5 reasons why AJ Styles should beat Jinder Mahal in the WWE Championship bout

News broke on Twitter that, due to Jinder Mahal's post-match attack on AJ Styles earlier this week, the "Modern-day Maharaja" will defend his WWE Championship against the former one-time champ. Styles was set to face Rusev in a qualifying match for a spot on team SmackDown at Survivor Series but now has a chance to become a two-time WWE Champion if he can defeat the villainous Mahal.

Mahal attacked Styles after he had defeated Samir Singh, this coming a week after Styles defeated Samir's brother Sunil. Styles has been battling the Singh brothers due to what they consider previous offences against their master Mahal. Mahal claimed to have beaten everyone worth beating for his title on SmackDown, Styles took exception to that comment and stepped up to the champion.

Now, with Survivor Series drawing closer, we could be looking at an entirely different card. This new card would be a big improvement though, as these are the five main reasons Styles should defeat Mahal for the title and put the WWE plans into a tailspin.

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#5 A welcome Swerve

Mahal's entire title reign has been an unwelcome swerve

Many were shocked that Mahal ever became the number one contender for the WWE Championship after WrestleMania. Even more were surprised that Mahal defeated "The Viper" Randy Orton for the most prestigious title in all of the sports entertainment. After warding off the Orton in multiple title defences, most fans were sure that Mahal would not walk out of Summer Slam against Shinsuke Nakamura, still WWE Champion. At least there was no way Mahal would retain his title when Baron Corbin cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase right? Nope.

Unfortunately, Mahal has defied all the odds, and Tuesday night will mark his 170th day as WWE Champion. Anything can happen in WWE as Vince McMahon likes to say, apparently that includes cruel jokes like Mahal being WWE Champion. Nobody would be surprised to see Mahal retain against Styles, but a victory for the Phenomenal One would be a welcome shock that the WWE Universe would embrace.

Styles has already won the United States Championship from Kevin Owens at a house show of all places, him winning the WWE Championship on SmackDown would further prove that anything can happen, and sometimes anything is a good thing.

#4 Jinder Mahal on team SmackDown

The entire country of India will be backing SmackDown with the Modern day Maharaja on the team

As the current WWE Champion Jinder Mahal is on a collision course with RAW's Universal Champion Brock Lesnar. Lesnar is a legitimate fighting machine, and there is no reason to believe Mahal poses the slightest threat to the "Beast Incarnate".

Lesnar has defeated Samoa Joe in 6:27 minutes at WWE Great Balls of Fire and defeated Braun Strowman in 8:52 minutes. Both Joe and Strowman are far superior to Mahal and are much more credible threats to the Beast's throne. Every minute Mahal lasts in the ring with Lesnar is a slap in the face to Joe and Strowman.

Rather than taking on the champion of Monday Nights, Mahal should represent SmackDown in the 5-on-5 men's elimination tag team match. Mahal is far better suited for the tag team scene than a full-on match with one of the most dangerous men in WWE history. The team is not complete yet as Styles was supposed to compete in a qualifying match to fill the fifth spot, if Mahal is no longer the champ then it is easy to see him filling the void.

#3 AJ Styles is a better SmackDown representative

SmackDown Live is the house that AJ Styles built!

SmackDown Live is the Land of Opportunity, and Mahal as champion is supposed to personify that, but SmackDown is the house that AJ Styles built. If anyone is the living breathing embodiment of opportunity in WWE it is the Phenomenal One. Whether face or heel, alone or with a faction, Styles has thrived in the WWE.

Styles is Mr. SmackDown, and should represent the blue brand at Survivor Series, not as a part of the 5-on-5 match, but in the champion vs champion match. AJ Styles as the WWE Champion on SmackDown sends a better message than Jinder Mahal.

Styles has worked his whole life to get to where he is now, and he deserves all the success in the world. Styles worked the Indy scene, competing in promotions all over the globe, including New Japan Pro Wrestling, which should have spelt doom for him coming into WWE. It is no secret that Vince McMahon prefers homegrown talent over people who made a name for themselves in enemy territory, but McMahon took a liking to Styles, and who can blame him. Styles is one of the biggest stars of the New Era and is certainly the biggest star on SmackDown Live.

#2 End the Maharaja's reign of terror

Jinder Mahal is as bland, basic, and generic as they come

It has already been established that Mahal, as a champion, feels like some kind of crude joke, watching him parade the title around is literally cruel and unusual punishment for true wrestling fans. The same championship Bruno Sammartino held for 2,803 consecutive days, the same championship that Vince McMahon protected with the Montreal Screwjob, the same championship that was made famous by Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, The Undertaker, Steve Austin, and The Rock, is currently losing prestige with every passing second as it sits on the shoulder of the third best member of the Three Man Band.

Sure Mahal has improved in the ring and on the mic since winning the title...but that isn't saying much. His promos are stale, generic, and repetitive, and are always centred around racism. He is not flourishing in the stereotypical foreign heel role, and the heat he generates isn't genuine. People don't boo him because he is good at being a bad guy, they boo because he is a talent-less performer holding the company's top title hostage. The only award fitting of Mahal is a participation award. The man botches his own finisher for crying out loud.

Mahal became a champion by defeating Randy Orton at Backlash thanks to a distraction from the Singh brothers. Then he successfully defended his title against Orton at Money in the Bank in the exact same way. The script was practically copied and pasted, if not for the show's logos plastered on the ring apron you wouldn't be able to tell the two matches apart.

Then at Battleground, Mahal defended his title against Orton in a Punjabi Prison match, where the Great Khali returned to help the Maharaja fend off the Viper for good. The Singh brothers have assisted Mahal in every single title defence during his reign, sending the message that Mahal can't retain his ill-gotten championship on his own. By hook or by crook Mahal has done everything possible to keep the WWE Championship, except fight fair. AJ Styles needs to save the WWE from the Maharaja before it is too late.

#1 AJ Styles vs. Brock Lesnar

A true dream match could be on the horizon

The title of this entry speaks for itself but I will defend it anyway. Jinder Mahal is set to face Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series in a match that only WWE officials want to see. Mahal has vanquished the third generation superstar Randy Orton, the King of Strong Style Shinsuke Nakamura, and on one occasion AJ Styles himself. Mahal has even had a one on one match with John Cena which ended in a no contest, now Mahal gets a match with Brock Lesnar? When does this madness end? Possibly next Tuesday night.

If AJ Styles can overcome the inevitable interference from the Singh brothers, avoid getting caught in the Khallas (Mahal's Cobra Clutch Slam finisher that has yet to be kicked out of), and dodge any other former wrestlers of Punjabi descent that Mahal wants to call back in an effort to defend his title, then Styles could be facing Lesnar at Survivor Series.

Take. My. Money.

AJ Styles vs. Brock Lesnar is a true dream match in every sense of the word. Many thought they would never see the Phenomenal One challenge the "Beast Incarnate" and in a champion vs. champion match no less. Styles vs. Lesnar is worthy of main eventing any pay per view and saves Lesnar from possibly having to take on the challenge of making Mahal look strong.