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WWE WrestleMania 34: AJ Styles vs. Bobby Roode Should Not Happen

By Michael Smith

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Two former TNA standouts, AJ Styles and Bobby Roode, have made homes in WWE. Could they cross paths at WWE WrestleMania 34?

There are few names more synonymous with the TNA brand than AJ Styles and Bobby Roode. They both occupy WWE main roster spots now, and both men seem to be held in high regard by the company. Is it possible that WWE could put them against each other at WWE WrestleMania 34?

They could, but they shouldn’t, and they probably won’t.

It was at WWE Royal Rumble 2016 that Styles first appeared on WWE TV. Roode made his first appearance on NXT TV, leading to his first match at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II. They spent most of their prime years working for Dixie Carter, in the blind spot of many wrestling fans. Now, they both are on SmackDown Live.

Having spent so much time together in TNA, Roode and Styles have crossed paths on multiple occasions. They’ve done so on TV and PPV. That statement wouldn’t mean anything before the age of internet, but now, people can get their hands on anything.

It’s not just that Roode vs. Styles has happened before. If it happens again, that takes away the possibility of them facing somebody else. Roode has never wrestled John Cena, Randy Orton or Shane McMahon. Styles has never wrestled one-on-one against Braun Strowman or Brock Lesnar.

There are big matches out there for both guys. Why should WWE run Roode-Styles back, when they have so many other available options for both guys?

They shouldn’t.

It’s not just that. Doing a match once has never stopped WWE from doing it 1,000 times (see: John Cena vs. Randy Orton), but it’s important to note this is a TNA match. It’s hard to imagine WWE giving that much credit to TNA. Imagine WWE taking two TNA icons and having them wrestle at WrestleMania. It just seems so implausible.

In Styles’ first WrestleMania match, it seemed like they were building so clearly to a Styles victory over Chris Jericho, but he lost. Right when it seemed like Styles would beat a legend and take off on a red-hot WWE run, he got pinned. WWE loves to bring people from other companies in to lose to their guys. It seemed like that’s what happened with Styles. WWE didn’t want to put TNA over, so they didn’t put Styles over. Though Styles has gone to earn his stripes with WWE, and go on that red-hot run, it would still be putting TNA over, and conjuring up all the memories those two guys made there, by putting them in the ring at The Show of Shows.

That’s why, if WWE can look past some of the reasons why they shouldn’t do it, they still won’t pull the trigger on it.

Next: WWE No Longer Interested in Lesnar vs. Balor?

Could Roode and Styles go on The Grandest Stage of Them All and put on a classic match? Of course. It just seems like it would be a waste of everybody’s time, when there is so much more potential in other matches.