What's the story?
In an interview with Record Sports Online, AJ Styles opened up on the emotions he felt regarding The Undertaker’s retirement at WrestleMania 33.
In case you didn’t know...
AJ Styles defeated Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 33 in the show opener, while Undertaker lost to Roman Reigns in his swan song in the main event. Styles and Undertaker were rumoured to clash at Royal Rumble for the WWE Championship.
However, things didn’t work out as planned, and AJ Styles instead faced John Cena for the WWE Championship. The rumoured reason why the Undertaker-Styles match didn’t happen was because the original John Cena vs Undertaker WrestleMania match was scrapped in favour of Undertaker vs Roman Reigns and John Cena’s mixed tag team match.
Undertaker vs Styles would have undoubtedly been a great match to watch, as it could have been promoted as The Phenom vs The Phenomenal One.
The heart of the matter
You can watch the full video of AJ Styles giving his take on Undertaker’s retirement below:
Here is the transcription of what Styles had to say:
"I could tell you, I was emotional because he's my friend. He and I have got a relationship..both of us have the same friend who we're very close to, so then he and I developed this relationship without even knowing each other that well. But, it was heartbreaking, because this is the guy that's been here for so long, and has shaped the WWE into what it is now. Is he gone? I don't know, but you would assume. I think there were some tears from fans that they may have seen the last of The Undertaker, and at the end of the day, if he's done, I respect the heck out of him for doing it his way and doing what he wanted to do in his last match. He is and was everything to the WWE, and I'm thankful that I got to meet him and have a great conversation with him. He's a great guy. If he's gone, if that's the last one, he will be missed"
What’s next?
AJ Styles is set to take on Kevin Owens for the United States Championship at Backlash later this month.
Author’s Take
It’s very touching to hear about AJ Styles feel heartbroken at the retirement of The Undertaker. It definitely comes as a surprise that he had any sort of relationship with the Deadman since he had never mentioned it before.
AJ Styles vs The Undertaker will just go down as one of the dream matches that we will never get to see. Perhaps it’s best we just wonder and speculate as to what could have been. Either way, there is no doubt that the two wrestling veterans would have torn the house down on any given night.
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