Shockwaves were sent through the WWE Universe when the O.C. were among the staff cuts the company undertook to save money during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the reasons why it blindsided us is because they just worked a WrestleMania 36 angle with A.J. Styles against the Undertaker, not to mention they signed a new deal last year.

That left fans wondering what would be in the Phenomenal One's future as well, as he's been close friends with Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows since their NJPW days. It's an interesting question because, since his highly-anticipated arrival in the 2016 Royal Rumble, Styles had a meteoric rise in the company. Since then, he's done it all on both RAW and SmackDown, which means that if the company wants to use him smartly and also allow him to add a new dimension to his game, creative should "demote" Styles to NXT.

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Now, Finn Bálor did this recently, as he felt he wasn't doing what he was meant for on the main roster. He wanted that challenge of the indie style again, and so he returned to NXT, most likely to bolster Wednesday night ratings against AEW. In Styles' case, he's a much bigger name, and it just fits his goals at present. Plus, it builds NXT's brand even more, helps boost ratings against the rising competition and just feels like it's best for business, as Vince McMahon would be able to spread star power across all brands.

Styles is certainly the man who elevated the SmackDown brand, showing he's a technical genius along the lines of Shawn Michaels. He became the face that ran the place, building the house, as he so often touts, as he went on the lift the WWE Championship twice. Styles was so popular, RAW took him across and after lifting the U.S. title three times, plus feuds with the likes of Brock Lesnar, Seth Rollins, Shinsuke Nakamura, John Cena, Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens, among the many, Styles has more or less taken on everyone on the main card.

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Right now, while he's off TV on a hiatus, he's not being missed that much. It's not because he's expendable, but because there's such a deep roster and so many storylines going on, as well as new wrestlers being tried out. That said, in the wake of the COVID-19 era, WWE will feel a bit more streamlined, so this offers the chance to balance out NXT and stop treating it like a developmental brand. Styles going over is a huge addition, and he can become the talisman there. It's a perfect chance to take a risk, as there aren't any crowds to miss him in the RAW arena too. Additionally, this would be a huge statement against AEW who's reportedly set to start taping shows again once the coronavirus restrictions ease up.

Make no mistake, Styles isn't an equalizer. He's a huge injection of energy, and he can help put NXT on the map in a bigger way. He transcends titles right now, and this also fits his personal life, as he prefers a more flexible schedule to be with his family. The Bullet Club can't happen without the O.C., so now Styles can fly solo again as someone toeing the line between heel and face, giving him the opportunity to take on guys like Velveteen Dream, Adam Cole and the Undisputed Era, not to mention big guns like Keith Lee. There's also Tomasso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano, so clearly the potential is huge.

Most of all, we could get Bálor and Styles in an indie-style rivalry, which could bring out the best in them from their NJPW days. They already fought at 2017's TLC, but again, the mainstream spotlight dilutes their aesthetic. Here, they could cut loose how they want. This paves the way for them to become the icons that Stone Cold and the Rock were to the WWF in the 90s. Ultimately, it allows the veteran a home that's more conducive to his long-term plan as someone who truly leaves a footprint across the growth of the industry's new generation. He'd get to freshen his career up after peaking on the main roster, making this chance too sweet for creative to pass up.

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