10 Unexpected WWE Standouts Of 2016
1. AJ Styles
On 1 January 2016, no one expected AJ Styles to even be in WWE. On 4 January, when rumors broke about a WWE talent raid of New Japan Pro Wrestling, that suddenly became a possibility. 20 days later, AJ Styles made his way down the ramp as the Royal Rumble's third entrant, shattering expectations.
On 1 January 2016, no one expected AJ Styles to have a match at WrestleMania. On 3 April, The Phenomenal One had a fantastic match with Chris Jericho in front of 100,000 people at the AT&T Stadium in Texas for WrestleMania 32. Even in defeat, Styles shattered expectations.
On 1 January 2016, no one expected AJ Styles to wrestle John Cena, let alone beat him. On 9 June, Mr. TNA and Mr. WWE squared off for the first time at Money In The Bank and Mr TNA won, albeit with assistance. On 21 August, in a true Match Of The Year candidate, the two met again, and Styles beat Cena again. Clean. Twice over, he shattered expectations.
On 1 January 2016, no one expected AJ Styles to be WWE Champion. On 11 September, The man who had conquered every promotion he had ever set foot in pinned Dean Ambrose after a Styles Clash to claim the one prize that eluded him his entire career. Holding the world's most prestigious title, The Champ That Runs The Camp had shattered expectations.
On January 1st, 2016, no one expected AJ Styles to have the greatest rookie year in WWE history. As 2016 draws to a close, with Styles still properly announced as The Face That Runs The Place, there can be no doubt that AJ Styles has shattered expectations.