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Following this week's edition of SmackDown Live, we now know that Rusev will challenge AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at Extreme Rules 2018. While many members of the WWE Universe would've been hoping for this result very few can tell you that they were anticipating it, especially considering the volume of world-class stars that were involved in the gauntlet match.
There are so many things that we love about this match-up, and while we may have only listed five, in reality, there are around three hundred. Both of these competitors are going to give it everything they've got in order to put on a great show for the fans, and while the end result is still up in the air, we'd be happy either way.
So with that being said, here are five things we love about AJ Styles vs Rusev.
Aiden English’s Involvement
People don't say it enough, but Aiden English is one of the best valets WWE has had in the last decade or so. He doesn't do anything too extravagant or over the top, but the important thing is that he plays his role to perfection. You know what you're going to get with English, and we're chuffed that he's able to flourish in his current role alongside Rusev.
We've already seen a great interaction between Aiden and AJ Styles from this past week on SD Live, with AJ not seeming to think much of English after his sign of disrespect. It'll be interesting to see whether this gradual progression eventually causes Rusev to turn into a full-blown babyface, or whether it kickstarts his run as a monster heel once again.
The Lana Effect
You may not like her on Total Divas and you may not even like her as an actual wrestler, but Lana is still one of the best in the business as a valet. While she seems to be focusing on doing her own thing right now, the idea of her not being involved in Rusev's first major world championship storyline just feels wrong. She's been there every step of the way for The Bulgarian Brute, and that needs to continue with this upcoming feud.
She doesn't need to have too much of a role, and perhaps she only needs to appear in one or two backstage segments, but either way, we need to see what she thinks about this whole situation. Perhaps she'll even try to get involved in the actual match at Extreme Rules, which could either help or hinder Rusev's chances of capturing the WWE Championship.
Something Different
Look, we love AJ Styles, and we love Shinsuke Nakamura. Both guys are incredibly talented performers, and they'll go down as two of the best of their generation. Still, while that's all well and good, it doesn't mean that we've enjoyed seeing how long their feud has gone on for. While it wasn't exactly overkill, it almost felt like they were trying to drill into us that Shinsuke wasn't someone who they considered to be world champion material.
But beyond that, AJ always seems to fall into the pattern of facing the same guy for the title for months on end instead of having something fresh. Nakamura, Ambrose, Cena, Ellsworth & Mahal are all perfect examples of that, and we hope that he can start taking on contender after contender to really start building a reputation for himself as champion.
The Fans
While we may all technically be considered members of the WWE Universe in unison, everyone is different. Many fans have different ideas as to how the company should book some of their major stars, and as a result, we often get some interesting crowd reactions on a week to week basis. With this match, however, the only thing we're going to hear is audible cheers for both Styles and Rusev.
AJ is one of the most beloved babyfaces of the last few years, whereas Rusev Day is one of the most 'over' gimmicks we've seen in a long time. The two men will mesh together perfectly, and no matter how much they like to say otherwise, fans are always drawn in by the speed vs power match-up. It's a technique as old as time, and we can't wait to see it unfold.
Rusev’s Big Moment
This entry is really very simple, and we're going to try and limit how cringeworthy it ends up sounding: but Rusev deserves this. The Bulgarian Brute has been busting his tail for the last three years trying to get back to where he once was with the United States Championship, and it hasn't been easy for him.
He's been dealt several blows through injuries and poor booking decisions, and yet in the midst of all that, he managed to create a character for himself that the fans could really get behind. It's hard not to root for someone like that, and it'll be interesting to see how he matches up with The Phenomenal One.
