WWE News: Rumored WrestleMania 35 match happens after SmackDown went off air
What's the story?
As reported by WrestlingInc correspondent @markangelo, there was a big singles match after this week's TV tapings that featured Randy Orton and AJ Styles. The match took place after the tapings and even included an amazing moment with referee Mike Chioda.
In case you didn't know...
Orton and Styles were involved in a backstage segment on the latest SmackDown Live episode as The Viper took a shot at the Phenomenal One.
Styles was in the midst of an interview in which he spoke about Kofi Kingston's unfortunate ouster from the Fastlane title match. Orton interrupted and was confused with Styles talking about someone else getting a shot at the WWE Championship. "No wonder it took you 15 years to get here," Orton said.
The tension between the two veterans has gradually increased with each passing week and it is all expected to culminate in a match at the Show of Shows in April. It seems they are already warming up to the much-anticipated contest as they took each other on in a dark match after SmackDown.
The heart of the matter
The former WWE Champions worked an engaging singles bout for around 500-1000 fans who stayed back after the tapings were done. It was an intimate atmosphere as Styles and Orton played to the crowd and wrestled a solid match.
The fans too were at their playful best as they event chanted for referee Mike Chioda at one point during the match. Chioda would respond by climbing on the turnbuckle and acknowledging the love. It was an incredibly fun dark match and yes, Orton twerked too...
The best things sadly don't happen on TV!
What's next?
Orton and Styles have only faced other once before and it was a one-off match for a WrestleMania spot in 2017. They have not had a full-blown feud and the time is indeed right for WWE to finally pull the trigger on the dream rivalry. This has always been the rumored plan and it's good to see creative going ahead with it for the biggest PPV of the year.
Orton vs. Styles could the lowkey show-stealer at WrestleMania 35.