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AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura are certainly no strangers to each other. They met at Wrestle Kingdom 10 where they put on an impressive match. Then they collided at WrestleMania 34 where Nakamura shocked the world by going heel. Since then, they've had a series of matches, each better than the one before it.
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And now, they will face off in a Last Man Standing match at Money in the Bank, next month. The WWE Championship is on the line in this highly anticipated match. How will this match play out?
I explore 5 ways this match could ideally finish. Chime in with your own ideas in the comments.
Here's how I think this match could play out.
#5 Double count out
WWE may want to drag the Nakamura vs. Styles feud all the way to SummerSlam. Because of the same reason, they may want this match to end in a double count out. If this is indeed the plan, I wouldn't be surprised if it ended with two low blows much like the match at Backlash recently.
Except for the match at WrestleMania and the one on SmackDown Live last week, none of their matches has had a clear winner yet. WWE probably does not have other credible challengers for AJ Styles right now. They may want to build a superstar on the side while dragging out this feud.
This is certainly the most unexciting way to end this highly anticipated match, but it may be a judicious way if WWE wants to buy time. Knowing how good both men are, they will tell a great story in the ring irrespective of the finish. If this is the finish, the match certainly cannot go on last at Money in the Bank 2018.
#4 Big E cashes in
Let's not forget where the Last Man Standing match will be happening. Money in the Bank will feature 8 men and 8 women competing in two separate ladder matches for a contract. This contract allows them to cash in whenever they choose to do so. Could Big E win the contract and effectively become the WWE Champion?
This would throw in a whole new dynamic to the contest. The Styles vs. Nakamura feud has been exciting but there have been plenty of dull weeks as well. Having Big E in the equation will revive interest for fans in a pretty big way and also make headlines almost immediately.
Rumours are rife that Big E will be the man to win this coveted prize and embark on a singles career soon thereafter. Let's wait and watch to gauge whether this will be the case or not.
#3 The Miz cashes in, becomes WWE Champion
The Miz seems set on winning the Money in the Bank contract. Much like Big E, he too could win the ladder match and cash in when the time is right. All he would have to do is sit by the sidelines while Styles and Nakamura destroy each other. And then, he could cash in at the right time.
I would be absolutely okay with The Miz as the next WWE Champion. He belongs at the top of the card with the amount of charisma he has.
#2 AJ Styles retains his WWE Championship
AJ Styles vs. Jeff Hardy; AJ Styles vs. Andrade 'Cien' Almas; AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe. So many possibilities exist for the WWE Champion after his feud with Nakamura is finally done.
Therefore, the plan at Money in the Bank may just be for Styles to score a comprehensive victory over Nakamura. And then he could focus on a brand new opponent for Extreme Rules and SummerSlam. Maybe even put Nakamura down with a chair shot or two!
Where will Nakamura go from there? Nakamura has reinvented himself in recent times and could have an exciting mid-card career as well in WWE.
#1 Nakamura wins the match clean
Shinsuke Nakamura picked the stipulation. He certainly may have a plan up his sleeve. It may be time for him to become the WWE Champion. This is the most likely outcome at Money in the Bank.
It will be interesting to see Nakamura as the Champion. Styles has reigned as Champion for a while now. Of course, he's done a commendable job as Champion, but it may be time to shake things up.
That brings us to the end of the countdown. Be sure to leave a comment below.
How do you think this match will pan out at Money in the Bank?
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