AJ Styles Responds To Shinsuke Nakamura's WrestleMania 33 Challenge

Are two of WWE's most exciting stars set to collide in Orlando?

by Andy H Murray
Aj Styles Shinsuke Nakamura
NJPW

Fans have been waiting for Shinsuke Nakamura's WWE main roster call-up from the moment he debuted in NXT. Starting with an instant classic against Sami Zayn at TakeOver: Dallas, The King Of Strong Style has put an impressive body of work together at Full Sail University, and with two NXT Title reigns to his name, he is the brand's most popular wrestler by a comfortable margin.

Nakamura's last title reign ended at Bobby Roode's hands last month, and while there has been no fresh news on a potential call-up, it looks like he has a WrestleMania 33 opponent in mind:-

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Nakamura and Styles have wrestled once before, and their NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 10 bout stood among 2016's very best matches. A rematch in Orlando is extremely unlikely, however, and AJ acknowledges this:-

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Styles will battle Luke Harper in a number one contender's match on SmackDown next week, but he's expected to face Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 33. Nakamura was used only sparingly at last night's NXT TV tapings, and wrestled just a single match against TJ Perkins.

A Styles vs. Nakamura match would likely steal the show on April 2nd. It probably won't happen at WrestleMania, but it's definitely one to look forward to in the future.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.