10 Best Modern WWE Rivalries

After AJ's shocking debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble, there was a fair amount of scepticism around his potential position within the company. Many fans hoped to see him gain the recognition he deserved, but were equally concerned that this would never happen. If handled poorly, this move could have destroyed the legacy of a performer who was supposed to prove that the wrestling monopoly WWE has on the industry meant nothing.

Thankfully it went the correct way, with this rivalry helping to put AJ Styles on the map and proving that WWE can respect those stars it does not create itself. Winning clean over Cena at SummerSlam made it abundantly clear that the higher ups had faith in him, and the program they went on to work together highlights why. Fantastic matches, brilliant storytelling, some unforgettable promos: not only did this feud instantly lend credibility to AJ, but it brought out a lot of intensity from Cena in regards to his in-ring work.

This was such an important moment for wrestling as it was essentially WWE vs the rest of the wrestling landscape, and ultimately, the underdogs came out proving why they should be taken seriously.

It was because of this feud that Styles has cemented his legacy as one of the best performers of all time.