What’s the story?
During a recent appearance on the Gorilla Position podcast, WWE superstar AJ Styles discussed the match between Goldberg and Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 33 and also shared his thoughts on ‘part-timers’ headlining the grandest event on the WWE calendar.
In case you didn’t know…
Styles lost his opportunity to compete in the main event at WrestleMania after Randy Orton beat him on the 7 March episode of SmackDown LIVE. The following week saw ‘The Phenomenal One’ take out his frustrations on Shane McMahon by putting him through a car window.
Also read: 5 ways to book Shane McMahon vs. AJ Styles
Although SmackDown GM Daniel Bryan fired AJ Styles the incident, McMahon announced a match between himself and the Phenomenal One at WrestleMania 33. Shane then extracted some revenge by putting AJ Styles through the announcer’s table.
The heart of the matter
When asked about his opinion on the Goldberg vs. Brock Lesnar match at WrestleMania 33, Styles said that the two of them have ensured people come in to watch the pay-per-view. However, he feels that the fans will come to see him, too, and his job is to make them fans of himself or Shane McMahon. Here’s what the 39-year old had to say:
“I can tell you this. Goldberg, and what him and Brock have done together, have made sure that people are going to come and watch WrestleMania. They want to see this match, and if they have to come see them they also have to come to see me.
And now I have the opportunity to impress them, while they're there and I'll make AJ fans or Shane McMahon fans out of them. That's my job, and so, am I mad at these guys for being Superstars like, the ultimate, that everybody knows? Absolutely not.”
Referring to the people who talk about part-timers getting a chance to headline WrestleMania, AJ Styles said that they have earned that opportunity. He added that performers like him get to earn more money when these superstars are absent for long periods. Styles stated:
“When they [said], 'Oh, part-timers, yeah, [they] come in and do that.' You know what? Let them be part-timers, if they can do that, then they have earned it and to tell you the truth, when they're not here that's more money in my pocket.
So that's not a bad thing, ya know? Let's work together, I don't care who's on top, just as long as we're all able to pay our bills.”
What next?
Both AJ Styles and Shane McMahon will look to make an impact on the final episode of SmackDown LIVE before WrestleMania 33. Expect Goldberg and Brock Lesnar to have similar intentions on the red brand.
Author’s Take
AJ Styles made sure he towed the company line on the Gorilla Position podcast as expected. While fans may still have their reservations about the match between AJ Styles and Shane McMahon at WrestleMania, it may turn out to be the surprise package of the night in a good way.
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