AJ Styles Must Remain with Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson After WWE Brand Split

What’s next for AJ Styles after failing to capture the WWE World Heavyweight Championship?

That question might be better suited for The Club.

On the May 23 episode of Raw, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson met with Styles. Styles wanted to split from his friends for a while and make it on his own. Though he sought the split, his intention was for an amicable separation. The Club wasn’t having it and took offense to Styles’ words.

Supporting their former friend’s wishes, The Club left Styles in the ring. The result left Styles losing to Kevin Owens in a Money in the Bank qualifying match.

It turns out that schism was short-lived. This past Monday night saw The Club interfere with a conversation between Styles and John Cena. The Club slowly walked toward the ring to face both men. Cena got ready to attack, only to be ambushed by Styles. The Club joined Styles in beating down the 15-time world champion and stood tall.

It appears the gang is truly back together. However, the coming events could reshape this friendship forever.

Recently, a new wrinkle has been added by WWE: Raw and SmackDown will have separate rosters for the first time in four years. WWE Superstars will be drafted on July 11, with all wrestlers’ futures hanging in the balance.

It’s best for AJ Styles and The Club to remain on the same roster. After all, recent events show they are a force to be reckoned with.

"

"U can find me in the club " -AJ styles

— Wale (@Wale) May 31, 2016"

With the draft six weeks away, these three men can show how they can dominate the WWE landscape, and currently there isn’t a heel faction to set the tempo. The Wyatt Family is MIA due to injuries sustained by Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper. The League of Nations disbanded after failing to capture the WWE tag team titles.

The New Day is the only dominant faction left, but Big E and Company are the good guys. WWE is geared up to have a dominant heel group once more.

Styles, Gallows and Anderson can continue to attack any WWE Superstar on the roster and chase after the gold. The Club can challenge The New Day for their tag team titles, while Styles can still vie for the WWE world heavyweight title.

Having this faction on the same show provides on-the-spot tension and intrigue, something each WWE show needs after the draft occurs. Everyone needs a group to attempt to topple. Who better than Styles, Gallows and Anderson at the helm?

They can lay down a path of destruction similar to Evolution. Triple H, Randy Orton, Ric Flair and Batista ran roughshod over Monday Night Raw throughout 2003 and the first seven months of 2004. If given the right platform, Styles, Anderson and Gallows can do the same.

How can they take over a show filled with so many competitors of WWE caliber? Let’s look back at these aforementioned wrestlers’ rich history together.

WWE acknowledged the trio’s time in Japan. Styles, Anderson and Gallows dominated New Japan Pro Wrestling as members of The Bullet Club. Styles, The Phenomenal One, even won the IWGP Heavyweight title there (the equivalent of the WWE world title). Styles became champion on three occasions, with Gallows and Anderson by his side. The Club also won tag team gold, capturing the IWGP Tag Team titles.

Their illustrious history is reason enough for their heartfelt reunion at Raw’s April 18 airing. Events didn’t go smoothly as planned after that. The Club used questionable tactics such as ambushing Reigns and The Usos to make their presence felt. Styles, on the other hand earned the respect of the WWE Universe.

That all changed when Styles finally showed his true colors and attacked Cena with The Club’s help.

Splitting them up during the draft is unwise for WWE. It wouldn’t make sense to finally form this group only to disband it six weeks later.

WWE has the potential to set the stage with AJ Styles and The Club as members of the same show. Whether WWE Creative executes these plans remains to be seen.