On the January 23 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura set up one final singles meeting between them at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Following this appearance, there is a chance that Styles could once again appear on the brand that he once called “The House That AJ Styles Built.”
If Styles is going to appear, it would be a nice treat for the fans to see Styles wrestle one more time before his career threatening match against GUNTHER at WWE Royal Rumble 2026.
Here are eight potential AJ Styles final WWE SmackDown opponents.
8. Randy Orton
One of AJ Styles’ most famous WWE opponents and rivals has to have been Randy Orton.
The two stars feuded with one another in 2019 and went on to face each other at WrestleMania 35.
“The Phenomenal One” showing up on SmackDown one final time to face Orton would present an intriguing matchup.
With these two all-time greats facing one last time, fans in Riyadh could be treated to one last memorable match on Styles’ final appearance on SmackDown against Orton.
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7. Tama Tonga
AJ Styles has a ton of connections and history with quite a few stars on the Friday Night SmackDown roster.
Among those names on the blue brand, Tama Tonga is someone who knows Styles from their time in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
The two stars were part of the Bullet Club together for Styles’ entire time with NJPW and could reunite in a singles bout on his final SmackDown.
With Tonga just winning the WWE Tag Team Championships with Solo Sikoa, this would be an intriguing way to showcase him against one of the all-time greats in Styles.
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6. Alex Shelley
Another Friday Night SmackDown star who has his share of history with AJ Styles is Alex Shelley.
Both men are known for their time in TNA Wrestling where Styles and Shelley are former Triple Crown Champions in the promotion.
Recognized as pioneers of the independent wrestling boom of the 2000s, Styles and Shelley were part of a wave of legendary names that brought eyes to wrestling outside of the mainstream scene.
Styles and Shelley doing battle one last time would feel like a great callback to their time together in TNA and deliver a unique match for the January 30 episode of SmackDown.
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5. Carmelo Hayes
On the December 26 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Carmelo Hayes defeated Ilja Dragunov to win the United States Championship.
Since then, Hayes has adopted the United States Championship Open Challenge and picked up wins against the likes of Dragunov, Johnny Gargano and Leon Slater.
Hayes could be set up for yet another open challenge match on the January 30 episode from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
With Melo set to face anyone who comes out to accept the challenge, AJ Styles could be the individual who answers the challenge to face a rising star on the blue brand in what could be his last appearance on the show.
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4. Ilja Dragunov
Ilja Dragunov has become regarded as one of the best in-ring competitors on SmackDown right now.
“The Mad Dragon” set a high standard for in-ring wrestling through his reign as United States Champion during the open challenge series.
Now after losing the gold, Dragunov could find his next challenge inside the squared circle against AJ Styles.
For Styles, it would be smart to face someone who knows GUNTHER better than anyone like Dragunov before squaring off with “The Ring General” in a career threatening match at WWE Royal Rumble 2026.
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3. Sami Zayn
WWE Royal Rumble 2026 might be one of the most important nights in the entire career of AJ Styles, but also Sami Zayn as well.
At the January 24 edition of WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Zayn defeated Damian Priest, Trick Williams and Randy Orton to become the number one contender to face Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 2026.
In front of a sold-out crowd in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Zayn will challenge McIntyre for the top prize on SmackDown and will have the fans firmly behind him.
Before facing off with McIntyre, Zayn could get one last test to get himself ready for the title bout against AJ Styles in what could be their final chance to face one another on SmackDown.
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2. Cody Rhodes
Back in 2024, AJ Styles felt like he underwent a career rejuvenation by feuding with Cody Rhodes over the Undisputed WWE Championship.
In two epic encounters with Rhodes, Styles showcased that he could still deliver instant classics and become a true contender for the top prize in the company.
Meanwhile, Rhodes is trying to fight his way back to the Undisputed WWE Championship after losing the title to Drew McIntyre on the January 9 SmackDown and will enter the Royal Rumble to punch his ticket for WrestleMania 42.
Rhodes and Styles facing each other one last time would be interesting and deliver one last classic battle between these two rivals on the January 30 episode of SmackDown.
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1. Drew McIntyre
On the January 26 edition of WWE Raw, AJ Styles challenged CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship.
Unfortunately, this bout was cut off prematurely by Finn Balor interfering to attack Punk as a measure of revenge to his loss the week prior.
After stating that he wants to become a world champion again before his potential retirement, Styles could get one more opportunity at a world title by challenging Drew McIntyre for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
McIntyre and Styles could deliver a stellar bout together on what could be his final appearance on Friday Night SmackDown before he retires at WWE Royal Rumble 2026.
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