What's Next for AJ Styles, Swerve Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley Feud, More Quick Takes

Graham GSM Matthews Featured Columnist IV

What's Next for AJ Styles, Swerve Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley Feud, More Quick Takes

Credit: WWE.com Amid rumors of his contractual status and immediate future with WWE, AJ Styles is set to return to SmackDown on Friday. There's been no indication what he'll have in store following a three-month absence from television.
If in-ring retirement is on the horizon for The Phenomenal One, he should be in line for one last meaningful run—regardless of where he ends up once his current contract expires.
Bryan Danielson is also nearing the end of his full-time wrestling career and continues to compete in high-profile matches against All Elite Wrestling's finest. He'll step away from the squared circle indefinitely if he loses the AEW World Championship to Jon Moxley at WrestleDream on Oct. 12.
Although it previously looked likely that he'd have his swan song in his home state of Washington at the event, the 43-year-old losing the title this soon to an already-established main event talent would be the wrong call.
This installment of Quick Takes examines the circumstances surrounding the WrestleDream main event, the true main event of WWE Bad Blood, Swerve Strickland's next storyline, and more.

How to Properly Book AJ Styles in Final Months of Current Contract

At the age of 47, it's clear AJ Styles will be wrapping up his days as a full-time wrestler sooner rather than later, which is why it's important for him to be utilized at an elite level in the final stretch of his career.
Fightful recently reported that his WWE deal is up either later this year or at the onset of 2025. He proved in his Undisputed WWE Championship rivalry with Cody Rhodes coming out of WrestleMania 40 that he belongs in a prominent spot on the card.
Getting traded to Raw upon returning to WWE TV would ideally provide him with a fresh batch of opponents to work with including Gunther, Ilja Dragunov and Bron Breakker. There, he'd have a higher chance of winning the World Heavyweight Championship than he would the WWE title on SmackDown.
If WWE doesn't have anything meaningful in mind for Styles for the foreseeable future, joining AEW might be the best move.
The Phenomenal One has history with many members of the AEW roster and would be firmly slotted toward the top of the card. He has plenty left in the tank and deserves to be treated like a top talent for the remainder of his run in the ring.
Whether it be in WWE, AEW or another promotion entirely, one more world title reign would be the perfect sendoff for Styles.

A Bobby Lashley-Swerve Strickland Feud in AEW Can be Mutually Beneficial

Swerve Strickland's loss to "Hangman" Adam Page at All Out and subsequent disappearance from AEW TV has left fans questioning what will be next for him once he eventually resurfaces.
An unexpected segment on last week's Grand Slam edition of Dynamite may have given the audience their answer.
The debuting MVP confronting Prince Nana hinted at the founder of the former Hurt Business wanting to manage Strickland.
Since the ex-AEW world champ has nothing to gain from ditching Nana for MVP, a feud pitting him against MVP and his longtime associate Bobby Lashley—whose arrival should also be imminent—would be the next best thing.
It's imperative Strickland be kept apart from Page until it comes time for them to rekindle their rivalry over the top title down the road, presumably not until deep into 2025.
Strickland getting the belt back and potentially avenging his loss to Bryan Danielson from All In is another avenue worth exploring, but a Swerve vs. Lashley program can be mutually beneficial.
In addition to keeping Strickland's momentum rolling, a high-profile program with one of AEW's hottest commodities would be the best way to bring Lashley into the fold and immediately establish him as a main event player.

Bron Breakker Will Be Fine Despite Brief IC Title Run

For as shocking as Jey Uso besting Bron Breakker for the Intercontinental Championship on the Sept. 23 edition of Raw was, WWE ultimately made the right call to crown a new champ.
Uso is wildly popular with the WWE faithful right now and has been for well over a year. He has won almost every match that has mattered most since splitting from The Bloodline, and he needed a career-defining victory to prove he could hang on his own.
Becoming intercontinental champion, even if it ends up being brief, delivered on that memorable moment fans were waiting for. Moreover, Breakker will be just fine despite the loss.
The second-generation star already suffered his first main roster setback at Money in the Bank when he failed to dethrone Sami Zayn for the belt. He recovered with ease and went on to capture the gold at SummerSlam the following month.
It may not be at Bad Blood or soon after, but Breakker will be intercontinental champion again before long. He has made the most of his aggressive singles push so far and will have no trouble getting back to where he belongs: championship contention.
If anything, experiencing the agony of defeat will only add to the 26-year-old's character development and make him that much more dangerous.

WWE Right to Main-Event Punk vs. McIntyre Over Rhodes and Reigns at Bad Blood

WWE has done an excellent job throughout 2024 of making every premium live event feel must-see, if only for the atmosphere when they emanate outside of the United States.
Atlanta will host the returning Bad Blood pay-per-view on Saturday, and the loaded lineup is a little less predictable than most shows the company has had of late.
Both CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell and the tag team match pitting Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns against The Bloodline have a claim to be the main event, but the former should have top billing.
Punk and McIntyre have been building toward this rubber match for over nine months. The event will mark exactly 27 years since the debut of the Hell in a Cell stipulation, and for it to feel as special as it should, their brutal and bloody affair must go on last.
Reigns and Rhodes joining forces for the first time is just as much of an attraction, but their bout lacks stakes because it isn't the blowoff to their feud and will be contested under normal tag team rules. The babyfaces reigning supreme isn't enough to justify it being positioned as the main event.
A major show-closing angle involving Kevin Owens and/or Randy Orton would make sense, but otherwise, Punk vs. McIntyre is the true main event of the evening.

Bryan Danielson's AEW Title Run Must Extend Beyond WrestleDream

Once Bryan Danielson captured the AEW World Championship at All In on Aug. 25, WrestleDream in his home state of Washington looked to be the most logical place for his retirement tour to come to an end.
Strickland, a fellow Washington native, regaining the gold and avenging his loss to The American Dragon from All In would have been the best route to take. His recent hiatus prevented that rematch from being made, and it's still too soon for Darby Allin to have his crowning moment.
Danielson defending against Jon Moxley, who beat Allin for his guaranteed title shot at Grand Slam, is the match that makes the most sense for the show following the shocking events that transpired at All Out, but Moxley can't be the one to take the title from Danielson.
As a three-time AEW world champ, he has nothing to gain from winning it for a fourth time, despite his hot heel turn at All Out. Danielson's next loss should be reserved for someone who can benefit from beating him and then be elevated to main event status.

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