Dean Ambrose vs. AJ Styles: WWE Backlash 2016 Preview and Prediction

Dean Ambrose is heading for what could be the biggest test of his WWE World Championship run when he faces AJ Styles at Backlash on Sunday. 

The Lunatic Fringe has perhaps become somewhat lost in the shuffle recently, as Kevin Owens has risen to power on Monday Night Raw. The heat between Owens and Seth Rollins has taken center stage, but that's likely going to change.

Where AJ goes, the spotlight follows.

The reason for that is his immense ability in the ring. Styles rarely has anything less than a five-star match, and that includes his bouts against the often-criticized Roman Reigns. Styles is coming off what many feel is the biggest win of his WWE career against John Cena, so this is the best time for him to pursue the title once again.

He could have a great match against anyone in the locker room, and Ambrose will surely be no exception.

The Preview

Styles' ego has grown to epic proportions because of his win against Cena at SummerSlam, so his character is full of confidence. He has become the top heel on SmackDown Live, and he feels as though he only needs one more accolade to prove his worth in the company. 

The problem is Ambrose is standing in his way.

Here's where it gets tricky for some fans. Ambrose is a crowd favorite and has been since The Shield disbanded in 2014. He's always been perceived as the underdog, and it's a tag he's worn proudly. Every time he appears to be down, he manages to fight back. Every time it looks as though he can't win, he finds a way to do just that.

He's the closest thing to a maverick Superstar that WWE has, and no one does it better.

His delivery is subtle, and his approach is a bit bizarre, but that's what makes him special. He is extremely unpredictable, which has endeared him to the WWE faithful. He's never been the stereotypical babyface, and that's why he's so intriguing.

He's in on the joke, but he still acts the part. That's what fans like about him. Ambrose is having fun just being a pro wrestler, which has translated to his title run.

But while many are enjoying his work, some are beginning to doubt him as champion. The reason for that has been his booking, which was a bit weak at SummerSlam. His match against Dolph Ziggler was good, but it was perhaps not the instant classic many were hoping for.

Ambrose is looking a little fragile, and it's beginning to affect him.

However, this is his chance to rise to the occasion. Styles is a top challenger, arguably the most talented one the Lunatic Fringe has faced in WWE. AJ is not a brawler like Brock Lesnar, and he's not a ruthless villain like Seth Rollins. He is a technician and one of the best in the business today.

He will elevate Ambrose, who will benefit from this rivalry. But who's going over at Backlash? Again, it's a bit tricky.

The Prediction

There's no good reason why Styles shouldn't be world champion. He's the top heel on the program, he's red-hot, and he deserves the belt. He could become the unbeatable top guy on Tuesday nights, and he is more than capable of making it work. 

The fact is AJ will get the strap eventually. So why not now?

A championship reign means nothing if it doesn't last long. Ambrose has held the title for under three months, and that's barely been enough time to establish himself as a legitimate champion. He's still building here, and to take it away so soon would be a mistake.

Styles would arguably be in much better shape as WWE champion. He doesn't need that much work; he's ready to make an impact and is ready-made for the role. So yes, he should become champion.

But it should not happen at Backlash.

This feud needs time to grow. Despite how often WWE wants to move forward with title changes, there's value in allowing the guys involved to get a feud over. The more opportunity they have to connect with fans, the more fans will be able to emotionally invest in the story.

When a story clicks, the entertainment value grows.

The WWE World Championship is too important to trade between two guys with no history. If the goal is to put the belt on AJ, then it should happen in good time. These two could have a great match at Backlash, and that great match could lead to more. It's all about telling the story, and these two have proved they're very good at doing just that.

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.