5 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE WrestleMania 38 (Night 2)

2. AJ Styles & Edge Swing & Miss

AJ Styles and Edge shot for "WrestleMania epic" in their long-awaited dream match, crafting one of the most emotionless and cynical bouts seen on this stage in quite some time.

While the exchanges were fundamentally sound and AJ sold his injured shoulder well (with Edge targeting it for extended periods( and the counters were slick and exciting, the complete lack of anything between the moves dragged this match down. Styles and Edge were likely aiming for The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels' two late-career classics, here. Their slow, methodical pacing was built for atmosphere, with the crowd so dazzled by their sheer aura, presence, and gravitas that they'd hang on every moment, no matter how small.

Sadly, this wasn't the case.

Rather than inspiring awe, the veteran duo inspired boredom in their less kinetic moments. Michaels/Undertaker worked because the crowd were completely hooked and invested in the saga unfolding before them. Without that engagement, last night's fight felt cold, detached, and lacking in substance, despite their earnest attempts.

Coupled with Edge's inconsistent knee selling (that the veteran completely dispensed without about halfway through) and over-the-top, immersion-shattering "acting", as well as the clichéd distraction finish, this was a swing and a miss.