10 Hidden Meanings Behind Epic Wrestling Title Reigns
8. AJ Styles Remained Champion Because He Was A 2K Cover Star
In the wake of winning the 2018 Royal Rumble, it seemed like a Shinsuke Nakamura run with the WWE Championship was inevitable.
The 'King of Strong Style' had already proven he was capable of carrying WWE gold down in NXT, and a crowning moment on the 'Grandest Stage of Them All' in a dream rematch against AJ Styles felt like too glorious an opportunity to squander.
But WWE had other ideas, opting to have the popular 'Phenomenal One' hold onto his title against the likes of Nak, Samoa Joe, and Rusev until he eventually passed JBL's record as the longest-reigning WWE Champion SmackDown had ever seen.
And while not eventually strapping a newly heel Nakamura increasingly seemed like a baffling call in the time post-'Mania 34, the Wrestling Observer's Bryan Alvarez soon offered a potential explanation (via Sportskeeda).
Styles had actually been confirmed as WWE's new cover star for the upcoming 2K19 video game, with the company feeling having their video game obsessed cover boy remain WWE Champion was the right choice at the time.
Had another performer been given the opportunity to be the face of that year's WWE game, who knows whether Nakamura would've added his first-ever WWE world title to his long list of accolades.