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The return of AJ Styles on this week's RAW is bound to affect a lot of things in the coming weeks as we are all set for WWE's next pay-per-view – Money in the Bank 2020. In a unique edition of the match for the MITB briefcase, this year we will see the Superstars battling it out to reach the top of the WWE Headquarters.
Until last week, the list of Superstars set to engage in this one-of-a-kind match featured Daniel Bryan, Baron Corbin, Aleister Black, Rey Mysterio, Apollo Crews, and Otis.
Sadly, last week Apollo Crews sustained a severe knee injury during his title match against Andrade. As a result, he was ruled out of action and it is expected that he will return to continue his rivalry with the reigning United States Champion.
This injury also implied that he would no longer participate in the MITB match. Hence, WWE booked a Last Chance Gauntlet Match to find Crews' replacement on the go-home show of RAW ahead of the Money in the Bank PPV.
This Gauntlet match saw AJ Styles return to the Red brand and pick up a victory to become the last entrant in the Men's MITB Ladder Match. He will now square off against five other WWE Superstars in order to get his hands on the coveted prize, and there's a high possibility that he will walk out of the WWE Headquarters with the briefcase in his hand.
In this article, we will take a look at five signs that point towards a victory for AJ Styles at Money in the Bank 2020. So, without further ado, let's begin.
#5 A much-needed Single's run for AJ Styles
In an unfortunate turn of events, The O.C. members Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows were among the several Superstars that were released by WWE in order to tackle the economic implications of COVID-19. The decision came as a shock to the entire WWE Universe who were looking forward to a dominant run for one of the most underutilized stables in the company.
Given the fact that AJ Styles, Anderson, and Gallows were a part of a huge match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 36, it was expected that these Superstars will now get a push that they have deserved for so long.
Sadly, the reality was far removed from those expectations. Now that Anderson and Gallows are no longer in the company, it is only natural to assume that AJ Styles is headed towards a dominant Single's run – something that he desperately needs after the unceremonious exit of his allies from WWE.
It is highly unlikely for the creatives to book a face turn for AJ Styles so soon for two essential reasons.
Firstly, AJ Styles has been incredible as a heel and RAW needs villains like him to help the top babyfaces of the Red brand to get over with the crowd. Secondly, The Phenomenal One has to rediscover his momentum as a Single's Superstar on WWE's flagship show.
A victory at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view will ensure that AJ Styles finds his role on RAW in the coming months. He is someone who will be cheered even if he is playing the role of the worst person in the room, which is a very difficult feat to achieve.
AJ Styles is going to be an important aspect in a lot of storylines this year, but before that, he needs to get comfortable with the transition from being someone who had reliable friends that helped him quite often to a Superstar who is going to be all by himself.
And the MITB briefcase will be the best weapon that AJ Styles can use to remind the rest of the roster of the threat that he poses to their plans.
#4 AJ Styles has a better claim for the prize in comparison to his fellow competitors
Apart from AJ Styles, the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match will feature the likes of Aleister Black and Rey Mysterio from RAW, as well as Daniel Bryan, Baron Corbin, and Otis from SmackDown. It is not difficult to conclude that amongst all these Superstars, AJ Styles has the best claim for the Money in the Bank briefcase.
Before you dismiss this theory, allow me to walk you through the reasons which add credence to why it makes so much sense to prioritize AJ Styles over the others.
From the Red brand, we have Mysterio and Black fighting for the precious opportunity. While both these Superstars are expected to increase the intensity of the match, they may not be the best bets when it comes to the one competitor who will stand tall with the briefcase in his hand atop the WWE Headquarters.
Mysterio has mostly been used as a catalyst in recent feuds, and in all likeliness, the creatives will continue to book him in a similar fashion for a while. Black, who is arguably the most deserving competitor to win the briefcase this year, will most likely fall short at the final moment.
This will not only allow WWE to prevent a babyface from winning the briefcase but also allow them to revisit the feud between Black and AJ Styles from a couple of months ago.
Over to the Blue brand, and we have three promising names, but they do not make a very strong case when compared to AJ Styles. Daniel Bryan doesn’t need the MITB briefcase to find himself in the title picture, and he is already doing well in the storyline involving Drew Gulak.
Otis, who defeated Dolph Ziggler, has been great over the last few weeks but it is still too soon to have him win the briefcase and eventually enter the World Title scene. Baron Corbin, however, could be the one to walk out of the PPV with the coveted briefcase and that will ensure he is drawing massive heat. However, he has already won the briefcase once before and even failed in the cash-in.
Therefore, having AJ Styles win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match seems to be a better option. He can guarantee a good run with the briefcase and the build-up to the cash-in will be incredibly entertaining.
#3 Redemption for AJ Styles after being ‘buried’ at WrestleMania 36
Although it was The Undertaker who initiated the feud with AJ Styles, the latter went above and beyond to make their rivalry extremely personal. The Phenomenal One took it a little too far with The Undertaker when he mentioned the latter’s wife and that provoked The Deadman to bring back the most brutal aspects of his character – something that has had the entire WWE Universe in awe for over three decades.
Their match at WrestleMania 36 was absolutely brilliant and it was certainly one of the most memorable bouts in the history of The Showcase of the Immortals. For everything that AJ Styles has achieved in his career, it seemed fair to have him star in the main event along with The Undertaker at The Grandest Stage of Them All. Despite losing that match, AJ Styles added a golden chapter to his illustrious wrestling career.
Having said that, the storyline also implicated that AJ Styles was buried – quite literally. Hence, a victory at the upcoming Money in the Bank pay-per-view will account for an iconic redemption that The Phenomenal One needs in order to establish himself as a dominant force on RAW once again.
#2 A historic win for AJ Styles
AJ Styles returned for his second stint in WWE in January 2016 at Royal Rumble, and you might remember the entire arena erupting with excitement when the words “I am Phenomenal” were displayed across the titantron.
In the years that followed, Styles unsurprisingly created a legacy for himself with two WWE Championship and three United States Championship reigns to boast about. Not to forget, he did wonders on SmackDown and carried the Blue brand for a long time, which is why it is literally the house that AJ Styles built.
The Phenomenal One, however, has never won the Money in the Bank contract. But this year, the WWE creatives have an opportunity to change that. He is easily one of the best wrestlers in WWE today and can easily work with a crucial contract, courtesy his in-ring maneuvers and heelish tactics. WWE might have AJ Styles win the MITB match solely because the timing couldn’t be more perfect.
With AJ Styles owning the contract, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre will always have a huge threat lurking in the background that will inevitably make a future title feud more interesting. But more than anything, it will allow AJ Styles to add another feather to his cap while keeping him involved in important storylines.
#1 Best way for AJ Styles to enter the title picture
AJ Styles is one of those few Superstars who is equally good as both a heel and a face. While he is unbelievably inspirational as the hero in any storyline, he is devilishly entertaining whenever he plays the bad guy.
And no matter what he does, he will always be over with the crowd. Many consider him to be one of the best Superstars to have graced the squared circle and he cannot be kept out of thWWE Championship picture for long.
A win for AJ Styles at the Money in the Bank PPV will allow the creatives to establish him as a huge threat to the WWE Champion.
Since AJ Styles has been brilliant as a heel, the creatives will have him continue in that role and successfully cash-in his briefcase when the time is right. This act will kickstart an engaging Championship feud that will definitely be extremely riveting.
Even if AJ Styles is to keep the briefcase for a long time, he can be trusted with keeping the threat intact. In addition, allowing him to get his hands on the title by slyly making use of this opportunity will ensure that the credibility of a babyface Champion isn’t hampered.
AJ Styles can easily have a memorable run with the MITB briefcase which will indeed be best for business, and it is highly unlikely that WWE will let go of this chance.
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