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It has been quite a phenomenal year for AJ Styles. Forgive the cliche but how else do you describe a year in which Styles has reigned as WWE Champion for 371 days, a year full of dream matches with Brock Lesnar, Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, and Daniel Bryan. Styles is unlikely to regain his title by Wrestle Mania, which begs the question of what the Phenomenal One will be doing on the grandest stage of them all.
Styles has is heading into his third Wrestle Mania, having competed on the grandest stage of them all against Chris Jericho, and a surprisingly good match with Shane McMahon. Here are five possible opponents for AJ Styles to face at Wrestle Mania 35.
#5 Shawn Michaels
Not that this needs any justification, but Shawn Michaels and AJ Styles is the definition of a dream match. The great thing about wrestling is that you get to see legends of the past face the legends of today. This is the kind of match Wrestle Mania was made for; a legend that inspired many, and a superstar who made SmackDown Live the "House that AJ Styles built!"
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Many fans were hoping to see this match when rumors and fan made pay per view posters surfaced over a year ago, but it was never on the table in the first place. Many doubt that this match would ever happen due to Michaels unwillingness to come out of retirement. But now that Michaels has made his in-ring return this year and is signed on or a handful of matches, there is every possibility that the Heart Break Kid marches into the House that AJ Styles built, and cranks up some Sweet Chin Music!
#4 Andrade "Cien" Almas
Andrade "Cien" Almas, El Idolo himself has already faced AJ Styles. Almas and Styles were given just enough time for the former NXT Champion to prove that he can create magic with then WWE Champion AJ Styles. A longer bout between the two could prove worthy of Wrestle Mania as these two have left a lot on the table. Almas would benefit greatly from a Wrestle Mania encounter with a superstar the caliber of former WWE Champion AJ Styles. A rub like this would do wonders.
Almas stacks up well against Styles. They are both smaller guys, high flyers, technically sound, and all-in-all great performers. If Styles doesn't regain the WWE Championship, and Almas doesn't factor into any championship plans (which would honestly be a shame), then these two could go out there at the "Show of Shows" and steal the show.
#3 Aleister Black
Aleister Black was not announced with the list of NXT call-ups, as he still has unfinished business in NXT. Black does not need more development though, he merely needs to wrap up story lines and is ready to make the jump to the main roster. When Black does debut, SmackDown Live would be the ideal landing spot.
Many dream matches await Black on the main roster, including this one with AJ Styles. Black is a feared striker, and can do many impressive things in the ring. A match with Black could give Styles the opportunity to showoff his striking abilities as well. The formula for this is simple, Black could debut in the Royal Rumble and face off with Styles. However WWE wants to plant the seeds for a Wrestle Mania payoff, fans will be up in arms to see the Man form Amsterdam kick down the door to the House that AJ Styles built!
#2 Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio made a shocking return to WWE, but has been dwindling lately. Mysterio is an all-time great performer, and AJ Styles is right up there with him. The revival of 205 Live has shown us that if you take two awe-inspiring high flyers, put them in a ring together and turn them loose, they will create magic. Unleash Styles, unleash Mysterio, and let them do their thing, because their "thing" is putting on classic matches.
Mysterio and Styles have never had a one on one match before. The action will be fast, the chemistry will be electric, and the counters and reversals will have us wondering what on earth just happened. Two high octane offenses clashing will blow the roof off MetLife...well it would if it had a roof. There is no way these two living legends could disappoint in this dream bout.
#1 Randy Orton
We have seen AJ Styles face Randy Orton once in one on one competition, and they teased a spot every wrestling fan has probably created in WWE 2K19. Everyone wants to see Styles go for the Phenomenal Forearm, only for Orton to catch him in the RKO. We've seen Orton hit the RKO from many different positions, including an implausible counter to Seth Rollins' Curb Stomp at Wrestle Mania 31.
Not only would this one spot sell many on this match alone, but Orton is proving that he is still very much a legend killer, and Styles is a living legend with a target on his back. Orton's current heel run has revitalized his character, making him as sadistic as he has ever been. From twisting a screwdriver in Jeff Hardy's ear, to unmasking beloved luchador Rey Mysterio, Orton cares about nothing and nobody.
All that matters to Orton is bringing down the superstars that fans have placed on pedestals, and few pedestals stand taller than the one that AJ Styles stands atop. This rivalry would not be hard to set up, Styles can simply be next on Orton's list.
