WWE News: AJ Styles opens up about his latest injury scare, chemistry with Nakamura and more
What’s the story?
Ahead of his mega showdown against Shinsuke Nakamura at WrestleMania 34, WWE Champion AJ Styles sat down for an exclusive interview with IGN in order to promote WWE’s flagship event of the year.
In case you didn’t know…
Earlier this year, WWE SmackDown Live Superstar, “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura earned the biggest victory of his WWE career so far, when he won the 2018 Men’s Royal Rumble match by last eliminating former winner and World Champion Roman Reigns.
Nakamura, who is a former IWGP Heavyweight and Intercontinental Champion in New Japan Pro Wrestling, immediately went on to challenge WWE Champion AJ Styles to a one-on-one match at WrestleMania 34, following his Rumble victory.
The heart of the matter
While speaking with IGN, AJ Styles discussed a host of topics including a brief regarding the recent injury he suffered at a WWE live event. Below are the highlights from the interview:
In-ring chemistry with Shinsuke Nakamura:
As we all know by now, AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura previously squared-off in a classic one-on-one bout back in New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom 10 at the Tokyo Dome. According to Styles, he believes that having previously squared-off against Nakamura, he now knows for a fact that the two men can indeed work pretty well together.
“I can only say that from one experience, where we wrestled a one-on-one match, but I don't know how to explain it. There's just a flow to a match, to our match, that I really can't compare to a lot of people. He's so unique and unorthodox in his character and we just work so well when we step in that ring.”
Styles’ recent injury that he suffered at a live event:
Following AJ’s latest injury scare at a house show, wrestling fans around the globe were pretty concerned about the status of the WWE Title match between “The Phenomenal One” and “The King of Strong Style” at WrestleMania 34. However, Styles has now assured us that he is not injured any more and also promised to be at the top of his game at WrestleMania 34.
"Injuries are stuff that you can't work through. Everybody works through pain, and I can definitely do that. I'm going to be at the top of my game when it comes to WrestleMania. I've been doing live events and what not and it's not one of those things that's hindering me whatsoever. So I'm good to go."
Wanting to wrestle Daniel Bryan:
As noted, Daniel Bryan was recently cleared by several WWE doctors to compete in the squared circle once again and ever since, there have been several names in the WWE who have been wanting to face Bryan in a one-on-one match.
WWE Champion AJ Styles and his WrestleMania opponent Shinsuke Nakamura have already made it clear in the past that they are looking forward to a potential match against Bryan in the near future and The Phenomenal One has additionally stated that he has been selfishly wanting to face Daniel Bryan in the WWE for a long time.
What’s next?
AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura will square-off this Sunday in New Orleans at WrestleMania 34, for the WWE Championship.
Author’s take
There is currently a lot of expectations from both Nakamura and Styles in terms of their in-ring performance at ‘Mania 34, but the two men have already proved to us in the past that their chemistry with each other is absolutely amazing.