What’s the story?
After defeating SmackDown Live commissioner at WrestleMania 33, long-time heel AJ Styles came out to the ring on the first episode of the blue show following The Ultimate Thrill Ride to proudly display his newfound respect for his boss.
Despite appearing to resist punching Shane McMahon, the implication was that AJ Styles has turned over a new leaf and is about to embark on his second babyface run in WWE. Givemesport.com is speculating that AJ’s new attitude could well be a harbinger of a move to RAW as part of next week's Superstar shake-up.
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With WrestleMania 33 now in WWE’s rearview mirror, Vince McMahon announced on RAW that it was time to shake things up. Mr McMahon confirmed that a ‘Superstar shake-up’ will take place that next week on RAW and SmackDown Live, which for all intents and purposes means another draft.
General Managers Kurt Angle and Daniel Bryan will be allowed to make whatever swaps and trades they deem necessary for their respective brand to succeed.
AJ Styles turned heel in the summer of 2016 by attacking John Cena, and despite the crowd still getting behind him inside the ring, he has been aligned as a bad guy ever since. In the lead-up to WrestleMania 33, he hurled SmackDown commissioner Shane McMahon through a car window, but the match between the two at the Show of Shows ended with Shane earning The Phenomenal One’s respect.
The heart of the matter
AJ Styles potentially moving to RAW isn’t a new rumour, but the tease of a face turn this past week on SmackDown does change the landscape somewhat. AJ has recently begun talking about his desire to stay on SmackDown Live, of his respect for the show and his pride in performing for the blue brand.
All such statements seem like a red herring of sorts, all but guaranteeing a move to the flagship show for the former WWE World Champion.
Several minor details are important to note here. AJ told Shane that he did not want to be traded to RAW, but Mr McMahon has made it clear that the trades between the two shows will be conducted by Angle and Bryan.
Daniel Bryan fired AJ from SmackDown Live two weeks before WrestleMania 33, and whilst AJ seems to now have a new attitude, it is unlikely that the leader of the YES! Movement will be willing to forget Styles’ lack of respect.
What’s next?
The Auperstar shake-up will take place on RAW and SmackDown Live next Monday and Tuesday respectively. AJ Styles is heavily rumoured to be one of the major names to change shows, with The New Day expected to move in the opposite direction.
It remains to be seen whether a major singles performer will move to SmackDown Live to fill the void left by Styles. We will simply have to tune in next week to find out.
Author’s take
Whilst it is understandable that WWE would want to move Styles to the ailing flagship show, this writer believes that The Phenomenal One is still best served on the blue brand. Shinsuke Nakamura has just arrived and WWE fans have been baying for the two to meet in a WWE ring since they left New Japan Pro Wrestling in early 2016 – why tease the match and never follow through?
AJ Styles could go on to become a SmackDown Live legend in the vein of The Undertaker, Edge and Batista. Moving him makes sense, but it may not be right in the long term.
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