who replaces Bryan?

[Redboy123@]

The latest reports suggest that Bryan will not be on that long plane ride to the beautiful and progressive country of Saudia Arabia.

If this is true then I would expect them to do an angle tonight on Smackdown, writing Bryan out of he's title match at Crown Jewel and replacing him with someone else.

Immediately, The Miz comes to mind, but of course he is competing in the World Cup tournament. Randy Orton also comes to mind...but of course he is also completing in the world cup.

So...who does that leave AJ with? There is no one on Smackdown who is deserving of a title shot that is not tied up with the world cup.

Also how are they going to remove Bryan from the match? Maybe he gets injured from a beat down from the hands of Miz and Benjamin?
WWE have their back against the wall here.

Almas, Nakamura, Rusev, Big Show and Shelton Benjamin are really the only other half credible candidates that could challenge for the title. Unless they find a challenger externally from the Smackdown roster. Batista or EC3 maybe?

I would personally love to see AJ vs Benjamin in a big ppv title match.

Another idea is one of The Usos. They have two victories over the WWE champion. Granted they were in tag matches, but that has been enough for title matches in the past.

What would you do as Smackdown vastly approaches?

 

[edge4ever]

Miz will most likely do it. Heel vs face.

 

[Redboy123@]

Miz will most likely do it. Heel vs face.

That's messy as you have to not only write off Bryan but you also have to write off Miz from the world cup. That undermines the world cup greatly.

 

[edge4ever]

That's messy as you have to not only write off Bryan but you also have to write off Miz from the world cup. That undermines the world cup greatly.

He’s the only guy I can see stepping in though that can handle styles and keep the crowd into it.

 

[Solid Snake]

 

[Redboy123@]

The Saudia Arabia Prince likes Rusev. So maybe Ruseb gets another pop at AJ.

 

[AfricanScatMahn]

Did I really just see Big Show?

 

[Village Idiot]

Starting to be over AJ wish Joe won... Whats Jericho doing he's band is playing in Australia next week maybe he could zip on over to do Crown Jewel....

 

[Rosie]

Starting to be over AJ wish Joe won... Whats Jericho doing he's band is playing in Australia next week maybe he could zip on over to do Crown Jewel....

In an interview with Inside the Ropes, he said he HATED his experience in Saudi Arabia last time he was there. (It's funny, you should check it out on YT)

 

[Jacob Fox]

Well that really was the major reason I was going to watch the event, really so almost anything would be a disappointment. There are plenty of people who could have good matches with AJ, but none of them really fit into the title picture right now. I mean, AJ beat Joe definitively. I don't think anyone in the world wants another AJ/Nakamura match. Andrade "Cien" Almas, Cesaro, Shelton Benjamin, Adam Cole. All people that AJ could have a good match with, but none belong in a world title match at the moment.

As mentioned in another answer, having Miz in the match would undermine Bryan since Bryan got the title shot by beating Miz. I could see them deciding to have Miz do it and take the belt to push towards the final confrontation with Bryan at Mania. But I dunno, it would still seem weird.

 

[Solid Snake]

Guess we know who it will be now.

 

[Mr. Roman Empire]

Smo Jo

 

[Grievous 3D]

Cesaro

Yes...

This would be AMAZING to see.

 

[Village Idiot]

Guess it's Joe now mmm