Current WWE champion trying to emulate AJ Styles at Bad Blood could have ended horribly, believes veteran
A wrestling veteran believes that a current WWE champion could have been injured trying to emulate AJ Styles at Bad Blood. Stevie Richards likened Nia Jax's Hurricanrana to how Styles did it although it still could have ended horribly for the reigning WWE Women's Champion.
One of the biggest spots during Jax's title defense against Bayley was when she tried to hit a Hurricanrana on Bayley. It was a tough move to execute considering the champ's larger body mass and the difficulty of it.
Speaking on the most recent episode of The Stevie Richards Show, the former WWE star likened Jax's Hurricanrana to how Styles does it, which is probably safer since he lands on his side rather than on his knees.
"She's doing what AJ's doing where he tries to sweep his body to the side and kind of throw him over, almost like a head scissors, not a Hurricanrana. So I get it, in theory, but essentially, she couldn't do that and I'm glad she didn't because she would have landed right on her head and neck," Richards said. [2:38 - 2:57]
Richards felt Nia Jax avoided any injuries since she landed on her side and not on her head. It would have been catastrophic if there had been any injury. Nevertheless, Bayley should also be given credit since she sold the move and was able to hold Jax for as long as she could before the execution of it.
Contradicting reports on AJ Styles' injury
AJ Styles made his return to WWE television on the October 4 edition of SmackDown. Styles was confronted by Carmelo Hayes and it led to a match between the two superstars. However, The Phenomenal One seemingly suffered a knee/ankle injury and the match had to be stopped.
Some fans thought that it was a work, while others claimed that it was legitimate. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful reported that the injury angle was part of the plan and will be turned into Styles' retirement storyline.
However, people backstage close to AJ Styles told Sapp that it was a legitimate injury and Styles underwent an MRI to check the severity of it. Styles is already 47 years old and his contract is reportedly expiring later this year, as early 2025, as per Sapp.