Despite being a legitimate main eventer who carried SmackDown LIVE almost single-handedly since the Brand Split, AJ Styles finds himself in a match against Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 33.
It’s not really a bad match per se, but what has irked fans all over the globe is the fact that Styles deserved a potential 5 Star match on his second appearance at the Show of Shows. Imagine if he was facing off against the likes of Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura or Finn Balor.
But, it is what it is and with a pretty good build up to the match, I’m very sure that Styles will be able to carry Shane to a more than respectable match. It more or less seems pretty straight forward with how it’ll go, but there is potential for a few unexpected surprises.
So, without further ado, let’s get into the 5 potential shocks that could happen in the AJ Styles vs Shane McMahon grudge match at WrestleMania 33:
#5) Shane kicks out of the Styles Clash
The Styles Clash is one of the most dangerous moves in professional wrestling and is generally considered one of the finest finishers on the planet. But, unfortunately for AJ Styles, almost every one of his opponents at a big pay per view seems to be kicking out of the move.
It is, of course, understandable when the likes of John Cena and Bray Wyatt kick out of it during a WWE Title match which is the main event of the night. It doesn’t diminish the value of the move. What would kill its credibility, though, is if Shane McMahon kicks out of it.
If Shane O’Mac take a Styles Clash and isn’t put away by it, there is no way the move will ever be taken seriously again and The Phenomenal One will have to permanently shift over The Phenomenal Forearm as his primary finisher.
This would be one hell of an unpleasant surprise, WWE. Please don’t do this.
#4) Styles turns face at the end of the match
This is an intriguing prospect. With Bray Wyatt almost certain to retain his title against Randy Orton in the main event for the WWE Championship, there needs to be a strong babyface to stand up to The Eater of Worlds after WrestleMania 33.
Who better, than AJ Styles? Styles has enjoyed a supremely successful run since turning heel last year, but despite his best efforts, he can never get the crowd to boo him. So, why not do the smart thing and turn him face?
A simple handshake at the end of the match can start the transition right after his match against Shane McMahon ends and that can perfectly transition over to the first episode of SmackDown LIVE after WrestleMania to cement his position.
#3) Shane doesn’t do an insane spot
Shane McMahon does absolute mad spots everytime he steps into the ring at a big pay per view. It’s one of the utter certainties in life. Or, is it? Shane O’Mac is getting up there in age and can hardly keep going with these death wishes too much longer.
Also read: WWE WrestleMania 33: 5 ways to book Shane McMahon vs AJ Styles
The match against The Undertaker at least warranted a spot like the one he performed because it was a Hell in a Cell match but this is expected to be a normal one vs one match against AJ Styles.
The Phenomenal One’s technical ability can easily carry both of them to a decent match without the need for a high-risk manoeuvre. Regardless, though, it will be a big shock if we come out of WrestleMania without a vintage Shane O’Mac moment.
#2) Daniel Bryan interferes
When AJ Styles took his frustrations out on Shane McMahon, another person he pissed off was SmackDown General Manager, Daniel Bryan. The Leader of the Yes Movement even ended up firing Styles at the end of that episode of SmackDown.
With the obvious tension between the two, there is an outside chance that we see D-Bry make his way to ringside and lend Shane O’Mac a helping hand. After all, if we’re never going to get to see Bryan wrestle inside a WWE ring again, this is best that we can hope for.
It would come out of left field, though, considering Shane always wants to fight his own battles on his own and that Styles is the heel in this situation. We have seen stranger things, though, so there might be a tiny chance of this happening.
#1) AJ Styles loses
This is the one thing that absolutely cannot happen at WrestleMania 33. AJ Styles cannot lose to Shane McMahon on the Grandest Stage of Them All after the kind of year he has had since WrestleMania 32.
Last year was bad enough as AJ inexplicably lost to Chris Jericho but he recovered quickly from it and went on to have one of the best years of his career, beating John Cena multiple times and capturing his first WWE Championship.
All this good work will be undone, though, if the WWE gives Shane the win. The Phenomenal One is on a completely different level to most other performers in the world and he cannot be jobbing out to the son of Vince McMahon.
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