WWE: AJ Styles, A Tale of WrestleMania Progression

Whilst his first WrestleMania moment may have been a frustrating one, AJ Styles now heads into his 3rd WrestleMania and this time, he rightly enters as the WWE Champion.

Though on paper the match had genuine appeal, AJ Styles’ WrestleMania 32 encounter with Chris Jericho left fans frustrated and disappointed. That’s not to say that the physicality underwhelmed, though it certainly wasn’t to everyone’s taste, but more a case of the match’s result causing confusion. For many it was just a formality going in. We’d seen this story before right? Jericho as the revered legend, elevating a less established foe on the grandest stage of them all. Styles seemed a perfect fit for that exact booking but as the referee counted three, those pre-match predictions were suddenly rendered irrelevant.

To the shock of most, Chris Jericho had just pinned AJ Styles clean in the middle of the ring. Though it may seem dramatic in hindsight, that decision-making caused great concern for some. At the time, Styles had been in WWE for less than three months and as is always the case, some conclusions were being hastily drawn to. In fairness, Styles wasn’t exactly the quintessential WWE style star but thankfully, doubts around the promotion’s perception of him were soon silenced.

After proving his undeniable talent and worth opposite Roman Reigns, AJ Styles status was soon strengthened. A heel turn certainly accelerated that process and alongside his old Bullet Club brothers, Styles’ personality only flourished. With his villainous persona rapidly taking shape, AJ rose to prominence, thriving opposite John Cena in an almost surreal mega-feud. Considering that, the brand split’s return came at the perfect time for Styles, becoming SmackDown’s top heel in an instant and claiming the WWE title within months.

Styles’ reign was a strong one, with matches against Dean Ambrose consistently impressing, and a Royal Rumble classic opposite John Cena being a high point in particular. However, WrestleMania season can create a different landscape altogether and with the range of puzzle pieces at play, not everyone can end up where you’d hope. As positions and dance partners were found, Styles spot found itself without a WWE title and more than that, opposite a foe that likely came slightly out of left field.

Following his stint as champion, Styles was programmed with Shane McMahon and had now met his WrestleMania 33 opponent in the form of the SmackDown Commissioner. I think it’s fair to say that the fan response was…mixed. The more ardent audience seemingly viewed McMahon as a waste of Styles, citing a desire to see AJ mix it up with a more classical in-ring talent. In the arenas, crowds’ general admiration for Styles only continued to grow and no matter how nefarious his antics were, AJ was consistently cheered even against the once beloved McMahon.

However, a glance at Styles’ lengthy career suggests a knack for proving perceptions wrong. Some fans may have sensed that a match against Shane came with major limitations but AJ saw no such issue, absolutely maximising the opportunity in every way. Opening the main show, Styles and McMahon set a standard that in the minds of many wasn’t topped, enthralling the stadium crowd from start to finish. As if there was ever any doubt, AJ’s status as an in-ring great was now unquestionable, with his bell to bell brilliance almost unparalleled.

Following that triumphant showing, Styles struggled to maintain momentum. The inevitable babyface turn took place and rightly so, but matchmaking meant that Styles’ progress slightly stalled, unable to capture the public’s imagination as he had done previously. Eventually though, his popularity made him undeniable and he was once again positioned at the top of the card, taking the WWE crown from Jinder Mahal. It had been a relatively slim period for AJ as his hunt for the United States title lacked a certain spark but nonetheless, he remained an absolute crowd favourite, with audiences’ adulation for him seemingly unmovable.

That aspect made his surprise title win all the more special, it was a moment of genuine joy, refreshing in its sincerity. He’d been here before of course but his last path to WrestleMania didn’t involve that gold. This year though, the timing was different and more importantly, Styles’ perfect position seemed undisputable. Whilst this reign thus far may not have been exactly optimal, there’d be no title loss and instead, AJ Styles now rightly heads into WrestleMania 34 as the WWE champion.

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There’s a range of metrics that highlight Styles’ incredible WWE progression and quite frankly, this is just one of them. However, the WWE’s key players are always featured when it matters most: on the grandest stage of them all, under the brightest lights possible. From arrival, Styles has been of value but as his development between each WrestleMania card shows, he’s now become an absolute centrepiece. As he’s consistently proven against every opponent imaginable, few men are better standard bearers than Styles and for that reason alone, his place as WWE Champion is a validating one.