5 Takeaways from WWE Backstage (March 10th, 2020)

Ember Moon and Xavier Woods joined as guest panelists and discussed the Elimination Chamber PPV results. It was also revealed that next week's show would feature the return of CM Punk as well as special guest and current NXT Women's Champion, Rhea Ripley.

We found out that another former NFL player, albeit one with a much higher profile than some current stars like Mojo Rawley and Riddick Moss, was close to reaching an agreement with the WWE. Shayna Baszler's dominance was discussed as was her ability to potentially connect with a main-roster crowd.

Triple H relived his epic battle with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 28 and the Phenom's current foe, AJ Styles, was interviewed. He revealed that he'd love to have faced Stone Cold Steve Austin in the ring and that his most prized possession is an unopened copy of Mike Tyson's Punch-Out. Here are five takeaways from the March 10th, 2020 episode of WWE Backstage.

#5 A different type of feud for the Undertaker

Before he joined the show as the special guest, the panelists discussed the ongoing feud between AJ Styles and the Undertaker. Styles cut a personal promo the night before on RAW and it was analyzed.

Moon claimed that "AJ Styles can do no wrong" in her mind while Woods claimed that The Undertaker is "the last sacred thing in wrestling." Ember Moon added that "this is a money dream match for me at 'Mania" which is something a huge deal of fans would also echo.

Styles' promo targeted not only the legend of the Undertaker but also the man behind the greatest gimmick in wrestling history. Booker T lauded the Phenomenal One, saying that he liked "AJ taking his moment" because it "took him a long time to get to this place and for him to dominate the way he's dominated now that he's here is a sign of how good he is." Booker added that "for him to make a mockery of the Undertaker, that's what you're supposed to do" in a feud.

Woods added that "AJ is smart enough to know that the Undertaker isn't around that much and that (the scathing promo) will bring 'Taker to him." Moon ended the conversation by saying that "being someone who idolized AJ on the indies, he's been around for a while. If you don't think he has something up his sleeve for 'Taker, c'mon."

#4 AJ Styles truly is Phenomenal

Most wrestlers consider facing the Phenom as a dream match. Styles wanted to knock facing him off of his bucket list, saying that " it has to be a bucket list for anyone in our industry." He added that in a match with the Legend "I want to be able to learn from this man."

Styles also revealed that he's "studied him for years" and that he's "watched his matches with Shawn (Michaels)." His main takeaway was that he's "not done yet" and that he wants "to learn as much" as he can because "you learn how and when to do certain things that have the most impact."

The 2016 Royal Rumble marked the WWE debut of Styles. The former Champ revealed that he "was terrified" before walking out and that he "saw Road Dogg (backstage) and didn't want to let him go." He added that he knew he was in the match only days before it and that "it was huge for me and it was intimidating."

He summed the experience up by saying that he was "a 38 year-old man coming to the WWE for the first time" and that "they (WWE) offered me the deal and I was ready to come home." The journey happened quickly as he "literally flew home from Japan and didn't get home but went right to get my medical done two weeks before the Rumble."

Renee Young asked about what advice he would give to younger stars. Styles mentioned that he didn't think they were green because they have earned their way here. He offered up that they should "keep working, keep learning and you'll get where you need to be." Styles also felt that they should "think about the positives in your life" when they got down on their situation.

He also felt that regarding the future, "Ricochet is unbelievable" and that Cedric Alexander and Shayna Baszler also have bright paths. Styles finished by saying that "there are opportunities for these athletes and the opportunities will come. It's okay, we're gonna get there. Just because you're on the downturn doesn't mean your turn won't come again."

#4 Tell us what you thought of the Elimination Chamber

The Queen of Spades stamped her ticket to Tampa.

The dominant manner in which Shayna Baszler won the main event of Elimination Chamber was polarizing. Some loved it while others did not. Of the performance, Booker T claimed that "she's highly touted and it's a whole lot different being in NXT and then being under the spotlights. It's a sink or swim position (for her)."

Booker also felt that "she's a still a question mark as to what she's going to bring to the table when she's in the ring one-on-one with Becky Lynch." Woods added that she was "so incredibly dominant inside Elimination Chamber that I hope she's just ready for all the pressure that comes with it."

Ember Moon has faced the Queen of Spades before and felt that she sees "something different" and that Baszler is here "to take over more of a dominant position. She just obliterated everyone in the Elimination Chamber. It's not a question of if she's ready it's if Becky is ready."

Some people are still on the fence about the effect she'll have with Booker T asking "does it translate to butts in seats? Being in that role is hard." Moon also brought up the fact that unlike Ronda Rousey, the Queen of Spades "wrestled before she got to WWE. She had to make it on the other side of the pasture." Moon finished by saying "I think Becky is in trouble."

Moon also loved the opening match between Daniel Bryan and Drew Gulak. She felt that "this was a match of pure wrestling. It was one of the best matches. I want to see more." Moon was happy for Gulak because "he works so hard and he deserves this" spotlight.

Booker T lauded new Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn, saying that he loved "what Sami Zayn is doing. One thing he can say forevermore is that he beat Braun Strowman." The two-time Hall of Famer also said that Zayn is "a role player. You give him the ball and he's gonna score."

#2 Triple H vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 28 really was the end of an era

Just as AJ Styles said during the show, a match with The Undertaker is something to knock of a pro wrestler's bucket list. The Game faced him at the Show of Shows multiple times including a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania 28. Triple H watched the match back, revealing that he always "wanted to put out these spectacle entrances" at WrestleMania.

The Game revealed that "when that gong hits and the lights go out, the tension of it just goes through the roof. You can't help but get goosebumps." He also said that "there's nothing like standing in the ring with the Undertaker" and that "that having Shawn (Michaels) out there was special for us."

Every match has moments that pop the crowd and Triple H remembered those spots in his match. He remembered that "there were just some moments that the crowd is going to go crazy for - the Tombstone, Super Kick and Pedigree." About those spots, the Game felt that "capturing those moments and knowing that they're coming is hard to describe but it's why we do it. It's the juice of our business."

The match was a sign of one generation possibly calling it quits forever as Michaels, Triple H and 'Taker were the main stars left from the 1990s still going strong. He claimed that "everything we'd gone through from the start of us all being together in the 90s, there's no one in the business that I respect more."

#1 Football players, theme songs and former stars

Edge returned to RAW this week to get some revenge on Randy Orton. When he came out to the ring, however, he found MVP. Booker T chimed in saying that he felt "what MVP did in the ring was small but what he did in the scheme of things was huge" as he acted as a plot device for Edge and the Viper. Booker also felt that "guys in the back could learn a lot from that" regarding subtleties of character/angle work.

Ember Moon added what a lot of people thought regarding the pre-announced return of the Rated-R Superstar. She said that she almost wished that "they didn't announce him coming." Booker T added that had things been different, he could see "Edge limping into 'Mania at the 13th-hour wondering if he could compete" and if "no one thought he was going to show up and then that music hit . . ." it would have had a greater impact.

Ryan Satin briefly joined the show to report that the WWE was close to finalizing a deal with former NFL star Rob Gronkowski. He added that he could appear as soon as SmackDown on March 20th in New Orleans.

Theme songs can make or break a star and his/her career. Several stars were asked their favorite theme songs in WWE history. Ali picked the Usos while both Braun Strowman and Elias picked the entrance theme of King Corbin. Strowman claimed that "for such a jerk of a guy, that song hits hard" while the Drifter claimed that it was "fantastic entrance music."

The IIconics appeared to pick Randy Orton's song while Moon picked Shinsuke Nakamura. Samoa Joe and Rey Mysterio love Finn Balor's entrance while Carmella, Mandy Rose, and Sonya Deville picked the no-brainer entrance music of The Undertaker. Drew McIntyre and Booker T felt that the simple answer was Stone Cold because "when that glass smashes, every single person is on their feet."