WWE Money In The Bank 2016: 10 Things We Learned
4. AJ Styles Was Allowed To Look Ultra Competitive With John Cena
A few years ago, even the thought of seeing AJ Styles face John Cena on WWE pay-per-view seemed impossible. AJ's stint in Japan worked wonders, giving WWE that cool off period from his TNA run and at the same time adding yet more experience to the portfolio of Styles. That's been something WWE have used during his feud with Cena thus far.
Crucially, Styles has been allowed to look equal to Cena up to this point. That continued at Money In The Bank, AJ didn't look out of his depth against the multi-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and he was even permitted to kick out of his Attitude Adjustment finishing move.
Better yet, the early part of the match had the announcers remarking on AJ's quickness. On more than one occasion, Styles outsmarted Cena, shrewdly giving the 'dream match' more of an edge than if the WWE veteran had thrown around the guy who's only been there since January.
Even if AJ hadn't won the match, he was still given much more in the way of offence than many might have suspected going in.