5 Ups & 2 Downs From Last Night's WWE SmackDown (April 4)

Ups...

5. Burying The Hatchet

There was always a strong chance AJ Styles and Shane McMahon would try to steal the show at WrestleMania 33, and that's exactly what they did. Their match exceeded all expectations, and while AJ wasn't willing to shake the Commissioner's hand before the clash, he was happy to do it last night. With Shane in the ring, addressing next week's Superstar Shake-up, Styles arrived, announced his dedication to SmackDown, and made peace with his boss.

It was a sensible resolution to their story, and it looks like WWE are pushing AJ towards a big babyface turn. If, as expected, he ends up trade to Raw in the Shake-up, AJ will at least leave his former home on good terms with management. Turning him face is a smart idea too, as while Styles has been universally excellent throughout his heel run, there will always be a huge portion of the crowd cheering him on, such is his skill level.

Could this interaction have been condensed into a shorter backstage segment? Absolutely, but that's a minor complaint. WWE felt they had to lay the Shane/AJ beef to rest last night, and that's exactly what they did. The segment was perfectly functional, and should set Styles up for his next major move, regardless of whether he leaves the blue brand or not.