7 Ups & 2 Downs From WWE SmackDown (Jan 19 - Results & Review)

5. A WrestleMania Match Brewing?

AJ Styles LA Knight
WWE.com

Grumbles about the Rumble's main title bout being a fairly throwaway four-way match are justified, but Triple H is clearly looking beyond the January PLE towards WrestleMania season. That's surely why AJ Styles and LA Knight are brawling to the back on SmackDown - they're about to lock horns on the grandest stage.

That wouldn't be a bad spot for either man, being honest.

AJ feels like LA stepped over him to steal a match vs. Roman Reigns before, and Knight is sick of Styles bitching about it. Then, you've got Randy Orton in the middle. He's rolling his eyes at his fellow challengers, and has his gaze trained on the prize more than petty squabbles. There are multiple layers to examine, and that's never a bad thing.

Don't be too shocked if Styles vs. Knight ends up happening on the midcard come 'Mania XL. They don't even need a title or any other stakes for it, because the pair have a story ready-made. AJ and LA just can't stand one another, and want to fight it out.

Let them.

Advertisement
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.