Opinion

Does AJ Styles Deserve Better?

AJ Styles it the best in the world, he holds the oldest and “most prestigious” championship in all of WWE. And he deserves better.

Published

7 years ago

August 26, 2018

Greg DeMarco

The phrase “deserve” gets thrown around a lot in professional wrestling. “YOU DESERVE IT!” is an often mis- or over-used chant at all levels of the business, because it’s usually around a championship that is typically used as a prop. But looking at the 290 day reign (as of today) of WWE Champion AJ Styles, I can’t help but think he deserves better.

AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal on the November 2, 2017 edition of WWE Smackdown Live, airing on tape delay from Manchester, England. It was the fifth WWE Championship change of 2017, with the other reigns lasting 170 days (Jinder Mahal), 49 days (Randy Orton), 49 days (Bray Wyatt), and 14 days (John Cena). It was easy to think AJ Styles might not necessarily get to that 290 mark he’s attained so far.

The title change came as a surprise to many. Jinder Mahal was set to face Brock Lesnar in a champion vs champion match at Survivor Series, a match that many weren’t excited about due to the style (no pun intended) employed by both men. Upon his win, the Survivor Series match saw an immediate upgrade.

Personally, I am a huge AJ Styles fan. I’ve long felt that his significance was downplayed in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, or at least not given the proper recognition. The fact that so many former WWE superstars were inducted into TNA’s Hall Of Fame before AJ was even given consideration is irresponsible at best, intentionally negligent at worst. I personally feel that AJ Styles is a phenomenal choice to carry the WWE championship (pun definitely intended this time).

Take a look at the PPV matches for AJ Styles during his tenure as WWE Championship:

Survivor Series 2017 (Co-Branded PPV)

Universal Champion Brock Lesnar pinned WWE Champion AJ Styles (non-title)
Main Event? NO
Main Event: Raw vs. Smackdown Survivor Series Elimination Match (sole survivors Triple H and Braun Strowman)
AJ’s match placement: second to last

While the brand vs brand theme makes it “okay” for the elimination match to go on last, it also makes 100% sense for the champions to battle in the main event to see which brand wins.

Clash Of Champions 2017 (Smackdown Brand PPV)

WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal via submission
Main Event? YES

AJ did get to main event this PPV, which was Smackdown only, defeating Jinder Mahal and vanquishing any claim he has to rematch.

Royal Rumble 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match
Main Event? NO
Main Event: First ever Women’s Royal Rumble (won by Asuka)
AJ’s match placement: opener

While a Royal Rumble going on last makes sense, a world title match main eventing isn’t out of the question for a Royal Rumble. But going on first?

Elimination Chamber 2018 (Raw Brand PPV)

This was a Raw only PPV, headlined by a 7-man Elimination Chamber match won by Braun Strowman

FastLane 2018 (Smackdown Brand PPV)

WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, and Baron Corbin
Main Event? YES

This show would be AJ Styles’ last PPV main event to date, also on a Smackdown only PPV, and also in a match that was built around the feud between Shane McMahon, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Daniel Bryan.

WrestleMania 34 (Co-Branded PPV)

WWE Champion AJ Styles pinned Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura
Main Event? NO
Main Event: Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defeats Roman Reigns
AJ’s match placement: third from the top (before Braun & Nicholas winning the tag team championship)

AJ would face Shinsuke, the Royal Rumble winner, on more shows, but this was one of his two clean victories over him. No reason it had to go on before Braun Strowman teaming with a child.

Greatest Royal Rumble (Co-Branded PPV)

WWE Champion AJ Styles battled Shinsuke Nakamura to a double countout
Main Event? NO
Main Event: The 50-Man Greatest Royal Rumble won by Braun Strowman
AJ’s match placement: fourth from the top

This show is a bit of an anomaly, since you had the Greatest Royal Rumble itself on top, but the three matches that preceded it really could have gone on in any order. Given that circumstance, AJ got the worst of it.

Backlash 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

WWE Champion AJ Styles battled Shinsuke Nakamura to a draw in a No-Disqualification Match
Main Event? NO
Main Event: Roman Reigns pinned Samoa Joe
AJ’s match placement: third from the top (before Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley beating Kevin Owen & Sami Zayn)

It’s easy to point out that AJ did main event two PPV events (not co-branded) prior to this one, and you can even point to circumstances that hurt him in others (Brock Lesnar title defense, Royal Rumble matches, etc), but on this show it really started to feel like AJ was hurt by his placement. Once again he’s sitting behind a Braun Strowman title match, and a Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe main event that felt like a mid-card match. Even with the non-finish (no stretch for WWE), this feels like a spot where AJ Styles should be in the main event.

Money In The Bank 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to end their feud, winning a 31-minute Last Man Standing Match
Main Event? NO
Main Event: Men’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match, won by Braun Strowman
AJ’s match placement: third from the top (before Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax for the Raw Women’s Championship), and you can call it fourth if you want to get technical thanks to Alexa Bliss cashing in, but I’m not “that guy”

Okay, here’s where I start to have a serious problem with the booking of AJ Styles. This was his blowoff match with Shinsuke Nakamura, and one where they had placed some serious reasonable doubt as to who would win. It was a Last Man Standing Match that would last 31 minutes, and was easily the best match on what many feel was the best PPV of the year (myself included). While I understand the Money in the Bank gimmick, precedent was long set for the briefcase match to not main event the PPV when another match warranted it. And, in my not-so-humble-opinion, AJ Styles was the obvious choice for the main event here.

Extreme Rules 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Rusev to retain the WWE Championship
Main Event? NO
Main Event: Dolph Ziggler beat Seth Rollins in a 30-minute Ironman Match, 5-4 in sudden-death overtime
AJ’s match placement: second to last

In all honesty, this was a show without a main event. No match was ever really advertised as the main event, and even when Seth Rollins vs Dolph Ziggler was getting ready to start, it was never once termed a “main event” by any announcer on the broadcast. That doesn’t happen by accident.

Rusev is officially a babyface, and was one of the hottest acts in the entire company heading into this match. I can easily see a situation where he wins the Royal Rumble and defeats AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 (which also won’t be in the main event). On a card with no clear main event, the WWE Championship (and WWE Champion) should carry the weight needed to headline the show. But AJ Styles wasn’t trusted with that role, furthering the argument that AJ Styles deserves better.

SummerSlam 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

Samoa Joe defeated WWE Champion AJ Styles by disqualification
Main Event? Hahahahahahahaha NO
Main Event: Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to win the Universal Championship
AJ’s match placement: sixth from the top, the fifth match on a card of ten matches

Now, I’ll be the first person to tell you that Roman Reigns finally defeating Brock Lesnar and essentially bringing the Universal Championship back to the WWE should have gone on last. I will also tell you that this match between AJ and Joe is basically the first of their program, so the disqualification finish kinda makes sense. I say “kinda” because I hated Joe, the bad-ass ass-kicker of all of the asses, having to resort to involving AJ’s wife. Joe, being one of the best in the world, made chick salad out of it.

Before we look ahead, we also have to look back at the posters used for some of these events. They are also quite telling…

AJ Styles PPV Posters

AJ Styles is off to a great start with Survivor Series, appearing as Brock Lesnar’s equal. This is huge, as Smackdown is considered the “B show” by so many. But after Survivor Series, AJ Styles is an after thought. He goes from looking like a part of the Royal Rumble match in that poster, to not even appearing on the SummerSlam poster.

Why is this important? Because one thing we all know about WWE is that Vince McMahon loves to “book the poster.” And if he’s booking the poster, AJ Styles isn’t being treated like a star.

Now let’s look ahead to WWE’s Hell In a Cell pay-per-view. AJ Styles lost to Samoa Joe by disqualification on the PPV before Hell In A Cell, which is a perfect set-up for a rematch inside the Cell. One of the big criticisms of the Hell In A Cell event is that the matches aren’t built to where they NEED the Cell. Well, AJ vs. Joe is the most Cell-worthy match they have right now, thanks to Joe’s actions on the road to SummerSlam.

So when AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship at Hell In A Cell was announced, it was announced like this:

BREAKING: @WWE Champion @AJStylesOrg will once again defend his title against @SamoaJoe at @WWE #HIAC! https://t.co/us4mVJDDlt pic.twitter.com/I7Ca5x5w8n

— WWE (@WWE) August 24, 2018

Further, when you go to the WWE’s article referenced in the tweet, there is ZERO mention of the match being in a Cell, or possibly being in a Cell. Not even a tease. Is there a chance it’s in the Cell? Sure! But it doesn’t seem likely at all.

That’s a shame. It’s not even a shame, it’s irresponsible booking. When Smackdown Live moves to FOX in October 2019, the game will change. Smackdown becomes the A show, even if Raw is still the flag bearer for the company. I am making a prediction right now: by the time Smackdown moves to FOX, AJ Styles will not be on the Smackdown roster. If he is, he’s a secondary champion at best.

AJ Styles it the best in the world, he holds the oldest and “most prestigious” championship in all of WWE. And he deserves better.

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Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Money In The Bank

Extra, extra read all about it… Chairshot Staff picks are in!!!

Published

1 day ago

June 6, 2025

PC Tunney

Sing it with me… money money money money moneeeeeeeeeyeeeeee… everybody’s got a price! MONEY IN THE BANK is here!!! How money will our staff picks be?!?

AJ – Roxanne Perez
Andrew – Stephanie Vaquer – *Bubba Sparxxx Impression* I don’t tell stories, I let them tell theyself.
Dave – Guilia – A stacked field but I just like her here.
DJ – Naomi
DPP – Roxanne Perez
Jason – Alexa Bliss
Patrick – Roxanne Perez
Rey – Naomi – If Naomi loses, we riot!
Rob – Naomi
Greg – Alexa Bliss – Bliss has had huge reactions since returning and is moving a ton of merch. While I can see them wanting to build Roxanne Perez, Giulia, or Stephanie Vaquer, I think Alexa Bliss.

Tunney’s Take: Rhea Ripley – I’ll make my case short and sweet… Mami in the Bank! You can’t leave that money on the table.

Chairshot Pick – Tie – Naomi 3 & Roxanne Perez 3 (Alexa Bliss 2, Giulia 1, Rhea Ripley 1, Stephanie Vaquer 1)

AJ – LA Knight
Andrew – El Grande Americano – Feels correct given his push and the fact he’s over.
Dave – Seth Rollins – Got to push that new faction.
DJ – LA Knight
DPP – El Grande Americano
Jason – LA Knight
Patrick – Solo Sikoa
Rey – LA Knight – Looks like another push, and he does have history with Cena.
Rob – Solo Sikoa
Greg – Seth Rollins – This company is extremely high in the El Grande Americano gimmick, but this match comes down to Seth Rollins or LA Knight. Given the Rollins storyline, it’s his briefcase to win.

Tunney’s Take: El Grande Americano – Picture this: Chad Gable wins the AAA Mega Championship and El Grande Americano wins MITB! WHAT A SATURDAY in LA!!!

Chairshot Pick – LA Knight 4 (El Grande Americano 3, Seth Rollins 2, Solo Sikoa 2)

AJ – Becky Lynch – Sadly
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I still don’t care about Lyra.
Dave – Lyra Valkyria – Starting to warm up to her and Becky has a lot to do with that.
DJ – Lyra Valkyria
DPP – Becky Lynch
Jason – Becky Lynch
Patrick – Lyra Valkyria
Rey – Becky Lynch – Put some fire on the Irish Beef.
Rob – Becky Lynch
Greg – Becky Lynch – I don’t think you do a rematch here just to have Becky lose again. Unless Bayley shows up to help Lyra.

Tunney’s Take: Becky Lynch – A big part of me feels that winning this title checks off a major box for Becks in her HOF career.

Chairshot Pick – Becky Lynch 8-3

AJ – Cena & Paul
Andrew – Rhodes & Uso – Easy way for Cena to lose without eating the pinfall.
Dave – Rhodes & Uso – Get the QB back on the winning track.
DJ – Rhodes & Uso
DPP – Rhodes & Uso
Jason – Cena & Paul
Patrick – Cena & Paul
Rey – Rhodes & Uso – Heels usually lose these kinds of matches. Logan takes the pin.
Rob – Cena & Paul
Greg – Rhodes & Uso – I hope Jey isn’t an afterthought here like Cody was last fall when he was paired up with Roman. I think Cody pins Cena to set up Cody-Cena 2 at SummerSlam.

Tunney’s Take: Cena & Paul – I don’t think Cena is involved in another loss until he loses the WWE Championship. I also think Logan Paul is NOT done trying to capture Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship. …Travis Scott in the house?

Chairshot Pick – 6-5 Rhodes & Uso

In closing I want to thank everyone on the panel for participating with their picks! You can follow each prognosticator/podcaster on X @ the handles below. We all enjoy Pro Wrestling so remember three things… be respectful of others, comparison is the thief of joy and HAVE FUN!

AJ – @PhenomenalAJB
Andrew – @IWCWarChief
Dave – @AttitudeAgg
DJ – @TheMindlessPod
DPP – @itsmeDPP
Jason – @JediFett
Patrick – @WrestlngRealist
Rey – @itsreycash
Rob – @rbonne1
Greg – @gregdemarco44
PC – @PCTunney
TheChairshot.com – @ChairshotMedia

prowrestlingtees.com/TheChairshot – a PLETHORA of GREAT designs…MAKES A GREAT GIFT!

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

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About Chairshot Radio Network

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CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast & The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history)

TheChairshot.com PRESENTS...IMMEDIATE POST WWE PLE REACTIONS w/ DJ(Mindless), Tunney(DWI) & Friends

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Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

Opinion

Chairshot Staff Picks: Backlash St. Louis

Chairshot Staff picks!!!

Published

4 weeks ago

May 9, 2025

PC Tunney

May is upon us and with that, so is Backlash from St. Louis! What does the first PLE after WrestleMania have in store for the WWE Universe? Let’s see if the Chairshot Staff can properly interpret the crystal ball of rasslin’ future.

AJ – Pat MacAfee – Gunther has to start losing control and who better than an announcer.
Andrew – Pat MacAfee – Goldberg getting involved does seem correct here.
Dave – Gunther – He’s not losing to a broadcaster.
DJ – Gunther – Pat is sent to the shadow realm until football season is over.
DPP – Gunther – Post match beat down leads to Pat time off.
Jason – Gunther – One massive spot and or bump from Pat.
Patrick – Gunther
Rey – Gunther – RIP MacAfee, t’was a good life.
Rob – Gunther
Greg – Pat MacAfee – Why? Goooooldbeeerrrrrgggggg!

Tunney’s Take: Gunther – Seems like the right pick here. Pat may be getting some time off and Gunther needs more heat.

Chairshot Pick – GUNTHER 8-3

AJ – Lyra Valkyria – Becky’s hopefully putting her over, still mad about Dakota.
Andrew – Becky Lynch – I have no real interest in Lyra currently.
Dave – Becky Lynch – Lyra is boring AF!
DJ – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley interferes.
DPP – Becky Lynch – Becky cheats and steals the title.
Jason – Lyra Valkyria – Bayley costs Becks.
Patrick – Becky Lynch
Rey – Becky Lynch – Story needs to jump up a bit, Becky Charlotte’s Lyra.
Rob – Lyra Valkyria
Greg – Becky Lynch – It’s been fun, Lyra. (It kinda hasn’t)

Tunney’s Take: Lyra Valkyria – Bayley’s interference should set up some type of program with Becky as we head towards Summer(Slam).

Chairshot Pick – BECKY LYNCH 6-5

AJ – Jacob Fatu – Great way to put him over w/ two former WHCs and LA Knight.
Andrew – Jacob Fatu – He’s Jacob Fatu!
Dave – Jacob Fatu – Too soon to pull the belt off him.
DJ – Jacob Fatu – Priest and LA can’t decide who’s is bigger.
DPP – Jacob Fatu – Your hardcore match, tables and chairs involved.
Jason – Jacob Fatu – The Champ retains due to or in spite of Solo.
Patrick – Jacob Fatu
Rey – Jacob Fatu – All gas. No brakes. Ain’t losing.
Rob – Jacob Fatu
Greg – Jacob Fatu – Someone from The Samoan Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Jacob Fatu – Uncle Mo is on Fatu’s side and other than Knight, I don’t see Drew or Priest holding the US title in the current circumstances of this title’s landscape.

Chairshot Pick – JACOB FATU 11-0

AJ – Dominic Mysterio – Judgement Day shenanigans just leading up to Finn turning on Dom later.
Andrew – Penta – Dom’s fine having a short reign, could also work for pushing AAA.
Dave – Dominic Mysterio – He’s probably more over than Penta.
DJ – Dominic Mysterio – Dirty Dom takes home the gold and the girl.
DPP – Dominic Mysterio – Big Head helps Dom pull out the win.
Jason – Dominic Mysterio – By hook and crook.
Patrick – Dominic Mysterio
Rey – Dominic Mysterio – Latino Heat keeps burning. Finn gets closer to the edge.
Rob – Dominic Mysterio
Greg – Dominic Mysterio – Someone from The Guerrero Dynasty ain’t winning a title just to drop it.

Tunney’s Take: Dominic Mysterio – That belt looks good with the king of chicken tendys. I can see Penta and Rey reforming as a tag team sooner than later.

Chairshot Pick – DOMINIC MYSTERIO 10-1

AJ – John Cena – Why? Cena wins, lol.
Andrew – John Cena – Shenanigans ensue so it’s not a clean win.
Dave – John Cena – The last time is now.
DJ – John Cena – Randy hears voices telling him he needs an Attitude Adjustment.
DPP – John Cena – Cena tries to cheat but the ref doesn’t call for a DQ.
Jason – John Cena – Nefarious means, Randy not ready for Evil John Cena.
Patrick – John Cena
Rey – John Cena – Cena just counting down the dates. Should be fun though.
Rob – John Cena
Greg – John Cena – You know they want Cody to be the hero in the end.

Tunney’s Take: Randy Orton – Once upon a time Randy got himself intentionally disqualified and it cost John. Saturday, history repeats itself with a 180-degree twist. Cena retains via Orton DQ victory. This time, Travis Scott’s appearance takes care of that task.

Chairshot Pick – JOHN CENA 10-1