AJ Styles has carried Smackdown Live ever since the brand split happened in 2016. The blue brand needed someone to carry the show and this man fitted into the role, perfectly. We have seen him working harder than anybody on Smackdown, day in and out. This is one of the prime reasons why the B-Show has been able to throw a tough competition to the flagship show.
Monday Night Raw always had star power by their side. But the credit goes to AJ Styles that he was able to make the Smackdown brand the actual A-show, for more than two years. No wonder that WWE kept him with the prime championship for 371 days. He could have made a new record unless the contract issues made interference.
At this point, it’s hard to predict whether AJ Styles will be in the WWE when 2019 arrives. His contract will be over on the 31st of December, most probably. He did not accept the new contract, to date which is keeping his future uncertain. However, WWE may have a plan ready for him for the biggest event of the year in April aka Wrestlemania 35.
According to the reports of No Holds Barred Podcast, WWE is considering a mega match for AJ Styles at Wrestlemania 35. He will face none other than Randy Orton on April 7th. This is one of the dream feuds that is yet to happen on Smackdown. These two have been under the blue brand for the past couple of years.
For some reasons, WWE officials did not set this rivalry up in the past. We have seen only a one-off match between them in 2017. A full-fledged feud would have been a thing of beauty between these two legendary names of sports entertainment. But Styles’ future in the WWE remains a factor whether this match happens or not.
Daniel Bryan vs. AJ Styles was the original Wrestlemania main event from Smackdown Live. Thereafter, a number of changes happened in creative planning over the past couple of years, (courtesy wwfoldschool.com)
“But then WWE decided to go with Styles vs. Orton for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 (this would’ve been SmackDown’s WrestleMania 35 main event match). The plan then suddenly changed when WWE officials decided to put the WWE Title on Bryan after WWE couldn’t reach a new deal with AJ (they’re still negotiating).”
We keep our fingers crossed that this rivalry will eventually happen at Wrestlemania 35. WWE does not want to lose AJ Styles, anyway who had a solid three-year run in the company. Hopefully, there will be a settlement of contract between the two parties in the near future.
