5 matches AJ Styles must have in 2018

AJ Styles is the hardest working wrestler in WWE today. He puts in great performances week after week and has become the most fan-favorite superstar. Barely two years in the company, Styles has become the rightful face of SmackDown Live. Known for his prowess, thrilling aerial maneuvers, and supreme confidence, he is the smoothest and most exciting wrestler in the world, let alone WWE.

The last year has been phenomenal for the WWE Champion. He brought out the best in Shane McMahon and Brock Lesnar, wrestled a dream match with Finn Balor, and pushed Jinder Mahal to his best ever match in WWE.

Styles is now scheduled to have another 'dream' match with The King of Strong Style, Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34. The match is highly anticipated and could be the best match of the night.

2018 may even get bigger as there are a plethora of wrestlers who are yet to share the ring with The Phenomenal One. Here are five wrestlers who must face Styles in a singles match in 2018.

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#5 Braun Strowman

The Monster among Men is interested in a match with Styles

Braun Strowman is currently one of the hottest superstars on the WWE roster today and has been on a roll ever since he broke out from The Wyatt Family. He has been the most consistent performer of 2017.

He is arguably the strongest wrestler in WWE today. Apart from flipping trucks and destroying stages, Strowman is technically sound in the ring.

At 6'8" and 385 lbs, he is still able to do kip ups and dropkick his opponents. His feuds with Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns were memorable and helped him cement his position as the main-event guy.

Strowman is yet to face AJ Styles in a singles match. They did collide at Survivor Series 2016 in the traditional six-man tag team elimination match. He expressed his desire to work with Styles:

AJ Styles is definitely someone I’d like to get in and have a singles match with. Other than that, there’s not a whole lot of guys I haven’t worked with yet.

A match between two of the most popular wrestlers in WWE will be a treat for the fans. Strowman is extremely agile for his weight, and Styles is undoubtedly the best wrestler in WWE today.

The Monster among Men going against The Phenomenal One will be entertaining and an interesting match to witness.

#4 Pete Dunne

Dunne and Styles can put on a technical masterclass

This might come as a surprise but Pete Dunne has had a great 2017. He was the standout performer in the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament.

Dunne played the heel role to perfection in getting to the finals of the tournament. He did lose the finals to Tyler Bate but had already garnered the attention of the WWE officials.

He won the UK Championship from Bate in what is considered to be one of the best matches of 2017.

Dunne is an orthodox mat wrestler. He may not seem a very polished high-flying athlete at first, but his wrestling skills are unmatched.

Dunne’s physicality is one of his best assets, and his aura ensures that he is always taken seriously wherever he goes.

His gimmick is oddly terrifying, and he has mastered the art of getting the fans believe in him.

A match between Dunne and the Phenomenal one has the potential to be a technical masterpiece.

The happening of the match may seem unlikely, but you never know. Considering the popularity and the in-ring talents of both the wrestlers, WWE might pit them against each other on a one-time basis to dazzle the audience.

#3 Triple H

The Game and Styles can steal the show

Triple H is one of the most consistent performers in the history of pro-wrestling, and his 14 World Championship reigns are the testament to that.

He has headlined WrestleMania, WWE's flagship pay-per-view, a record seven times, and is regarded as one of the all-time greats. HHH was a major element in uplifting the wrestling business during the 'Attitude Era', and since then has become a fixture of the company's main event scene.

The Game is the backbone of WWE. In his recent run, he has been putting younger talent over, which is definitely better for the company.

Wrestlers like Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns have gained serious momentum after beating Triple H at WrestleMania.

Even at 48, The Game is in a great shape and have a few great feuds before he ultimately retires.

The WWE Universe would love to see The Cerebral Assasin collide with The Phenomenal One.

The two are great in-ring workers and draw huge support from the crowd. Considering the star-power both Triple H and Styles possess, the match is sure to steal the show.

#2 Adam Cole

This match will be a real crowd puller

Adam Cole joined WWE and debuted in NXT in August last year attacking newly crowned NXT Champion Drew McIntyre, alongside Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly.

He became the leader of the stable The Undisputed Era, which is the current NXT Tag Team Champions.

Cole is arguably the best heel in NXT today. He is gold on the microphone and is an incredible in-ring performer.

He is expected to be called upon the main roster after WrestleMania, and a plethora of dream match options get opened for 'The Panama City Playboy', one of them being the Phenomenal One.

Cole had some amazing words to say about Styles on The Steve Austin Show. He praised Styles being the best professional wrestler in the world today and having done a great job of reinventing himself over the years.

WWE should book two of the most over wrestlers in WWE in a feud. The crowd would love to rally behind both ex-members of the Bullet Club.

#1 Bobby Lashley

Lashley and Styles can put on a spectacular match with their contrasting styles

Bobby Lashley is one of the most physically gifted wrestlers in WWE history. He was termed as the "chosen one" and became the United States Champion soon after his debut.

He even became the face of ECW where he was a two-time ECW Champion. He had a great run at WrestleMania 23 with the 'Battle of the Billionaires' angle but was released in 2008 due to lack of creative booking.

Since his release from WWE, Lashley has been wrestling all around the world and has become a significantly improved performer.

He was a four-time World Champion in TNA and has a 15-2 MMA record. According to recent rumors, Lashley is on his way back to WWE and has agreed to the terms.

Lashley is a lethal powerhouse. He was scheduled to be a huge star in his previous run with WWE, but better being late than never.

Lashley has never faced Styles inside the squared circle, but considering his strength and The Phenomenal One's' agility, the two will surely pull off something spectacular.