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The WWE Championship belt is a much more respected and coveted belt as compared to the Universal Championship which is hanging on the shoulder of a visitor. If SummerSlam brings out some interesting results, the WWE Championship belt might be up for an interesting storyline.
The Universal Championship belt is certain to go to Roman Reigns who will have a hard time battling it out against Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley but it seems unlikely for the WWE Championship belt.
Since that is over now, and AJ Styles is up against Samoa Joe, WWE creative team will have a hard time wondering if the time is right to switch waist for the title. AJ Styles will suffer nothing even if he loses his belt to Samoa Joe, but to see Joe get a huge push as the WWE Champion will be remarkable for the company.
There are a few worthy candidates for the WWE Championship if AJ Styles steps back from the WWE Championship arc and it will be interesting for the SmackDown brand which is struggling with viewership the most.
#3 Andrade Cien Almas
Rumors are already doing rounds that WWE is thinking of giving a big push to Andrade Cien Almas, a talented wrestler who has shown his mettle at the NXT brand. After making his debut at SmackDown Live, Andrade Cien Almas was booked really lousy for the first couple of weeks but with some time now, Andrade Cien Almas is having a good affair at SmackDown Live and to see him get a major push and feud with AJ Styles or Samoa Joe, depending on the results of SummerSlam will be the first time WWE will do justice to an NXT star after very long.
Andrade Cien Almas as the WWE Champion will allow wrestlers like AJ Styles to move to interesting non-championship feuds with other wrestlers.
#2 Rusev
Rusev achieved something more than stardom and major matches after cutting his hair short and calling every day a Rusev Day. Rusev's growth from being a regular wrestler who seldom impressed anybody to somebody who makes the audience chant behind him is remarkable. Rusev had a faceoff against AJ Styles couple of weeks back at Extreme Rules where AJ Styles successfully defended his WWE title, but all is not lost for Rusev.
If Samoa Joe wins the title, the titular heads of submission ability could have a nice storyline ahead of themselves. Rusev, by all means, is an audience hero and deserves a place at the coveted top.
#3 Daniel Bryan
Even after such a long break, Daniel Bryan is still the babyface with short height taking on the biggies of the company and turning out victorious in an amazing display of combat wrestling. It's not too early to send Daniel Bryan into the championship contender's list. Daniel Bryan has had his time as a wrestler returned after a serious injury and with Kane undergoing a real injury, it's high time Daniel Bryan moves out of the Tag-team division and starts focusing on the Championship belt.
Daniel Bryan can pull out a good story with almost everybody, and with good hold over the mic, Bryan's ability to pull the audience's interest into his fights is commendable. Randy Orton or AJ Styles could have a great impact on the credibility of SmackDown Live to pull amazing shows. AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan could finish their unfinished business, a match that was a no result at SmackDown Live when they faced off against each other for the first time at SmackDown Live.
