Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: N'oge na-adịghị anya, Styles malitere esemokwu ya na onye mmeri Royal Rumble Shinsuke Nakamura. Na WrestleMania 34 na Eprel 8, Styles meriri Nakamura iji jigide WWE Championship, na mgbe egwuregwu ahụ gasịrị, Styles bụ onye mwakpo nke Nakamura na-enweghị isi, na-eme ka esemokwu ha dị ọkụ. Styles ga-aga n'ihu na-ejigide aha ya megide Nakamura na ihe omume atọ dị iche iche:
Greatest Royal Rumble site na ọnụọgụ abụọ, Backlash na egwuregwu enweghị nkwụsị, nke kwụsịrị na enweghị asọmpi, na Ego na Bank, ebe Styles kwụsịrị esemokwu ahụ mgbe o meriri asọmpi Last Man Standing. Mgbe ọ gbachitere onwe ya nke ọma megide Rusev na Extreme Rules na July, Styles ghọrọ Onye mmeri WWE kachasị ogologo na akụkọ ntolite SmackDown na August 14, na-akarị ihe ndekọ ụbọchị 280 nke John "Bradshaw" Layfield setịpụrụ.