Match card predictions for WWE Summerslam 2018 after Extreme Rules

#2 AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe vs Rusev (WWE Championship)

Adding Samoa Joe to this feud would produce fantastic results.

AJ Styles retained his WWE Championship against Rusev at Extreme Rules and is marching to Brooklyn with his belt still intact. The Bulgarian did have a strong showing after finally getting an opportunity for a World Championship. His performances and overall charisma certainly warrant a regular high placement on the card, along with a face turn which fans have been clamoring for a lot in the last few months.

He was always likely to remain a placeholder, while AJ Styles was named the cover star of the video games WWE 2K19. His WWE Championship loss would probably represent a bigger moment to a bigger star. Samoa Joe could be that guy. AJ and Joe are yet to face each other in a WWE ring but it is surely going to be a sight to behold. They worked magic together at TNA, where they were both originals. Samoa Joe will be the one to end the Phenomenal One's long title reign.

However, it would have to wait. I struggled to find another place for Rusev on this card so he remains part of the WWE Championship picture while Joe enters it. This is merely a transitional match for AJ Styles to go from a feud with Rusev to a feud with Joe, but a pretty good match nevertheless. AJ will keep the title here, but Samoa Joe will get his moment later in what would surely be an extremely special moment. But it won't happen at Summerslam, as long as there is someone else in the match.

Prediction: AJ Styles barely manages to retain