The match between Chris Jericho and AJ Styles was yet another dream match that belonged in inverted commas or on a graphic than actually within the WrestleMania ring.
'Y2J' had been guilty of several clunkers on the 'Grandest Stage', but this payoff to an enjoyable programme with company newcomer AJ unexpectedly underwhelmed. Fans sat on their hands waiting for high spots that never came - AJ was made to sell for the bulk of the clash, but Jericho looked a little uninspired on offence.
Timing is everything in wrestling, and 2016 would be a career year for both. From January debut to WWE Champion by September, Styles' rise up the ranks was truly remarkable. Jericho perhaps sensed things going stale again - his burgeoning relationship with Kevin Owens launched a host of new catchphrases and iconic List Of Jericho gimmick that will surely remain part of any WWE return in the future. Without any of those aforementioned bells or whistles, this was actually a little less than aggressively fine.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation for 10 years. Alongside the production of daily written, audio and video content covering WWE and AEW, he also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years.
As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot on the UK's wrestling podcast charts with over 10,000 episodes and 70,000,000 total downloads. He also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House!, Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast, and has guested on long-running Sunderland AFC podcast Wise Men Say.
With WhatCulture, he has provided in-person coverage of some of the biggest pay-per-views and Premium Live Events in wrestling history, including WrestleMania, Survivor Series, All In & Double Or Nothing in destinations such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. He has also been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana, 411Mania and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling.
Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in music and culture magazines The Crack, Pilot as well as Sunderland AFC's premiere fanzine A Love Supreme. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it every other Saturday at the Stadium Of Light, and at Cribs gigs nationwide.
