SHANE MCMAHON VS. AJ STYLES

Well, that went well... I got one up and had another ready to be linked before my computer decided it didn't like me being (semi) productive. But now I'm back (I could be better than ever, but I think that's for you guys to say.) WWE is looking towards Elimination Chamber and Fastlane, but I'm going to just disregard these events because they seem foregone conclusions to me. ALTHOUGH! Imagine if Shinsuke Nakamura chose to face Brock Lesnar instead of AJ Styles at Wrestlemania. Meaning the Elimination Chamber winner got Styles. Anyway back to reality (the first paragraph was written before the Elimination Chamber 2018 event.)

Kicking off with the most recent, Wrestlemania 33. It was a match that a lot of people were disappointed with when it was announced, then others (including myself) were pleasantly surprised with by the conclusion. Due to it being the first match on the official Wrestlemania card, Tinashe kicks things off by singing America the Beautiful. The opening video package is like a WWE rollercoaster if you took LSD, it's actually pretty cool. It took up a good 5 minutes, with the look of the ramp meaning the next five will be used up by The New Day's entrance. They are the Wrestlemania hosts this year, wearing Final Fantasy-inspired gear, almost like Cosplay. Michael Cole, Byron Saxton and, making his Wrestlemania debut, Corey Graves. It upsets me that Saxton got to call a Wrestlemania match before Graves did. They introduce the Spanish and German announce teams as New Day makes it to the ring. Graves isn't surprised how entertained Byron Saxton is by their act. They welcome us to Wrestlemania to “New Day rocks” chants but not much else really catches my attention before we go to a commercial for WWE Champions mobile game. Tom Phillips, David Otunga (also his first Wrestlemania) and JBL will be calling Smackdown's matches, including this one.

The hype video begins making AJ Styles look a bit of a bitch. I'm sorry, I know it shouldn't be said about a wrestler like AJ, but it does. He loses the WWE Championship to John Cena at Royal Rumble, loses his chance to get it back in the Elimination Chamber (granted, percentage wise not a terrible feat.) then loses a #1 contenders match to Randy Orton on Smackdown. He turned his frustrations over to Shane McMahon and attacked him (which Shane really over-sold, in my opinion, based off his career feats.) Shane decided since AJ Styles didn't have a Wrestlemania match he would make himself AJ's opponent. He then put AJ through the announce table with his elbow drop. Shane McMahon enters first, with one of the top 10 WWE themes in history. AJ Styles makes his way down the ramp as JBL says he'll get a Wrestlemania moment tonight. Great. By the time AJ finally gets to the ring we're nearly 20 minutes into the show.

SHANE McMAHON VS. AJ STYLES

WWE Wrestlemania 33 (2^nd April 2017)

  

Shane wants to throw hands to start so AJ stalls. AJ gets the best of a collar-elbow tie up and gets a headlock on Shane before sending him into the ropes. AShane wants to throw hands to start so AJ stalls. AJ gets the best of a collar-elbow tie up and gets a headlock on Shane before sending him into the ropes. AJ tells the crowd he'll embarrass Shane O'Mac and they go back to it. Shane gets a top wristlock but AJ reverses into a hammerlock, Shane reaches around before countering into one of his own. They transition to a side headlock on AJ. AJ backs into the ropes to send Shane off, dragging him back by the jersey. Shane's in a headlock now but he sends Styles off the ropes. Shane gets knocked down and stays there, Shane leapfrogs when he's back on his feet but turns around into a snapmare. AJ mock's Shane's dancing as he watches on from the corner. Shane McMahon gets to his feet and picks AJ up, dumping him on his head. AJ charges into a headlock takedown. A headscissors helps Styles escape but he runs into a pair of arm drags. Shane rolls AJ up for a quick nearfall and AJ has to take a walk outside!

Shane does his best AJ Styles impersonation before the real thing gets back in the ring. Just as Phillps talks about Shane's striking training he ends up on the wrong side of it as AJ knocks the taste out of his mouth. Shane McMahon makes sure AJ really wants to throw hands, he weaves a shot by AJ and backs him into the corner with a jab combination. Shane with a flurry of shots wherever he can find a target on AJ Styles that isn't covered, The referee has to back him away before the disqualification. AJ gets the boot up, I don't see if Shane caught it but he was quick to reply with a back elbow, squashing AJ in the corner and dropping him to the mat. AJ strikes Shane in the throat as he gets to his feet. Shane hits more rights, backing AJ into the ropes but AJ uses Shane's own momentum to send him through the ropes to the floor. Shane and AJ slow to their feet outside and inside the ring respectively, AJ picks up some speed and dropkicks Shane through the ropes and sends him over the Smackdown announce table.

AJ gets Shane back in the ring before they show us the replay of the dropkick, but he was kind enough to let that finish before hitting Shane with a stiff right hand. Shane gets a shot in from one knee, but a kick to the chest and another right hand send him down to the mat. AJ hits a leaping knee drop as the a “this is awesome” chant begins. AJ hits Shane with forearms in the corner. He crosses the ring for a jumping forearm which is enough to get him 2. Tom Phillips reminds us of Shane's Wrestlemania leap last year in his Hell in a Cell match with Undertaker. AJ brings Shane to his feet and there's a slugfest. Shane strings some moves together but they're not doing much damage so AJ is easily able to fight back. Shane ducks and kicks AJ into the corner. AJ gets his boots up and climbs over to the apron but Shane shoves the ropes so AJ can't balance for a springboard. Shane has to take a rest whilst we see a replay. Shane McMahon drops AJ again with his trademark dancing jab combination.

Shane McMahon sends AJ into the ropes and hits a back elbow before throwing Styles overhead and across the ring. Tom Phillips puts over the size advantage as if it's Andre the Giant vs. Mascarita Sagrada Shane hits an Olympic Slam which looking back in hindsight almost a year later is quite amusing. It gets Shane O'Mac a nearfall which isn't so amusing to him. AJ avoids a suplex and kicks Shane in the hamstring. A fireman's carry into a neckbreaker across AJ's knee swings the momentum and Cole called it a name I'm sure is Japanese. That move hurt poor AJ's knee but he tries to struggle on, setting Shane up for the Styles Clash. Shane sends AJ into the corner but AJ rolls through into a Calf Crusher! Shane's in the middle of the ring so he has to try and counter. He gets a rear naked choke, AJ rolls to his front but Shane rolls him through for an armbar, AJ has his hands grasped but Shane breaks it. AJ almost escapes but Shane still has the arm, he locks them both for a Rings of Saturn! AJ rolls Shane over for a nearfall, Shane rolls through for 1 and they get to their feet. Shane and AJ collide with clotheslines for a double-down.

JBL laughs at the thought of AJ Styles having to tap to Shane O Mac. AJ rolls out to the apron but has his back to Shane, Shane tries to bring him in the ring but AJ hits a stun gun across the top rope. AJ gets to his feet on the apron, THE 450 IS CAUGHT! Shane has AJ in a triangle, Shane keeps AJ away from the ropes using his own body so AJ has to struggle to his feet, he has one of Shane's arms hooked and hits a modified Styles Clash, 1, 2, no! They get to their feet after we see replays of Shane's counter and the Styles Clash. They exchange exhausted right hands. Shane gets a couple of left jabs in so AJ socks him with a haymaker. That knocks enough sense into Shane so he keeps his guard up. He shoves AJ into the corner with a kick and knees him in the midsection. AJ Styles is being kept in the corner with muay thai knees. The referee backs Shane away before taking the most forced referee bump I remember. AJ hits a Pele kick and decides to take advantage of this new development. He grabs a pair of trash cans from underneath the ring, slumping Shane in the corner with one. AJ crosses the ring and goes out to the apron, springboarding into the trash can! Shane McMahon grabs the second trash can and slumps AJ in the corner now. Shane climbs to the top rope hitting the Coast to Coast!

The referee wakes up in time to see Shane cover but AJ Styles still kicks out at 2.999. Shane exits the ring and takes appart the Smackdown announce table. He drags AJ Styles out of the ring and carries him to the announce table, AJ's corpse is layed on the table as Shane climbs to the top rope. AJ Styles avoids the elbow drop, getting himself off the table! AJ has to slowly drag Shane back in the ring as the referee starts to count them out. He throws Shane in at 7 or 8, breaking the count as he gets on the apron at the last second. AJ Styles waits for Shane to get to his feet in the ring... Shane catches the Phenomenal Forearm, float-over DDT! Shane climbs to the top rope again and pulls off a shooting star press but AJ rolled out of the way! AJ goes straight back out to the apron and connects with the Phenomenal Forearm! AJ pins the Commissioner for the win.

WINNER: AJ STYLES

After the match AJ Styles celebrates his victory as we get highlights of the match.

At the top of my list “things I never thought I'd say in a review” this has to be near the top. Shane got a lot on AJ here and I didn't mind it. It worked with the story of Shane training hard for few matches he has and his new legit MMA training. It gave AJ a chance to show more of a rough brawling style slapping Shane around. AJ only had to take the Coast to Coast, getting most of his trademarks in. Shane tried something new at the end and it cost him, although I've seen a few complain that it shouldn't have taken a mistake, but each to their own. – WORKRATE: 3.25/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.75/5 OVERALL 7/10