WWE News: Shawn Michaels Not Returning At ‘Royal Rumble’ To Face AJ Styles
Nobody is better than AJ Styles right now in the WWE. When he became the WWE World champion by defeating Dean Ambrose, the immediate reaction from the WWE Universe was mainly skepticism and critique. Styles was never a champion in the world’s biggest wrestling promotion. He was a TNA champ and a title holder in New Japan Pro Wrestling, but the WWE is beyond greater than both of those promotions.
Many weren’t sure if he could handle the task of being the WWE’s biggest champion. After just a few short weeks, Styles proved all the critics wrong and became the best champion the WWE has today. Every week, the WWE World champion provides great entertainment and drama inside and outside the squared circle. Styles was also able to put over James Ellsworth, an independent wrestler-turned-star after a few stints on WWE television.
Styles is also a safe wrestler, which the WWE should pride themselves in doing more. Two weeks ago, Styles put Ellsworth in the Styles Clash, which previously hurt a wrestler. He did the move on Yoshi Tatsu, and it broke his neck because Tatsu tucked his neck when he wasn’t supposed to. Ellsworth was about to tuck his neck, until Styles altered the move in mid-air to save his career. That won’t get publicized by the WWE, but it should be recognized more.
The former TNA champion also knows how to get a reaction from the WWE Universe. Earlier this week, a rumor started about Styles taking on Shawn Michaels at the Royal Rumble. At least, the WWE was trying to make it happen. Even though in a recent interview AJ Styles said he wanted to face Shawn Michaels at the Royal Rumble in Texas, a new report by PWInsider.com says that’s not happening.
Interesting photo….. is it not? pic.twitter.com/MKgF4XoAF1
— AJStyles.Org (@AJStylesOrg) October 20, 2016
“While that match would be amazing, especially in San Antonio (Michaels’ hometown the site of the 2017 Royal Rumble), there’s no word that a match between AJ Styles and Shawn Michaels is actually being planned by WWE, Styles tweeting the artwork (which we are told was made by a fan) certainly is newsworthy.”
In a recent article by the Inquisitr, Styles said he wanted to face Michaels at the WWE’s second-most-popular pay-per-view. It’s a dream match that has been discussed by wrestling fans for years. Some even consider Styles as the modern-day Heartbreak Kid. He has all the intangibles of a Hall of Fame wrestler.
Here were his exact comments on wanting to face Michaels.
“I would love the opportunity to wrestle him. I’d love to learn from him, but who’s to say if that’s going to happen. Right now, it’s all speculation and rumors that I’m finding out like everyone else is, but man, what a match that would be.”
Would this match work right now in the current state of WWE? There’s no doubt in any WWE fan’s mind that it wouldn’t work. The Heartbreak Kid can still wrestle and is in great shape. Styles is in his prime as a WWE superstar.
He’s only been on the roster for seven or eight months, but it didn’t take long for him to get acclimated to the WWE style. They are two compatible wrestlers who can make a broomstick look good inside the ring. If the match were to happen, WrestleMania is the best place for that to go down. Even though it won’t be in Texas, that doesn’t mean the WWE can’t try and coax Michaels into a comeback. As long as the story makes sense and the timing is right, anything can happen.
[Featured Image by WWE]
