8 Huge WWE Battleground 2017 Predictions You Need To Know
3. Faces Of America
AJ Styles' Madison Square Garden house show victory over Kevin Owens may have originally been strictly to remind audiences that significant happenings do actually occur on non-televised events, but it now appears that the title switch may have occurred in order to channel 'The Phenomenal One' in a completely new direction for SummerSlam.
Teases of a competitive rivalry have emerged between Styles and former New Japan foe Shinsuke Nakamura, particularly following their red hot standoff during the Money In The Bank ladder match last month. Steering into the support perhaps in order to quickly rehabilitate Nakamura after his shaky start, the company have paired the two on screen several times since, with Shinsuke ominously reminding Styles of his lingering presence in a pleasingly concise backstage segment ahead of their tag team clash.
If SummerSlam is to be the site of their first WWE encounter, it makes sense to add extra stakes by offering 'The King Of Strong Style' a chance to win his first main roster championship at the biggest show of the summer. Though this removes the 'Face Of America' from the US Title picture altogether, it's tough to argue that the idea wasn't already sunk.
Losing the belt both to Styles and Chris Jericho since debuting the new persona, Owens is sorely lacking direction with the persona anyway, and may best be served separated from the entire thing until he's regained steam on more familiar terms.