WWE Royal Rumble 2017: 10 Potential Main Events
8. AJ Styles Vs. Samoa Joe
Speaking of TNA alumnus, if fans would be hyped for an AJ Styles vs. Austin Aries match, imagine what they'd do if WWE announced that The Phenomenal One would be defending his WWE Championship against former two-time NXT Champion, Samoa Joe at the Royal Rumble.
The history these two have goes back a long way and while WWE isn't likely to detail that specifically, they would be wise to at least reference it. SmackDown Live desperately needs a new main-event player and with Samoa Joe recently dropping the NXT Championship in Osaka, Japan, that should leave Joe's upcoming schedule pretty clear.
As for the heel role that both talents are currently occupying, Joe is all but certain to get a massive face pop when he debuts on the main roster and we already know how well AJ works as a babyface, so either switch could be pulled off with ease.
Regardless of how WWE decides to present the program between Samoa Joe and AJ Styles, if they chose to book this match at the peak of both men's careers, there'd be no better time and place than in San Antonio, Texas for the 2017 Royal Rumble.