5 Potential WrestleMania 37 opponents for AJ Styles

AJ Styles has been in an important match at WrestleMania every year since he joined WWE. Styles has had five WrestleMania appearances so far and has faced Chris Jericho, Shane McMahon, Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, and The Undertaker.

AJ Styles is 3-2 at The Grandest Stage of Them All and has always been utilized as a key main event star for WWE. Yet, he doesn't seem to have a match in place for WrestleMania 37.

There aren't even any rumors about a potential opponent at WrestleMania 37. It's a bit odd, not only because AJ Styles is a top-tier star, but WrestleMania 37 will be a two-day event.

Although it won't be a six-hour spectacle (in one sitting) like it used to be, one would think that WWE could easily place AJ Styles on the card.

Last year was perhaps his most important WrestleMania match, as he was The Undertaker's final opponent in their acclaimed Boneyard Match. It also meant that AJ Styles added a WrestleMania main event to his résumé.

Here are five potential opponents for The Phenomenal One at WrestleMania 37:

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#5. Riddle - Another United States Title opportunity for AJ Styles

Riddle is the current United States Champion.

AJ Styles has had surprisingly little success on RAW. SmackDown was always the brand that defined him, and his run between 2016-2019 ranks as one of the greatest spells in the history of the Blue brand.

The most success that AJ Styles found on RAW was a United States Championship reign in 2019. Right now, [Matt] Riddle is the man holding the United States Title, and he could be heading into WrestleMania as the Champion.

Since Riddle is one of the newer stars on the roster, he could have a high-profile match at WrestleMania. AJ Styles would be the perfect opponent, and Riddle doesn't even have to win the match.

Simply being an AJ Styles opponent at WrestleMania will help elevate Riddle. It would be a good spot for Styles and arguably even more important than facing a bigger name.

#4. Jeff Hardy - AJ Styles' 2020 rival

Is Jeff Hardy's career winding down?

Jeff Hardy defeated AJ Styles to win the Intercontinental Championship before SummerSlam 2020. However, his run on RAW has been a bit lackluster. Only feuding with Elias, Jeff Hardy seems to be low on WWE's priority list lately.

Even then, it only takes a few good matches for Hardy to regain his momentum. We've seen moments of magic, but WWE has to present that opportunity. AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy are both on RAW and don't have WrestleMania matches.

While this may not be the most enticing match for AJ Styles in 2021, an added stipulation could add heat to the match and make it exciting. If the two were to face off at WrestleMania, we would likely see their best bout to date.

There should also be high stakes on the line. If the two are to simply have a feud for the sake of it, the match at WrestleMania could be viewed as the "cool down" bout.

Since Jeff Hardy may not have many WrestleMania appearances left, a match against AJ Styles would be a good token of appreciation by WWE.

#3. Keith Lee - AJ Styles could offer a great WrestleMania debut

AJ Styles and Keith Lee.

AJ Styles and Keith Lee haven't crossed paths much on RAW, but they competed in a Sudden Death Triple Threat match to determine Drew McIntyre's WWE title challenger back in November 2020

Keith Lee was supposed to compete for the United States title at Elimination Chamber in February, and to some, he was a favorite to win it.

However, he was quietly removed for unknown reasons and only put out a tweet telling the fans that he missed them. If he is to return in March, he should have a spot on the WrestleMania 37 card. And AJ Styles would be a perfect debut opponent.

WWE was pushing Keith Lee hard, and he even challenged for the World title earlier this year. However, AJ Styles would be a perfect mini-feud leading up to WrestleMania, where he could presumably put over Keith Lee.

With an eye on the future, it would be a great match and could help establish Lee.

#2. Drew McIntyre - The match with AJ Styles that didn't fully happen

Drew McIntyre

We technically got Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles at TLC, but The Miz's MITB cash-in turned it into a Triple Threat match. The match between McIntyre and AJ Styles was good in its own right, and every title defense that the Scotsman had was fantastic.

We admit that Drew McIntyre vs. AJ Styles is the least-likeliest direction for WrestleMania 37 on this list, especially since the former is expected to compete for the WWE title.

Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre could be the direction, and the indication on RAW was that the Scotsman would challenge for the title. However, if WWE gets Brock Lesnar back, then he would be an ideal opponent for Bobby Lashley. It's simply a more marketable match-up.

If that is the case, then WWE will have to quickly work on involving AJ Styles with Drew McIntyre in the coming month.

We didn't get to see a full match between them. But given how Drew McIntyre has raised his level in the last year, a match against AJ Styles would likely steal the show.

#1. Triple H - Another feather in AJ Styles' WrestleMania cap

Triple H

Triple H no longer seems very interested in competing as often. Stating that he was 'glad' not to compete at WrestleMania 36, his priority has changed to becoming a full-time office guy.

However, Triple H wouldn't be the first legend that AJ Styles convinced for a WrestleMania match. The Undertaker revealed that he declined AJ Styles at first but went on to face him in his final career match. AJ Styles revealed to WWE Now India that Triple H is the "next guy" that he wants to face:

“Triple H is definitely the next guy I’d like to face at some point if it could happen, maybe not. But it was an absolute pleasure to be in the ring, or not necessarily the ring, the Boneyard with the Undertaker.”

This may not be Triple H's final match at WrestleMania, but it could be one of them. Right now, there aren't too many Superstars who would be a perfect fit for Triple H at WrestleMania 37. But AJ Styles is on a high-enough level.

Triple H's last WrestleMania opponent was Batista, where he ended up retiring his old rival. It would be interesting to see who would win a match between Triple H and AJ Styles. Their encounter would be a perfect marquee bout for the two-day WrestleMania 37 event.