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Many questions were raised when Daniel Bryan became the new WWE Champion. Why did he turn heel, considering he was one of WWE's most beloved babyfaces, before this? Is Daniel Bryan vs. Brock Lesnar a believable match, owing to the difference in their overall size? But in all the hullabaloo, one question was left out.
Will AJ Styles not be a part of the Survivor Series card at all, then? We know that he won't be facing Brock Lesnar because Bryan will. We know that he's not been scheduled for any other match either.
The Phenomenal One is one of the biggest stars in the roster and to leave him out of one of the biggest pay-per-views of the year seems absolutely criminal. And yet that remains a real possibility.
Let's explore some possibilities for Styles at Survivor Series...
#5 Cost Daniel Bryan his match against Brock Lesnar
Daniel Bryan and AJ Styles met in the main event of SmackDown Live, this week. The two men put on a show for the ages, that resulted in Bryan picking up a win with a low blow to Styles. I don't think Styles will be too happy with how things played out.
Therefore, I can absolutely imagine him costing Daniel Bryan his match against Brock Lesnar. When it seems like Bryan has the match won, Styles could step in and cost Bryan the win. This could lead to the two men renewing hostilities and feuding for the next few weeks, over the prestigious WWE Championship.
By having Styles interfere, Bryan can still look strong in defeat and Lesnar can remain a dominant force. It will also make the Styles vs. Bryan feud very personal indeed.
#4 Helps Daniel Bryan defeat Brock Lesnar
AJ Styles calls SmackDown Live the house that he built, every single week. Therefore, despite his problems with Daniel Bryan, Styles may actually help him pick up a victory over Lesnar. Styles is Team Blue, through and through, and may put aside his differences for one night.
This is perhaps the only believable way by which Daniel Bryan can beat Brock Lesnar. There is no way that Bryan can pick up a win unless he hits the same low blow that felled AJ Styles. Having Bryan defeat Lesnar would also establish him as a very dominant new champion.
Considering how the card is stacked at the moment, it certainly does seem like RAW has the upper hand especially in terms of overall star power. AJ Styles could tip the balance and help his brand win.
#3 Nothing
AJ Styles has been a champion for a long time now. Unlike Brock Lesnar, he's been a fighting Champion and the rigors of the road must have taken a toll on his body. Styles may use Survivor Series as a pit stop to rest and recover before his return. The life of a WWE Superstar is tough and that of a Champion is tougher.
Who knows? This could even be the reason why he dropped the title to Daniel Bryan, at least until he can come back at full health. The card is so stacked at the moment that Styles may not even be missed if he sits this one out, for the time being.
Styles performs at the highest level every night. He's perhaps the best wrestler in the roster as well as the hardest working one.
He deserves a rest period...
#2 Surprise match against surprise RAW opponent
AJ Styles could do nothing at Survivor Series, of course. But I have a feeling that he's too big a star to be left off the card. Which is why he could lay out an open challenge for anyone in the roster to answer and wage war against the individual.
We don't often see inter-brand wars so this could potentially be a very interesting match-up for sure. The usual suspects for such a contest would be Corbin and maybe even Ambrose. Even someone like Jinder Mahal could return to challenge Styles to a match, based on their rivalry on SmackDown Live last year.
Maybe Bobby Roode or Chad Gable could step up to the plate and challenge Styles to a singles match. It doesn't matter who it is, Styles doesn't disappoint when he is wrestling in the ring.
#1 Orton takes out Mysterio, Styles replaces him
It all started when Rey Mysterio defeated Randy Orton in a singles match at Crown Jewel. Orton lay down a vicious beat down on the luchador immediately after. Since then, Orton has been hot on Mysterio's tail, laying down the RKOs. It's all too likely that he will cost Mysterio his match at Survivor Series.
Bear in mind that Mysterio is one of the five team members in the SmackDown Live Survivor Series team. When a spot opens up because Mysterio cannot compete, you can have AJ Styles step in and take his rightful place.
This could actually help even the odds for Team SmackDown as well. We all know how the RAW team looks significantly more dominant than SmackDown Live, at least for now.
Having AJ Styles as part of the mix may actually give SmackDown Live a fighting chance.
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