8 Wrestlers Who Can't Hide Their Frustration RIGHT NOW
1. AJ Styles
The contrasts between AEW and WWE's supplementary content is possibly even more revealing than the nationally televised shows.
On various vlogs and Being The Elite, the backstage area is mostly depicted as a happy place in which skits are filmed, friends are made, and good times are had. Over on RAW Talk, Talking Smack and The Bump, various wrestlers experience soul-destroying existential crises and bemoan their position in a broken system in unscripted promos that A) are better than anything they say on telly and B) don't matter a single f*cking bit!
The Network-exclusive The Bump is generally a more laid-back talk show, and differs from the post-TV show chats in that the wrestlers have time to collect themselves after being booked into oblivion. That laid-back vibe however does lull certain performers into letting their guard down.
On this week's edition, AJ Styles wondered aloud why Charlotte Flair, SmackDown Women's Champion, had entered the Royal Rumble. When it was explained to him that she wished to make history and choose her own #1 contender, he couldn't pretend to endorse the creative. He simply said "OK" in a rather pointed, political way - an "I'm not saying anything" sort of deal, in which "I'm not saying anything" was a euphemism for "That's a load of sh*te, that is".
It should be noted here that AJ actively enjoys performing in WWE, is one of very few acts that won't be released in shocking fashion, and considers it his home - but even he isn't immune to showing (low-key) frustration over the often inscrutable booking.
Is he a little sore that he spent months attempting to get Omos over, only for WWE to not give a toss about the break-up?
Or does he not quite love WWE enough to watch SmackDown?