Would WWE Really Continue The Styles-Nakamura Feud?

Can WWE continue to promote the perfect storm between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura after the two have their title match at Money in the Bank next weekend? Is there a chance that by continuing to push these two superstars on television, the company is hurting its product in the process?

In the early 1980s, Tommy Rich and Buzz Sawyer followed each other across the country, waging war in the NWA in a feud that nearly destroyed each other in the process. It was one of the lasting feuds in the promotion – one that believed it could recreate history and did so in matches between Jack Brisco and Dory Funk. Jr., Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat and Dusty Rhodes and Harley Race.

In today’s wrestling business, three-match feuds are the lay of the land. Wrestlers move from opponent to opponent like competition chess, hoping to draw the fans in with inflated storylines (unless you are Bobby Lashley and Sami Zayn) and theatrics the likes of Flair, Brisco, et al didn’t have the benefit of having at their disposal.

A good wrestling feud is one that stands the test of time. Rich and Sawyer mastered it. Flair and Steamboat rewrote it. CM Punk and John Cena had a go at it. Edge and Cena made it look easy. Triple H and Shawn Michaels took it to another level and The Rock and Steve Austin tore down every arena they fought in.

Open today 10am to 6p #WWE @AJStylesOrg @ShinsukeN @oddsoxofficial socks 12.99 each #ajstyles #shinsukenakamura pic.twitter.com/ryrYmh1Gbc

— Wrestling Guy Store (@WrestlingGuyHP) June 9, 2018

While Styles and Nakamura are very good, the current storyline, in my opinion, isn’t strong enough to continue more than one or two more matches. There are too many other variables that could make these two superstars stale. And with Samoa Joe, The Miz, Daniel Bryan and Big Cass (I gulp hard over this one) waiting for their shot at the main event picture, WWE is inevitably stunting the growth of a potentially great summer of wrestling.

Much like the Brock Lesnar situation on Monday nights, not doing anything to advance the blue brand’s title only hurts everyone on the roster.

If WWE does what everyone thinks it should do after the Money in the Bank pay-per-view, Styles retains the belt and faces Samoa Joe. The Miz and Daniel Bryan finally face off in the ring. Does that mean Nakamura and Jeff Hardy wage war over the Intercontinental Title? And what happens to Cass, who still needs more help on the mic and in the ring?

WWE is making this way too complicated if it continues to push the current feud between Styles and Nakamura because there is no balance on the current SmackDown Live roster. It’s a problem the company has faced before and faces again. And no matter how much the current WWE Title feud is a solid show between two of the best wrestlers today, it does nothing to help the company move forward.

And once again, WWE is stuck in neutral, with no plan to get itself out of the mess it will have created if they keep things the same.