10 Feuds That Must Happen Before WWE WrestleMania 33

4. AJ Styles Vs. Randy Orton

chris jericho kevin owens
WWE.com

What does AJ Styles do when he’s finished with Dean Ambrose? There’s always a chance that John Cena will come back and reignite his quest to match Ric Flair’s record, but it’s unclear after that. Like the Intercontinental division, SmackDown’s World Championship scene presents few obvious contenders outside of those currently in the title picture, but there’s one man lurking on the fringes.

Randy Orton hasn’t exactly captured the imagination since returning, but he remains one of WWE’s most bankable superstars. He was annihilated by Brock Lesnar, but he’ll likely overcome Bray Wyatt, and that’ll set him up for a push back towards the main event spotlight. Orton, theoretically, is a guy that WWE can push into a title feud anytime they need a stopgap, and that’s exactly the case here.

Styles has made his name in WWE by defeating established company veterans like Chris Jericho and Cena, and Orton certainly fits that mould. As one of WWE’s most tenured (and credible) wrestlers, Orton would be an ideal opponent for the smarmy, cocksure Styles, who’s barely been in the company a year, but acts like he owns the place.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.