AJ Styles Returns To WWE NXT
The Phenomenal One meets the "Absolute Worst".
As promised, AJ Styles returned to NXT last night - or made his NXT 2.0 debut, to be pedantic.
His appearance furthered the umbrella storyline that began at WarGames - of the younger generation of talent feuding with the old guard in a generational battle.
Styles played babyface for the first time in a while, cutting a productive promo in which he put over Bron Breakker, Tony D'Angelo and Carmelo Hayes as the future while, at the same time, creating conflict with Grayson Waller by claiming he didn't see their potential in the man presently marketed as the biggest heel of the brand. The verbal segment was strong by 2.0's risible standards, and ended when Waller, cowering from the challenge, revealed that he'd see to AJ once Omos was done with him on RAW.
This appears to set up a match between the two at some point in January, which is some display of commitment in the Waller character. He's a telegenic, obnoxious and cocksure presence with a decidedly less 'FCW' move-set to some of his greener peers.
In short, this was a decent and committed piece of business.