47-year-old legend to make WWE return & immediately turn heel following failed babyface turn? Exploring the possibility

WWE is set to embark on a new era next week with its transition to Netflix. While RAW will see a major revolution with this move, SmackDown won't be left in the shadows either. Amid this historic upheaval, fans can witness a flurry of returns and huge surprises on both shows. Rumors have been swirling that a 47-year-old legend could be poised to make a dramatic return and turn heel immediately.

But who is that beloved star? They call him The Phenomenal One. AJ Styles has been away from the company since October this year due to an injury. However, the clock seems to be ticking on his current WWE contract which is set to expire by the beginning of next year. A few more weeks or months will likely be added to his deal, given the amount of time he has been absent.

There is a strong possibility that Styles could unleash his heel persona upon his homecoming. A major reason why it is likely to happen is that the 47-year-old received tremendous success in his career as a heel which also includes his WWE Championship run. Besides, his babyface run has arguably failed to deliver anything significant lately on SmackDown.

With the next phase expected to be AJ Styles' final chapter in the Stamford-based promotion, the Triple H-led creative regime will try to extract the best of it. Therefore, a major character change seems to be the only move that could revive The Phenomenal One's career at this point. WWE could bring back his heel gimmick which will once again portray Styles as the intimidating force he once used to be.

However, the entire scenario is purely speculation as there is currently no update regarding the veteran's in-ring status.

AJ Styles to move to WWE RAW upon his potential return?

AJ Styles has been a part of SmackDown for quite some time now. With RAW set to move to Netflix, several top stars will switch their rosters, making the red brand their new home. Fans have been wondering if Styles could also be on that list. However, this does not appear to be the case.

Monday Night RAW is already stacked with several prominent names including CM Punk, Damian Priest, Seth Rollins, Jey Uso, Sami Zayn and others. Besides, Cody Rhodes is also expected to move to the flagship show amid the ongoing Transfer Window with murmurs of Roman Reigns' exit surfacing as well.

Therefore, SmackDown will be left with a scarcity of superstars having star power and moving The Phenomenal One to RAW would be a huge blunder. Hence, WWE is unlikely to make that move as it could backfire. AJ Styles is expected to remain a part of Friday nights on the USA Network regardless of when he returns.

The blue brand has been a breeding ground of success for the former WWE Champion and he would likely continue his final run on the brand. It will be interesting to see when the veteran star makes his highly anticipated comeback to the company.