I say it, got long in the tooth. This is not an obituary for Orton's wrestling career, but the perfect place for him currently is the mid-card and upper mid-card, ushering in new Superstars into the WWE.

Or he could maybe move over to RAW, as he has been in SmackDown for two years.

#4 Rusev

Rusev has become one of the most over WWE Superstars in the WWE in the recent past, thanks to his Rusev Day gimmick. He even got a shot at Styles's WWE title at Extreme Rules, where he was unsuccessful in winning the title.

The Bulgarian Brute has a lot to offer to the WWE and SmackDown Live, but most of the WWE Universe wants to see his feud with Aiden English and how that ends.

We could perhaps see Rusev face off against a heel champion, as Rusev, as mentioned previously, has got over with the fans in a big way.

#5 Jeff Hardy

Like Randy Orton, a lot of us seem to forget that Jeff Hardy is just 41 years of age! He's been with the WWE since the late 90s and ruled the roost in the WWE and other promotions.

But his high-flying and death-defying moves have taken a toll on his health, and he's no longer the same wrestler that he was.

Hardy, again, is a face on SmackDown Live, and even though the matches between Styles and Hardy could be great, a storyline between the two may not quite be appealing. Hardy could fight for the US Championship as well as the tag team championship, if he finds a partner, and win more titles. But the WWE Championship, for now, shouldn't be Jeff Hardy's next feud.