3 Reasons why AJ Styles vs Samoa Joe is taking WWE back to the Attitude Era

#2 Indie hustle on the big stage

AJ Styles wrestled for TNA (now--Impact Wrestling) from 2002 to '13, whereas Samoa Joe performed for the company from 2005 to '15. Both wrestlers have crossed paths with one another several times in the past, and engaged in multiple memorable angles back in their TNA and indie wrestling days.

Now, say what you want about the indie wrestling scene, the fact remains that the performers who grow up on the unforgiving circuit in front of rowdy crowds at your -- excuse my French -- local bingo halls, know how to strike a near-perfect balance between edginess and vulgarity. In other words, Styles and Joe possess the rare ability to be able to tow the line between what's permissible under the WWE's current PG norms and the kind of violence, suggestiveness and creativity which characterized the Attitude Era.

After all, who could possibly forget Joe's classic line about going home to Styles' wife Wendy and their daughter--as the Styles family's 'new Daddy'...