John Cena vs. AJ Styles: Pros, Cons and Predictions for WWE's Latest Feud

John Cena finally returned to WWE on the May 30 edition of Monday Night Raw. The company's top guy has been on the shelf since January, and though fans knew he was coming back, they didn't know what he was going to do.

His direction was chosen for him, however, when AJ Styles sucker-punched him in the middle of the ring. Suddenly, WWE's primary protagonist was confronted with a top protagonist who wanted to make a statement.

But when a babyface makes a statement against Cena, that babyface turns heel.

Now, Styles is in a position that most fans perhaps didn't want to see him in. He may be heading for a feud with the biggest star in the industry, but that star tends to win the big-money matches. So is this move good or bad for Styles?

Perhaps the better question is whether or not it's a good move for WWE. Cena and Styles are both huge stars, but the end of all of this is arguably not in question. So is the star power of this new rivalry enough to bring fans to the table every time these guys work each other?

WWE loves to deliver big names against its biggest name, and that is being done here. Maybe it's too soon to know exactly how this will go or how fans will respond, but it's going to be a fun ride.

The Pros

John Cena vs. AJ Styles. That's the biggest pro imaginable. This was nothing but a dream bout several months ago, a match that just wasn't possible. Cena was at the top of his game in the world's largest pro wrestling company, while Styles wasn't even in the company at the time.

Even when Styles was signed, it seemed like a stretch to envision him stepping up to Cena.

But now it's happened, and many fans are likely thrilled at the prospect of what's to come. They should be. This is going to be huge.

Cena steps up in the big matches, and he always has. Whether it was Randy Orton, CM Punk or Kevin Owens challenging him, Cena always delivered an impressive performance. No one knows how to handle the main event spotlight like Cena, and no one can hit that next gear like he can, either.

Cena vs. Styles is a marquee match and is enough to sell out any arena in the world.

Credit: WWE.com

Styles has plenty of reason to be thrilled at this feud as well; his star just rose to heights it's not seen since he worked main events in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He may have had a WrestleMania moment against Chris Jericho, but this is something very different.

This is Styles getting in the ring with the top moneymaking star in the world. Just being in the ring with Cena instantly puts Styles on another level, especially in the minds of WWE fans. Any title Styles has ever held in his career and any title match he's ever been involved in pales in comparison to this very moment.

So much for Styles slipping to the midcard level.

Fans believed that's what was going to happen after his feud with Roman Reigns. But the feud with Cena keeps Styles on the main event scene. More importantly, it puts him in the last match nearly every time. Styles is now a major player in WWE, as he deserves to be.

This new rivalry is also good because it represents the best of both worlds to fans.

WWE is indeed moving forward with the New Era, and Styles is an integral part of that. But immediately discarding Cena or his era is not the way to go here. Booking these two against each other gives fans something everyone can relate to.

It's a symbolic passing of the torch and keeps Cena firmly plugged into WWE, where he deserves to be. Both sides benefit, and the fans get a great show in the process. Everyone wins.

The Cons

Credit: WWE.com

Styles is going to lose. Anyone watching this rivalry unfold likely knows that. Cena and Styles haven't even worked a match yet, but the end result certainly cannot be in doubt.

This is what Styles signed up for?

He lost to Jericho at WrestleMania 32. He lost to Reigns at Payback and Extreme Rules. He then lost to Owens the night after Extreme Rules. Now he's going to lose to Cena. This cannot be what fans wanted for him.

Winning and losing may not be everything in the business—until a guy loses all the time. Suddenly, it's the only thing that matters to anyone. Styles could have the match of his life against Cena, and he may do exactly that. But in the end, his shoulders will be counted down.

The worst part of that scenario is that WWE's New Era will be exposed as nothing but an empty storyline.

Cena is still the top guy in WWE, and one feud won't change that. But for him to come back after injury and beat a guy that worked the main event in consecutive pay-per-views is a huge statement on WWE's part.

That statement is the New Era idea is merely a way to feed new talents to Cena. If that is indeed the case, then The Club will also become victims of Cena's never-say-die attitude.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson are perhaps the most punishing tag team WWE has seen since The Acolytes Protection Agency. The two could dominate the tag team division and rule as WWE world tag team champions. The New Day is comprised of top-notch performers and champions, but Gallows and Anderson are a different breed of brawlers.

They could annihilate every team put in front of them.

But as the rivalry begins between Styles and Cena, fans will see different matchups take place. Both Gallows and Anderson will likely work Cena as time goes on, and when they do, they will lose. Cena will run through them as if they're not there, and by the time he's done, The Club will be out of bullets.

The bruising duo will not be a threat to anyone when Cena is finished with them.

Where does Styles go after this? He couldn't win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. He couldn't beat Cena in the end. So what happens next? Has WWE indeed set him up to fail?

Predictions

Credit: WWE.com

Despite all the speculation concerning the positive and negative sides of this feud, the fact is Styles has earned this. He is a top star, and top stars deserve to face the top guy. Kicking him down to the midcard would have been easy, and he would have reigned on that level.

He could've taken the Intercontinental or the United States Championship and given it credibility like no one has seen in years. He still would have had a good spot on the card, and he would have entertained as only he can.

But that's not good enough for Styles, and it shouldn't be. WWE is making the right move here.

Styles against Cena will likely go for three matches, with the first happening at Money in the Bank, the second at Battleground and the third at SummerSlam. Styles desperately needs a win, but Cena will likely not lose his first match back. This means Cena wins at Money in the Bank.

A return match would be booked for Battleground, which Styles would win. The rubber match at SummerSlam would see Cena get the last victory. Is this a formulaic storyline? Yes. But it puts Styles in the main event spotlight and gives fans three great matches that will highlight 2016.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Bleacher Report. His podcast, Tom Clark's Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here.