13 Ups & 1 Down From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (Feb 26)

11. AJ Vs. Orton Takes Shape

AJ Styles Randy Orton
WWE

AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton was pegged as a potential WrestleMania 35 bout a few weeks ago, and it finally started taking shape on last night's SmackDown.

'The Phenomenal One' was backstage. He cut a basic promo with Kayla Braxton, starting on a nod to Roman Reigns, continuing with a surefire sign that Vince McMahon scripted this thing (the man called himself a "pitbull" for the first time in a while), then shot back at talk that he's in a slump. AJ vowed to stop paying attention to the critics and justify his claim that "this is the house that AJ Styles built," prompting 'The Viper' to show up and slap him down with a single line.

"The house that AJ Styles what?", he asked, sneering, then walked away, leaving the former WWE Champion to stew.

Though nothing groundbreaking, this was an effective way to plant the seeds for what should be a fun WrestleMania feud pitting the brand's top babyface against its biggest sociopath. Here's to many Phenomenal Forearms countered into RKOs during the build-up.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.