Does AJ Styles Stand a Chance Against the New WWE Champion?
A few weeks ago, we tried to determine who would challenge the new WWE Champion ‘The American Nightmare’ Cody Rhodes at Backlash in France on Saturday, May 4th. Two Fridays ago, SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis announced that two triple threat matches would take place to determine Rhodes' opponent. The first triple threat match consisted of AJ Styles, Kevin Owens, and Rey Mysterio, while the second match was between LA Knight, Santos Escobar, and Bobby Lashley. Both Styles and LA Knight pulled out the win in their respective matches, setting off a rematch from their heated rivalry which culminated at WrestleMania XL. A week later, on SmackDown, AJ Styles got his revenge against LA Knight pulling out the win and now has the opportunity for the WWE Championship at Backlash.
Let’s face it though, even though the heel-turned-Styles is on a run no one can dispute, I don’t think he’s going to get one over on the newly crowned WWE Champion. Styles is a two-time WWE Champion, a three-time United States Champion, and has won the Intercontinental, and Raw Tag Team Championship once in his career. In the upcoming two weeks heading into Backlash, we should see Styles try to intimidate or let it be known to Cody Rhodes that he’s coming after his title. While it should be a great, and fun match to endure, I cannot see Styles shocking the world once again and taking his third WWE Championship. This crowd in France will be in it for the experience, but in the back of their minds, and everyone else watching they should know ‘The American Nightmare’ is on a run that has gained so much traction in the last few months before he even won the title, now that he’s a champion, Rhodes will make sure it stays that way for the indefinite future.
If AJ Styles somehow pulls off this win, the wrestling world will be in shock. No one would expect this even Rhodes himself. Styles returned from a hiatus in late 2023, and his feud with LA Knight has brought back some Attitude Era vibes, with the two fighting in front of Styles’ house, which ultimately ended with LA Knight getting arrested. If AJ can bring the same flair in his feud with the newly crowned WWE Champion, things should get pretty interesting. Back in 2003, at Total Nonstop Wrestling, a young Styles faced off against Cody’s dad, Hall of Famer, the legendary Dusty Rhodes. Over 20 years later, it will be Styles and Dusty’s youngest son in the squared circle for what should be an exhilarating matchup.
