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AJ Styles, one of the most prominently featured heels on RAW was in complete control of the match against his Elimination Chamber opponent Aleister Black, at WWE Elimination Chamber. It was a very good match, but the numbers game would catch up with the Dutch Destroyer.
And then, out of the blue, we would hear an ominous gong that we've come to know and fear over the years. The Undertaker would show up in the ring, helping Aleister Black to pick up the win against The Phenomenal One.
Why did The Phenom choose to show up at WWE Elimination Chamber? I shall try and explain this with 5 compelling reasons.
Be sure to chime in and let me know your thoughts and views in the comments section below. Are you excited about the feud between AJ Styles and The Undertaker?
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#5 To even out the numbers
The Undertaker could have randomly showed up in the middle of the match and attacked AJ Styles, but that is not generally how a babyface reacts. It would have been very out of character for The Phenom, and so a situation had to be created where a babyface like Aleister Black was in trouble, getting assaulted by AJ Styles and The OC. Kudos to the heels for playing their part in the right manner, setting the stage for the arrival of The Undertaker.
Even though the legend does not hunt in packs, he saw a fellow good man in trouble and stepped out to help him out. And he took out a person who's been mocking the legendary Undertaker in recent times, with his comments and his actions.
I can't wait for RAW to find out what the fallout effect of The Undertaker's actions are, and how angry AJ Styles will be.
#4 To protect AJ Styles even in defeat
Aleister Black is a very heavily protected babyface in the roster who wins a lot more matches than he loses, and it was necessary for him to pick up a big win against AJ Styles to advance to his WrestleMania program. But then again, AJ Styles has a very prominent place in the roster too, and WWE couldn't afford to have his legs cut out from under him before his WrestleMania program.
And so, with The Undertaker showing up at Elimination Chamber, WWE protected AJ Styles even though he lost the match. It was a great way to utilize the whole No DQ situation as well because of which Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows got involved in all the action.
One wonders what the next step for Aleister Black is and, in fact, if he will be involved in the AJ Styles vs. Undertaker feud. I wouldn't be too upset personally if he was to be involved in the United States Championship picture feuding against his wife and Andrade.
#3 To set up the WrestleMania match
It was leaked a long time ago that AJ Styles and The Undertaker will take each other on at WrestleMania. There are many reasons for this match and I have outlined them all in this article.
This will certainly be billed as a match between The Phenom and The Phenomenal One. And while we know a lot of matches on the WrestleMania card already, this is not a match that has been made official.
One assumes that AJ Styles will cut a very passionate and angry promo on the fallout episode of RAW and the match for WrestleMania will be confirmed between the two men. While there is always a possibility that Aleister Black and the rest of The OC will be added to the match, I don't think that it will be the case from the way things stand.
This is a match between two generations and a reboot of the contest between Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker. And if anyone can carry The Undertaker through a 25-minute match, it is AJ Styles.
#2 Lack of big stars in the pay-per-view
There are so many top-tier stars not competing at Elimination Chamber 2020. Charlotte Flair will not be a part of the pay-per-view and neither will Drew McIntyre, The Fiend, Roman Reigns, King Corbin or Brock Lesnar. I mean part-timers such as Goldberg and John Cena are out of the question, even though they feature prominently in WWE's WrestleMania plans.
I mean no disrespect to the men and women in the card but they just do not have the kind of mainstream value that someone like The Undertaker does. When you are paying $9.99 a month to catch all the action, you want to see big stars such as the ones I've mentioned. Yes, The Undertaker was not advertised on the card at Elimination Chamber, but anyone who's watched pro wrestling for any length of time pretty much knew that he would show up to make his WrestleMania 36 match.
The Undertaker showing up at the pay-per-view gave the audience in attendance a moment that they are not likely to forget for the rest of their lives.
#1 A passing of the torch between two popular dark characters
The Undertaker has had one of the best careers in the history of the business, but we all know that his best years are behind him. He may not be done by a long shot, but we know that he's closer to the end of his career than the start and may only have a few years, at best, left in him.
Someone has to take on the mantle of a popular supernatural-ish babyface from The Undertaker and who is the better pick for such a role than Aleister Black, I ask? I mean he has a great entrance, he is a fantastic striker and he has many good years left.
I mean one can always make a case for The Fiend, but quite honestly, I would say that his gimmick is a lot more layered than The Undertaker and hence, Black is a better candidate. Sure, Black is a much smaller man, but in 2020, most men in professional wrestling are smaller.
And let's be honest for a minute. It's a good thing that he's not helping out WWE SmackDown characters and diluting the brand split.
