Just 2 months ago, AJ Styles was at the top of the WWE mountain. On the back on an exceptional 2016, he was starting 2017 as the WWE Champion, the main guy and the top superstar of not only the company but in the world of professional wrestling.
So why now, with Wrestlemania just a few weeks away is Styles out of the title picture altogether and facing a match with Smackdown Live General Manager Shane McMahon?
The Injustice
Styles complains on Smackdown Live and Talking Smack about his opportunities, that he has been wrongfully treated by Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon, even using the classic line of “there’s a conspiracy”. The thing is, he does have a point.
Following his loss to John Cena at the Royal Rumble, Styles has since competed in a number 1 contenders 10 man battle royal, and won (controversially), then to end the controversy he was ordered to face Luke Harper 1 on 1 to determine who would face champion Bray Wyatt at Wrestlemania, which he won.
Simple right? Apparently not, because Royal Rumble winner, Randy Orton (who had previously ‘sacrificed’ his right to face Wyatt at Wrestlemania) decided he in fact DID want to fight his former leader in Orlando. So Styles was placed in yet ANOTHER match to decide who would be #1 contender, which this time he was unable to come out victorious.
It seems awfully unfair that a superstar would have to go over so many obstacles and jump through so many hoops to get a title match. It actually almost feels like a heel authority storyline trying to punish the face superstar (think The Authority & Daniel Bryan), but in this case it’s actually Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon as the face authority roles doing the same to Styles.
The other fact that AJ keeps referencing which is also true, is that he still hasn’t yet received his 1 on 1 rematch for the WWE Championship. It’s also interesting to note that it was Shane who was rallying for Styles to be number 1 contender and Daniel who wanted Orton, yet it was McMahon that felt the backlash of AJ’s wrath.
The Match Build Up
It has become a weekly occurrence that AJ Styles has appeared on Smackdown Live’s post show ‘Talking Smack” to rant and complain to Daniel Bryan or Shane McMahon about the latest hurdle they’ve made him climb involving the likes of Dean Ambrose, John Cena or bizarrely enough, James Ellsworth. Tensions have certainly been building for many weeks and it finally boiled over in a very heated argument backstage with footage shot from the production area of Styles and Shane having to be separated by members of the WWE’s crew.
McMahon was shown to be visibly angry and frustrated by Styles’ actions, which is the strongest indication yet of a match between the two at Wrestlemania. Ideally I think WWE would have liked this to be AJ Styles vs Daniel Bryan, but obviously with Bryan’s injury it doesn’t seem like it’ll be going that way and instead they’ll opt for Shane to face AJ.
Outcomes of The Match
There’s got to be only one winner here, and that’s AJ Styles. We know Shane McMahon is a very versatile athlete and can fit his style to suit any opponent which have ranged from Stone Cold Steve Austin, Big Show, Triple H and as seen at last year’s Wrestlemania, The Undertaker. Despite this I think it would heavily damage the credibility of Styles should he lose this match against someone who is essentially a bit part player, and although we’ve seen the highly unrealistic exploits of Goldberg over on RAW, having Shane beat Styles would be equally as unrealistic and far fetched. I think most fans will find it hard to boo Styles, especially at Wrestlemania, given his incredible talent and ability to put on one of if not the best matches every single night.
The difficult situation WWE have put themselves in now is that a lot of people are siding with Styles due to the clear injustice of his character and like I said before, McMahon and Bryan are almost playing the parts of heel authority roles trying to screw over the fan favourite, or in this case, Styles.
There is no doubt this will be a thrilling encounter, with Shane willing to put his body and his health on the line to put on an entertaining match, and AJ having the ability to put on a good match with just about anybody in the company.
Those doubting the quality of this match will be pleasantly surprised and I fully believe that this bout will exceed all expectations.
The Aftermath
There is no plausible way to end this match with Shane McMahon as the winner, and even going forward this wouldn’t benefit anyone. Styles should be the victor and then use his position to get back into the WWE Title picture, possibly against Randy Orton if he also walks out of Wrestlemania victorious.
I would like to see Styles given another title run before the next WWE draft in June/July and his inevitable switch from Smackdown Live to RAW.
I think if the Shane and Styles match is given the right build up, it can turn the fans to side with McMahon, because at the moment it’s hard not to sympathise with AJ. As the days leading up to Wrestlemania pass and the event gets ever closer, I wonder if there’ll be a stipulation added to their match, perhaps on the side of Styles that he received a 1 on 1 title shot at the following pay per view if he were to win. It’s hard to see what Shane’s stipulation would be, other than of course Styles leave Smackdown Live should he be defeated, but I’m not sure the fans would be willing to get behind that.
The other thing which is a long shot, is that there have been rumours of Shane wanting to take some time away from WWE, perhaps the stipulation could be that if Styles was victorious, Shane would have to resign as Smackdown Live General Manager? I think that’d be an interesting twist to the story, and it would certainly get the fans behind Shane O Mac.
Could Shane defeat AJ? Will there be a stipulation added? I guess we’ll have to wait until April 2nd.
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