WWE RAW: 5 Reasons why Vince McMahon allowed AJ Styles to pin the new US Champion 

It is very clear at the moment that Ricochet will be getting special treatment from WWE in the coming weeks. When he pinned Samoa Joe in what was a solid match at WWE Stomping Grounds, we saw a celebration in the backstage area that also included his boss in NXT, Triple H.

Sure, we always see Superstars that win a Championship celebrating in the ring. But then when the camera goes to the back where there's a welcome party ready to commend you for an impressive performance, that's a big deal.

So why then did Vince McMahon have AJ Styles pin the new Champion the very next night on RAW, in a spectacular main event? Let me try and answer this question through five different points.

As always, I welcome your thoughts, views, and comments and I look forward to reading them in the section linked right below.

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#5 The title wasn't on the line

Let's get the most obvious reason out of the way first. WWE specified right from the time when the match was announced that it would be a non-title contest. This is what they said in the announcement:

WWE.com has since learned that the two Superstars will, in fact, square off in a non-title match. Will Ricochet rise above? Will Styles end the celebration and set himself up with a future title opportunity? Will the defeated Samoa Joe play a role in the contest?

I know that a lot of us think that even a loss in a non-title match is not necessarily a good thing. One of the reasons why Brock Lesnar is such a celebrated athlete is because it is a very rare sight indeed to see him eat a pin. However, I'm guessing that WWE thinks otherwise.

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#4 To kickstart a heated US Title program

The United States Championship has become an afterthought for those in the company. I mean it was a big deal back when John Cena was the Champion but it's fallen in importance since then. Rey Mysterio and Samoa Joe did attempt to bring prestige back to the title, but then Mysterio's injuries put several plans into disarray.

AJ Styles and Ricochet could have a very heated program that will reignite and revive interest for the United States Championship. Styles is someone who belongs in the Universal Championship picture and so his very presence elevates this title a fair bit. It also gives Ricochet, who's a relatively new WWE Superstar a big rub.

I had the chance to interview Ricochet last year, during his time in NXT. When asked about who he would like to mix it up with in WWE, AJ Styles was one of the names that he mentioned.

#3 To continue the storyline that Styles doesn't need Gallows and Anderson's help

Against the backdrop of everything that's happening with the United States Championship, Gallows and Anderson are in a mini storyline of sorts with AJ Styles as well. Styles believes that the two men have lost their edge as compared to the Superstars that they both used to be.

They suffered a humiliating loss against The Viking Raiders on this week's episode of RAW. And then AJ Styles sent them back from the ringside area when they tried to interfere on Styles' behalf to help him win the big match.

I am sure that this is a very long term storyline that will play out over the next few weeks involving the three men. AJ Styles needed to get the job done on his own, for us to go to the next chapter.

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#2 AJ Styles is not a pushover

Lest you bury Vince McMahon and WWE Creative for all of their booking decisions, do not forget that, first and foremost, AJ Styles is one of WWE's top Superstars. He was pretty much the face of SmackDown Live for the last few years. So much so, that SmackDown Live was known as 'the house that AJ Styles built.'

Because he's a multiple-time WWE Champion already, I would even dare say that he's a much bigger star than Ricochet. And so even though it is not ideal that Ricochet lost a match immediately after winning a Championship, he didn't lose it to a pushover. Had he lost to No Way Jose, it would have been a problem.

Losing to AJ Styles is acceptable because of the way he's been presented. And it could lead to a lot of compelling television in the weeks that will follow.

#1 Styles needs the momentum following his hiatus from WWE

AJ Styles and Seth Rollins put on one of the best matches of 2019 when they faced off against one another at WWE Money in the Bank 2019. AJ Styles would lose the match and then go on an extended hiatus because he's been battling injuries ever since then.

Because this was his big comeback match, AJ Styles would have lost another step in terms of momentum if he did not come out on top against the 'One and Only' WWE United States Champion, Ricochet. He needed to win this match a lot more than Ricochet did.

And after winning the match, AJ Styles has cemented himself as a top player in the company again. He was always a top guy, but the fans need a constant reminder of how good you are, time and again.

And Styles is the best!