Levin: Giving AJ Styles WWE's Crown Is Not A Phenomenal Idea

I have asked this question to many wrestling fans over the past year: Who is fit to lead this next generation of WWE Superstars?

Evidently, while the company may rally behind Roman Reigns, the WWE Universe sure doesn’t want him to become its leader, its savior or even its top villain. It’s a quicksand he cannot get out of no matter how hard he tries. But taking the WWE World Heavyweight Championship off his shoulder now is not the answer—nor is it to place it around the waist of AJ Styles.

Styles, for everything he is now and everything the company needs him to be in the wake of their mistakes, cannot become the “in-between” champion. It’s like a guy who dates the hot girl after she breaks up with her boyfriend. He becomes the transition man in her life. Styles cannot become the transition wrestler for WWE.

It has the potential to ruin his career in the company, because once he holds the title and drops it, he may not get the opportunity to grab for it again once Seth Rollins returns and John Cena reaches for his 16th crown. Professional wrestling isn’t just a business, it’s also a political arena. And we all know how that works out, especially when Cena has been the cash cow for the company for so long. Liken it to Ric Flair winning time after time because he could bring in money and sell at the turnstile. Every once in a while, he would let Dusty Rhodes keep it warm for him.

Styles isn’t in Rhodes’ or Flair’s ballpark, but he is a performer this company can build with, if not around. In the span of less than four months, he is one of the most important commodities WWE has. But the program he is involved with concerning Reigns should be about turning the current WWE World Heavyweight Champion heel instead of taking away his title.

I hope the company and the WWE creative team does not lose sight of that.

As it was pointed out to me so simply, the arrogance Reigns has displayed of late is the best basis for a heel turn and it just so happens that Styles has become the opponent who will feel the wrath Reigns will inflict at Payback.

It’s not that Styles doesn’t make sense as the company champion, rather it is the circumstances of him winning his first title in WWE. Wrestling the likes of Cena or Rollins makes more sense down the line, or even Reigns in a series of matches heading into 2017. Now is not the time to crown the Phenomenal One.

The build between these two should be decent, if not awesome. It will become a match of power versus agility. And in the end, Reigns needs to walk away with title in hand and a new attitude to unveil. Styles’ mission is to help him get there.