Wrestlemania XXXIII - Shane McMahon VS AJ Styles

[FunKay the Inevitable]

It's happening. The fan reaction has been, tepid shall we say. AJ Styles is probably the best in the world at this moment. Shane McMahon is a part-time non-wrestler who has had some entertaining brawls over the years, but at 47 and with only two matches in the past year - hell, 8 years- he doesn't exactly seem like the obvious dance partner for the "Phenomenal One". Yet here we are.

There's a buzz of sorts around this match because it has been such a subject of controversy and because it features two of the most high profile names on the SmackDown Live roster. With rumours rampant that this could be Styles' swan-song for SmackDown before a move to the red show post-Mania, a victory over everyone's favourite(?) spot monkey McMahon could prove memorable; possibly in a bad way, possibly in a good way.

AJ no doubt is going to have to carry this one and with Shane's offence looking less than stellar in his two previous appearances as an in-ring competitor, I'm not expecting much, just an awkward match where Styles carries the bulk of the work and bumps like mad for the middle aged boy wonder. And an AJ win because they wouldn't actually let Shane go over him. Right? RIGHT?!?

Paranoia aside, what do you folks think? Looking forward to seeing some of those 'great' punches of Shane McMahon or maybe you just want to see AJ beat the tar out of him in a cathartic experience?

[Y 2 Jake]

As much as this is a waste of Styles, with his talent and McMahon's willingness to cripple himself, this should be the match of the night.

Also, Bryan has to give Styles the Knee Plus to help Shane win, which should be the moment of the night.

[Fire Marshall Bill]

From a booking standpoint, it doesn't make sense for Styles to lose. He's won against damn near everyone he's faced. Hell, he even won the opportunity to wrestle Wyatt for the title before Orton waffled on his choice. Frankly, Styles winning just gives Shane more reason to move him over to Raw anyway. Shane is mostly just a spot monkey who lays down every match he's in. I could easily see one of his high flying moves meeting a phenomenal forearm, or a missed spot followed by a Styles clash.

[Jack-Hammer]

As Jake mentioned, this is a waste of AJ Styles ability following a super hot year in WWE but his ability coupled with Shane McMahon's willingness to throw caution to the wind give this match a helluva lot of entertainment potential.

I'm also thinking that this bout may well be made some sort of no DQ match as it's the only feasible way Styles has a shot of losing. Shane McMahon isn't remotely on Styles' level and I personally wish/hope that the commentators note that next week because no matter how much they try to build Shane as a threat, nobody really sees him as one. Because of that and the general feeling that this isn't something that's really worthy of Styles given his ability and the work he's done in WWE over the past 14 months, enthusiasm for this is sort of like Taker vs. Shane last year: fans are interested, though mostly to see how far Shane is willing to go, but they know Shane has no chance.

Just out of curiosity, does anyone else cringe when Shane starts "punching" or if that's what they call it in the MMA workout classes he takes at his gym? It just looks so damn stupid and 10 times faker than any wrestling punch thrown that it's kind of embarrassing. The way he holds is arms and the way they just dart all over the place puts me in mind of two valley girls trying to have some sort of prissy slap fight. All the more reason for some sort of no DQ stipulation so Shane can use chairs, kendo sticks and whatever else so he doesn't have to throw his little flailing slaps.

As to who wins, Styles should win this. I don't really see a viable argument for why he shouldn't; To me, it'd look like an embarrassment for AJ Styles, pretty much the best pro wrestler in the world right now, had classics with Roman Reigns, John Cena and Dean Ambrose, holder of one of the best WWE Championship reigns in several years, to lose for a 47 year old company executive who I hope and pray is done wrestling after this because the novelty is damn near gone.

[wrestlingmasters55]

I could something happening on smackdown next week that would raise the stakes for this match. What i would do if i was them is to have shane start the show next week and announce that this match will be a falls count anywhere match or a street fight, either match is fine with me, then this will bring out A.J. Styles that will propose or little side stipulation for this match. He would go on an propose that if he lose, he fired from smackdown but if he wins, he gets faces the winner of the bray wyatt, randy orton match at the next smackdown PPV for the wwe championship.

Shane agrees and A.J. low blow shane and hits the styles clash on shane.

[XXJJ]

Should be an entertaining little spot fest for the crowd. But this shit bores me.. GM vs Wrestler angles have been done to death. Their hasn't been anything good or special about this one... It isn't appealing to me personally. *Yawn*

[ShinChan]

I would've preferred another battle between John Cena and AJ Styles but it won't make sense as everything got over at Royal Rumble.

I am mildly interested in this match. There's a huge fear in my mind that Shane could likely win this match which would be a big dumb decision. I hope that Shane doesn't win at any cost. Also, doesn't make Styles look weak like he made The Undertaker last year.

One thing is sure that Shane will execute a high risk move like he did at Smackdown this week.

Again, please don't make Shane win.

[Pika]

Smackdown really on a negative side of Wrestlemania for having good to even great booking on a consistent week by week basis. The Womens Division is more solid in booking at least in comparison to RAW, and they kind of just throw every single one of them into a match that could of had a better combination as a 1 on 1 or even Triple threat. Mojo, Crews, Hawkins, etc are all mid card to Jobber, but they literally all got thrown into the Andre mess. Dean has great matches weeks on end as the initial champion (Especially with Styles). Everyone is well aware of Styles and Cena and what they are capable of on seemingly any occasion. Everyone is also aware of The Miz, Ziggler, and Baron Corbin. The tag division is kind of trash so whatever with that despite people being hyped on American Alpha at a point.

They just gave us a card of matches with a lot of the ideas and feuds rushed which is what usually Smackdown doesn't do. Which is also why people have a much more heavy positive reception for Smackdown.

I get Cena / Miz. It's kind of whatever, and I can see why they'd do it for Mania. I know both aren't going anywhere so I won't complain. Styles vs Shane is like a match I don't think I'd mind seeing, but not with how transparent or forced it was. Also not as Wrestlemania considering Shane's last match was beyond trash and Styles lost to Jericho. The Corbin vs Ambrose match has people trying to hospitalize or near kill eachother, but it's pretty tame.

This match is probably the worst in regards to everything stereo typically or expectantly bad booking. I've seen people say "Oh, well it shows you they're big on Styles, because Shane is working with AJ". I knew that when he walked out with no visit to NXT in the Rumble, and feuded with Jericho. Beat Cena at Summerslam, and won the title from Ambrose. Beat Cena one or two more times, and main evented a majority of Smackdown over guys they had already established on the same show.

I rather not just be hoping the son of the boss can be carried by Styles and he does silly dangerous big spots to entertain. I would of preferred to be invested in it to literally any degree. It's whatever, I'll probably watch how it goes and if it's trash 1/3 or 1/2 through I'll just turn it off and read results.

[Jack-Hammer]

Originally Posted by Pika

Smackdown really on a negative side of Wrestlemania for having good to even great booking on a consistent week by week basis. The Womens Division is more solid in booking at least in comparison to RAW, and they kind of just throw every single one of them into a match that could of had a better combination as a 1 on 1 or even Triple threat. Mojo, Crews, Hawkins, etc are all mid card to Jobber, but they literally all got thrown into the Andre mess. Dean has great matches weeks on end as the initial champion (Especially with Styles). Everyone is well aware of Styles and Cena and what they are capable of on seemingly any occasion. Everyone is also aware of The Miz, Ziggler, and Baron Corbin. The tag division is kind of trash so whatever with that despite people being hyped on American Alpha at a point.

There are a couple of problems that've become considered to be THE problems with WrestleMania over the past several years. The one that gets the most attention is the problem of WWE bringing in part time talent and giving them prime spots for WrestleMania as it rubs a number of fans the wrong way. Some of the reasons that it irks them include the fact they feel that stars who're busting their asses year round are getting shafted and the part timers just can't really get it done in the ring. The only part timer nobody really complains about is the Undertaker because of the respect he's earned over the last 2.5 decades.

The other problem is one that has two perspectives. WrestleMania has become the event of the multi-person matches it seems. The past few years have seen cards packed with triple threat, fatal fourway, fatal fiveway, ladder matches, battle royals, etc. and having so many of those matches on one card can sometimes dilute them. At the same time, however, it goes back to what I mentioned earlier about some fans feeling that some wrestlers get the shaft; there are wrestlers on the card who'll never be marquee stars, they'll never be main eventers, they don't get their faces put on the posters or do many media interviews but they put in as much work as the top talent does. They may lose every match they have, but they're still on the road 45 weeks or so out of the year dealing with the same sort of issues as the main eventers. As a result, being part of WrestleMania and sharing in the biggest payday of the year may be the highlight of the year for many of them, so while having so many multi-person matches can be a bit irritating to me as a fan, I have to admit that it's cool that everyone gets a little taste of the biggest show of the year because they've earned it.

[Navi]

While this match could turn out to be very entertaining, it could also turn out to be a disaster. We watched Shane almost kill himself at Survivor Series and totally miss Styles on SD the other night doing what he does best, being a spot monkey jumping off of high places.

Don't get me wrong I like both guys, but I just can't get by the feeling that Styles is totally getting screwed over this year, and the only reason he has Shane as an opponent is because they can't find anyone else to put him in a match with.

It didn't have to be Shane though. The WWE dropped the ball on this one big time and missed a golden opportunity. What they should have done is have Styles attack Shane in the garage like he did. Shane get's so pissed off he wants to fight Styles, but can't get cleared in time. So he does the only thing left, brings in a ringer. He gets in the ring last week and tells Styles he has a match a Mania, but won't find out till then who he's got a match with.

At Mania after they introduce Styles, have Nakamura's music hit and boom, Nakamura comes down and the two of them have the match of the night. That way could bring Nakamura up on a big way and we the fans would get to see one hell of a match.

Would also have Styles win and Shane gets so incensed that he trades Styles to RAW for another big name. It would kill numerous birds with one stone. Nakamura debuts and goes to Smackdown, Styles as Vince wants goes to RAW and SD gets Reigns or Joe.

JH said fans get irked when part timers come into the biggest show of the year and take plum spots. He right and Shane feuding with Styles is the reason why. Every year when Mania rolls around the McMahon's always have to be front and centre. Stephanie up there screaming like a fishwife, HHH having a match and now Shane.

Don't mind HHH as much, but like I've said before he doesn't need a Mania match every year and neither does Shane. They are fine in the capacity they work at without having to take another superstar's place.