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The sight of AJ Styles holding the WWE Championship is quickly becoming a familiar sight. He's held the title for more than 250 days, and he's rapidly progressing towards 300. Yet, there are so many potential dream matches that we haven't seen. He could still hold the title until WrestleMania next year and not exhaust every possible option.
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But what could those options be? Who on the blue brand could be Styles's next challenger? After all, everyone has their own ideas. There are so many options. Honestly, with SmackDown's current roster, almost anyone could believably be Styles' next opponent.
Here are seven men who are yet to lock horns with the Phenomenal One over the WWE Championship.
#7 AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe
Ten years ago, not many people thought that both Samoa Joe and AJ Styles would ever end up in WWE. Joe arrived in NXT in 2015, and a year later, AJ Styles was on the main roster. It seemed to be fate that their paths would cross. When he was called up, Joe was put on the Raw brand. Styles, meanwhile, was holding down the fort on Smackdown. They would not meet just yet.
When Joe moved to SmackDown last April, everyone knew who they wanted him to face. They wanted him to go head to head with fellow former TNA stalwart AJ Styles. The match hasn't happened yet and for a good reason. For a brand that burns through dream matches (Styles v. Bryan, Styles v. Orton, Styles v. Almas, Nakamura v. Cena), SmackDown has held off on this match. It, presumably much like Styles v. Nakamura, deserves a big stage.
There are all sorts of rumours about when Joe and Styles will face each other, but it could be sooner rather than later. Who would have thought 10 years ago that AJ Styles and Samoa Joe could face each other for the WWE Championship?
The psychology of this match would be absolutely crazy. Samoa Joe is a predator, and AJ Styles is so talented playing the face in peril. As for in-ring work, both Styles and Joe are veterans of the business, so it should be a good match.
#6 AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton
AJ Styles and Randy Orton have been on the same brand for two years now. In that time, they have only ever fought each other once. And it was an absolutely excellent match. Orton is one of the trickiest wrestlers to have chemistry with, but when he has it, he's one of the best.
With Orton returning as a vicious, dangerous predator, he could absolutely set his sights on AJ Styles and his WWE Championship. People may not want Orton holding a championship again or back in the main event, but he is on fire right now and all eyes are on him. He could carve a path of destruction headed straight for Styles.
If their first match was any indicator, Orton and Styles could have an absolute classic on their hands if they fight over the WWE Championship.
#5 AJ Styles vs. Andrade "Cien" Almas
We were lucky enough to see AJ Styles face Andrade "Cien" Almas last week on Smackdown, and what a match it was. It was 15 minutes of great wrestling. Imagine the clinic of a match that the two of them could put on PPV for the greatest prize in all of wrestling.
Almas is easily one of the top 5 workers on Smackdown right. He gave WWE their first 5-star match in 7 years when he faced Johnny Gargano for the NXT Championship. He's that good.
Styles is arguably one of the top 5 wrestlers in the world right now. He's been on an absolute tear. If Almas and Styles face each other for the WWE Championship, that would be super awesome.
#4 AJ Styles vs. The Miz
The Miz, for a long time, has held the reputation of being an "average" worker. I feel that's simply not true. Miz is not the kind of person to elevate an opponent (unlike, say, Styles or Seth Rollins), but when he is placed with world-class talents, he absolutely steps up. Just look at his match against Rollins at Backlash, the Fatal Four Way at Extreme Rules in 2016, and many others.
Styles and Miz have faced each other before (I believe Miz was one of Styles' first feuds in WWE), but that was before Miz became one of the greatest heels in the company. They had another match on SmackDown in 2016, but both men were heels, and it didn't last very long.
Miz's return to the main event scene is long overdue. With Styles as the champion and Miz on a hot streak, they could put on an amazing match for the WWE Championship.
#3 AJ Styles vs. Daniel Bryan
When Brya miraculously returned from injury earlier this year, many people were talking about dream matches. Who should Bryan face? On his first night back as a member of the SmackDown roster, Bryan wrestled AJ Styles. The match was everything everyone was expecting between the two. And that was a no-stakes, TV match. They could do so much more.
Daniel Bryan was regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers in the world before his untimely retirement. It's clear that he hasn't lost a step. Let him and Styles go to war over the WWE Championship. It would be one of the greatest WWE Championship matches of all time.
#2 AJ Styles vs. Big E
People have been clamouring for the New Day to break into the main event scene. Big E, in particular, is bound to be in the main event scene soon. He's greatly improved as a character since his days as Intercontinental Champion.
He looked like an absolute beast in the gauntlet match against Daniel Bryan last month. He works well against many different types of opponents, from brawling hosses to smaller guys.
Unlike others on this list, AJ Styles and Big E have never faced each other in a one-on-one match. Wha's better than bringing Big E into the main event by having him face AJ Styles for the first time ever?
#1 AJ Styles vs. Cesaro
Like Big E, Cesaro has never faced AJ Styles in a one-on-one match. That is really crazy, especially since Cesaro is regarded as one of the best workers in the entire company. He's crazy strong, crazy athletic, and crazy talented.
The Bar hasn't been on TV for a few weeks now, but a feud with Styles would be a great way to place them back on the map. A match between Styles and Cesaro would be a first-time one-on-one match between the two, and it would be Cesaro's first ever one-on-one WWE Championship match.
The match would be a thing of beauty. It would be pure, unadulterated skill, talent, and finesse. Make it happen, WWE!
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