WWE No Mercy 2016: Triple Threat Main Event is Best Call for PPV

The phenomenal AJ Styles is set to defend his title against John Cena and Dean Ambrose, making this best main event WWE could set for No Mercy.

AJ Styles is perhaps having the best first year anyone has ever had in the WWE. He has put on stellar performances against every opponent he faced. Styles also did the unthinkable by beating John Cena cleanly at Summerslam and now boasts a 2-1 PPV tally over Cena. The WWE title was up for grabs in Backlash as Styles faced the Dean Ambrose and as always, The Phenomenal One rose to the occasion and is now your new WWE Champion heading into No Mercy.

Styles’ latest conquest has set the internet wrestling community on fire. He can now cap off his first year with the WWE as the reigning champion if all goes well. As SmackDown’s new champion and as the ‘new face that runs the place’, a variety of challengers await Styles as he begins his emphatic title reign.

Styles still has to face Dean Ambrose in their rematch from Backlash. After a successful title defense, Styles can eventually move on to other names. The problem is, there isn’t anybody anywhere near the level of credibility and star power that Styles possesses now. Apart from Ambrose, the only worthy challenger for Styles at the moment is Cena.

Why Styles Should Not Face Cena One on One for the Title

Cena has done his best to put Styles over as a worthy heir. There aren’t many stars who can boast a 2-1 record against Cena in PPVs. The rarity of a clean loss to Styles adds even more points. Cena cannot lose to Styles again. With a triple threat match, a clean loss doesn’t affect Cena as much. Even if Cena takes the pin from Styles again, creative has many options to tell a different story here.

Cena is almost at the final stages of his long and enduring tenure with the WWE. The face of the company has done everything the WWE asked of him and deserves to tie or even go ahead and break Ric Flair’s record. He doesn’t have that many shots at the title left. The company has to make wise use of the title shots they give Cena now.

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Cena has to win the WWE championship the next time he is fighting someone for the title. The face of the company has done so much to put over the new era stars. He always manages to get a reaction from the crowd and attend press conferences, dark matches and does PR work for the WWE. Breaking Flair’s record and etching his name in the history books of pro wrestling is the best farewell gift WWE can offer Cena.

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Why Styles Can’t Lose to Cena

Styles needs a lengthy run with the title. He should hold to the belt at least until the end of the year. This is crucial to add credibility to SmackDown’s grandest prize. Losing the title to Cena will also render his Summerslam victory as essentially pointless. This will also result in Styles losing all the momentum he has created so far. Worst of all, Cena will be booed even more.

One more match between them anywhere in the near future is sure to cause controversy. Moreover, Cena has created a layer of intrigue around himself by leaving his armband in the ring and not showing up on SmackDown ever since. Returning to the ring as the same ‘Never Give up’ baby face he was before losing to Styles ruins all the character work done so far.

Why a Triple Threat Makes More Sense

Simply because it gives creative a lot more options and won’t be self-destructive like a Styles – Cena one on one match. With Ambrose brooding around as a dark horse, an air of uncertainty surrounds the match. What makes this better is that, Ambrose is guaranteed another one on one rematch with Styles. This is smart booking as Styles does not have any other worthy challengers lined up for him.

Having Cena in the main event fighting for his record-tying title win gives the match an instant ‘must see’ feel. Once Styles has fended off Cena and eventually, Ambrose he can move on to someone else. SmackDown’s safe bet scenario right now would be to build up more stars for the main event picture and have them try to dethrone Styles.

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Perhaps, when Cena returns, the company can play up him trying to get a title shot and losing against a younger foe like Wyatt. They can then play up an angle where the 15-time world champion goes on a losing streak and begins to doubt himself. The possibilities of such an angle are endless. Maybe Cena can turn heel finally because of all the frustration. Then, he can once again have a moment of clarity and climb back to the top spot by producing stellar matches on a weekly basis and coming back to his winning ways.