Ranking all of WWE's current champions (post-SummerSlam weekend)

#5 AJ Styles (WWE Champion)

Where now?

Ring work: While AJ's 2018 resume isn't up to par with previous years, none of his matches ever fail. His match with Samoa Joe was the best at SummerSlam, even with the DQ finish, and he's also coming off of two eye-catching contests with Andrade "Cien" Almas and Rusev. His summer has seen him heat up.

Character work: This is currently AJ's weakest spot. His run as a babyface champion hasn't equaled his first reign as a heel. AJ's character doesn't have a whole lot to invest in, although the angle with Samoa Joe which has him as a fighting family man is changing this.

Crowd connection: AJ Styles' weak character work hasn't stopped him from connecting with crowds. He remains one of the most over people in the company.

Prospects: To say AJ Styles' title reign has gotten long in the tooth is an understatement, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have life left to it, even if it would ultimately be for the best for Styles to drop the title at this point.

Still, his feud with Samoa Joe holds a lot of promise and is beginning to pick up, but if, as seems likely, he successfully gets by the Samoan Submission Machine, what then?

A feud with The Miz seems in order, as hinted by the Super Showdown event in Australia. Randy Orton and Daniel Bryan also await as potential contenders. So while Styles' title reign is stale, that doesn't mean it's without merit.