WWE SmackDown Grades: Big Match John Is Headed To Fastlane
1. John Cena vs. AJ Styles
One could make the argument that the best match the WWE served up in 2017 was between John Cena and AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble. These two have had a few memorable matches, but seeing them go at it on free TV is as good as it gets.
The leader of the Cenation took his talents back to SmackDown on Tuesday night to try and carve out a road to WrestleMania that he was unable to find on Raw. The blue brand’s authority figures decided if Cena could win his match later in the night, he would be added to the WWE Championship match at Fastlane.
And his opponent? None other than Styles, the WWE Champion. It was expected to be a great match and was it ever. Cena’s performance was particularly impressive as his character’s desperate state really showed in this match. It went back and forth so many times with the winner not being clear to anyone.
But towards the end, after The Phenomenal One narrowly avoided a count out loss after getting AA’d through the announce table, Cena got control back of the match. And after another AA, this time from his opposite side he usually does the move on, Big Match John got the win, despite more chaos breaking out after the match, and will be the sixth and final participant in the 6-Pack Challenge at Fastlane for the WWE Championship.
Next: Where Is The Shane McMahon/Daniel Bryan Storyline Going?
In terms of a TV match, this was about as good as it gets between two all-time great superstars who just have a knack for putting on great matches when facing each other.