AJ Styles Praises Zilla Fatu After Impressive NXT Debut: 'He Looks Like a Star'

BY SACNILK

Zilla Fatu made an immediate impression during his arrival on WWE NXT, and AJ Styles was among those impressed by what the young star brought to the show. Fatu made his WWE debut on the August 11 episode of NXT, interrupting the match between Grayson Waller and Cruz Montana. The contest was set to determine the next challenger for Tony D’Angelo’s NXT Championship, but Fatu's arrival changed everything as he attacked both competitors. Styles had a close look at the segment because he was involved in producing the match between Waller and Montana. Speaking on The AJ Styles Show, he first praised both wrestlers for the way they handled the bout, explaining that he did not have to heavily guide them because of their experience. “There’s not a lot you have to do in this because you got two pros who’ve been on television. They know what they’re doing. I had no worries that they’d get it done in the time that they needed to. Total pros.” Styles also singled out Waller for praise, saying he feels the former NXT star is underrated in his current role. “Grayson Waller is very underrated. I think it’s very good, the heel work that he’s doing right now. He’s the pissed-off, ‘I’m going to tell you what I think and if you don’t like it, come do something about it.’ I kind of like that.” The match itself also left an impression on Styles. He pointed out that Waller and Montana were not holding back and appeared to have genuinely put themselves through a physical contest. “It wasn’t that they just went out there and, I don’t know if you saw them both at the end of their match, but there was bruises on their chest. Like these guys, there was a boot mark on Cruz’s face. They got after it. There was some very real stuff that was going on.” After watching the two wrestlers deliver a hard-hitting match, Styles said he was impressed by what happened when Fatu entered the picture. The son of the late Umaga made his presence felt immediately, taking the fight to both Waller and Montana. For Styles, it was not simply the attack itself that stood out. He was particularly impressed by Fatu's overall presence. “He looks like a star. Just his presence. It’s a very intimidating presence.” Styles also pointed out a detail that made Fatu's attack look even more painful. The WWE Hall of Famer noted that Fatu delivered his splashes without wearing knee pads. “And if you don’t know how scary he is, he did those splashes without knee pads. If you knew that, right? Come on, it kind of sucks.” The NXT crowd also reacted strongly to Fatu's arrival, something Styles noticed while discussing the moment. “The fans went crazy in NXT. So, yeah, it was a really cool moment.” Fatu's arrival has generated considerable attention since his WWE debut. He is the son of Umaga and part of the wider Anoa’i-Fatu wrestling family, which includes several major WWE stars. His debut also came at an important point for NXT, with the brand introducing a number of new faces to its men's division.

BY SACNILK

AJ Styles has spent more than two decades competing at the highest levels of professional wrestling, working across WWE, TNA, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Along the way, the former WWE Champion has developed a clear philosophy about what actually separates a great match from an ordinary one — and it has nothing to do with move counts. Speaking on The AJ Styles Show, Styles broke down his approach to match construction, explaining why he believes performers can get too caught up in packing their bouts with impressive sequences instead of asking a more fundamental question first. For Styles, the starting point of any match isn't "what can we do" — it's "what are we trying to say." "Let's not think about how many moves we can squeeze into this match," he said. Styles said the key is to keep one question at the center of the entire process, from the opening bell to the finish. "What's the story we're telling?" he said. "If we start doing that from beginning to end, the product's gonna elevate." Beyond structure, Styles emphasized that the best wrestling connects emotionally. It's not enough to execute a move correctly; the performer has to communicate what their character is feeling in that moment. "At the highest level, being able to communicate and make people feel what you're feeling is what it's all about," Styles said. That belief has taken on new significance as Styles steps into a backstage producing role within WWE, most recently working NXT matches and passing his experience on to the next generation of talent. Styles' comments double as advice for younger wrestlers trying to stand out early in their careers. In his view, performers can become so focused on cramming in impressive sequences that they lose sight of the bigger picture: connecting with the crowd. A wrestler can land every move cleanly, but if the audience doesn't understand the characters, the stakes, or the reason behind the action, something essential is still missing. Having performed at the top level across multiple promotions worldwide, Styles has seen how different wrestling environments approach the craft. Now, as he transitions into a behind-the-scenes role, that same philosophy is shaping how he mentors the wrestlers coming up behind him — not by teaching them how to hit a move, but by teaching them why it matters. For AJ Styles, greatness in the ring was never about doing more. It was always about telling a better story.

BY SACNILK

WrestleMania 40 night two saw AJ Styles sporting a brand new entrance theme before his match against LA Knight.## While the full entrance can be viewed below in the clip, Knight ultimately emerged victorious in his WrestleMania debut, defeating the seasoned Styles.## The action continues with IYO Sky defending her WWE Women's Championship against Bayley, followed by the highly anticipated main event. ## In a "Bloodline Rules" stipulation, Roman Reigns will put his Undisputed WWE Championship on the line against challenger Cody Rhodes. ## As clarified by Paul Heyman in a backstage interview, "Bloodline Rules" translates to a No Disqualification match with a definitive winner and any additional stipulations laid down by the Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Paul Heyman himself). ## NEW MUSIC for @AJStylesOrg at #WrestleMania XL! pic.twitter.com/HPoDvv0pde— WWE (@WWE) April 8, 2024 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

LA Knight battles AJ Styles in a singles match on April 7, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ## LA Knight vs. AJ Styles starts on April 7, at 7 ET/4 PT and streams LIVE on Peacock in the United States and on WWE Network everywhere else. ## WWE WrestleMania 40: LA Knight vs. AJ Styles Full Match & Winner ## The bell rings and AJ Styles throws punches but misses a clothesline. He exits the ring but gets caught by LA Knight's baseball slide that sends him crashing into the announce table. Knight dominates early, slamming AJ's head into the ring apron repeatedly.## AJ fights back with kicks to Knight's legs and counters an atomic drop with a sunset flip. Knight regains momentum with clotheslines and a side Russian leg sweep. He uses a running knee strike and a springboard tornado DDT for a near fall.## He attempts a superplex, but AJ counters with a German Suplex and a gourdbuster for another near fall. AJ hesitates too long on the turnbuckles, allowing Knight to recover and apply a crossface. Knight bites AJ, who retaliates with an eye rake. Knight hits a German superplex for another near fall.## AJ applies the Calf Crusher, but Knight reaches the ropes. AJ tries to exploit the injured leg by dropkicking it into the ring post. Knight counters by pulling AJ into the ring post and delivers a midsection kick.## Knight exposes the floor by pulling back the ringside mats and attempts a powerbomb, but AJ counters with a back body drop. Knight barely beats the count back into the ring. The action intensifies with punches and kicks traded between the two.## Knight misses a clothesline and gets hit with a Pele Kick by AJ. AJ attempts a Phenomenal Forearm but misses, landing on his feet. He counters Knight's finisher, the BFT, and tries for a Styles Clash, but Knight escapes. Knight uses the ropes to launch himself into a BFT, securing the pinfall victory over a surprised AJ Styles. ## WWE WrestleMania 40: LA Knight vs. AJ Styles Full Match & Winner ## WINNER: LA Knight ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Will Ospreay's quick rise to great dominance in AEW has fueled speculation that WWE may have made a mistake by not signing him. ## Reports indicate WWE was interested in Ospreay, but some believe they lowballed him during contract negotiations, leading him to sign with AEW last November. Dave Meltzer, on Wrestling Observer Radio, revealed that some within WWE viewed Ospreay as a "younger AJ Styles" when Styles first joined the company in 2016. However, Meltzer suggests these individuals underestimated Ospreay's potential, particularly his charisma. ## "They [WWE] just thought he's a guy who can be like a real major player here," Meltzer said. "They just thought that he's a guy who can be like a real major player here." ## Meltzer further stated that, some people who are very high on him, were very upset that they didn't get to sign Ospreay. ## "I know people in that company who are very, very high on him, and that were very upset. I don't say very upset, but upset surely they didn't get him because they knew he was this good. And they just thought that he's a guy who can be like a real major player here." Meltzer stated. ## Meltzer's comments highlight the contrasting opinions on Ospreay. While some in WWE reportedly saw a future star, the alleged low contract offer suggests they may not have valued him as highly as others. ## Ospreay is set to face another major star, Bryan Danielson, at AEW's "Dynasty" event next month, solidifying his position as a top player in the company. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Two enticing matches have been officially added to the WrestleMania 40 card following Saturday's Elimination Chamber. According to Dave Meltzer, both Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton and AJ Styles vs. LA Knight have been confirmed for the grandest stage of them all. ## These potential showdowns were subtly hinted at throughout the Elimination Chamber event, and now, WWE have added their inclusion in WrestleMania's high-stakes lineup. Meltzer stated in his Sunday Daily Update, “Coming off the Chamber show, those at WWE have confirmed both bouts, AJ Styles vs. LA Knight and Logan Paul vs. Randy Orton, that yesterday’s show appeared to set up. Both are right now listed for Mania.” ## The seeds for these matches were sown during the men's chamber match itself. After Bobby Lashley's elimination, a fired-up AJ Styles entered the chamber and unleashed a vicious assault on LA Knight, culminating in a Styles Clash onto a steel chair, effectively eliminating Knight from the competition.## Later in the match, Logan Paul attempted to interfere using brass knuckles, leading to his own elimination at the hands of Randy Orton's signature RKO. However, Paul didn't go down without a fight. He recovered after the elimination and struck Orton with the same knuckles, ultimately enabling Drew McIntyre to secure the win. This victory paves the way for McIntyre's highly anticipated WrestleMania 40 clash against the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight will collide in a Fatal four-way match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. ## The match takes place on Saturday, January 27, 2024, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Tt will be available to livestream on Peacock in the United States and the WWE Network in most international markets. ## Roman Reigns vs Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight starts at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET. in the United States. ## WWE Royal Rumble 2024: Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight Full Match Recap ## The air crackled with electricity as all four Superstars went on the offensive, raining down blows on the reigning champion, Roman Reigns. AJ Styles and LA Knight engaged in a fierce technical exchange inside the ring, while Randy Orton ruthlessly targeted Reigns on the unforgiving floor. ## Suddenly, the tide turned. Reigns, with his signature power and resilience, seized control, dominating the squared circle. He lined up Knight for the earth-shattering Superman Punch, but the cunning challenger ducked and unleashed a barrage of stinging right hands, sending the crowd into a frenzy of cheers. Knight capitalized with a picture-perfect DDT, but Orton, ever the opportunist, charged in. Knight countered with a thunderous slam, narrowly missing the three-count. ## Styles, perched atop the turnbuckle like a predatory bird, was yanked down by a well-timed right hand from Reigns. Knight, fueled by the momentum, connected with a massive superplex, sending Styles crashing back to the mat. The Phenomenal One, however, refused to stay down. He unleashed a flurry of kicks and strikes, culminating in a devastating clothesline that sent Orton reeling. ## Reigns, sensing an opening, lunged forward with a clothesline of his own, but Styles ducked with lightning-fast reflexes and countered with a picture-perfect Pele Kick. He followed up with the Styles Clash, his signature finishing maneuver, but Knight, with remarkable opportunism, broke up the pin at the last second. ## The action reached a fever pitch. Orton, displaying his trademark ruthlessness, hung Knight over the ropes and spiked him with a vicious DDT. Styles, eyes blazing with determination, charged towards Orton, aiming for the earth-shattering Phenomenal Forearm, but The Viper, ever the opportunist, countered with a perfectly timed RKO, leaving Styles unconscious on the canvas. ## Just as Orton prepared to capitalize on the fallen Styles and claim the championship, Solo Sikoa, Reigns' imposing cousin, materialized at ringside. With a swift maneuver, he yanked the referee out of the ring, preventing Orton from securing the pinfall. In the ensuing chaos, Sikoa delivered his devastating Samoan Spike to Knight, effectively taking him out of the equation. ## Reigns, sensing his advantage, attempted to pin both Styles and Knight simultaneously, but Styles, with a flicker of movement, evaded the attack. Sikoa, propelled by momentum, charged towards Styles on the outside, but the Phenomenal One sidestepped, sending Sikoa crashing through the barricade. ## Styles flew off the ropes, soaking everyone nearby, but only managed a two-count. He grabbed a chair and laid into Roman with it! Knight got nailed too, and Styles charged at Orton, but Orton stopped him cold with a right hand. Knight then slammed Reigns and followed up with an elbow. He went for another move, but got shoved into the ropes, taking out Styles who was perched on them. Reigns capitalized with a spear on Styles and snatched the victory! ## WWE Royal Rumble 2024: Roman Reigns vs. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles vs. LA Knight Match Winner ## WINNER: Roman Reigns ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

At the upcoming Royal Rumble, Roman Reigns, the reigning Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, will defend his title in a challenging Fatal 4-Way Match against formidable opponents – Randy Orton, AJ Styles, and LA Knight. ## Initially, Knight, Styles, and Orton engaged in a fierce Triple Threat Match to determine the contender who would face Reigns in a one-on-one showdown at the Royal Rumble. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when The Bloodline intervened, aiming to disrupt the competition. In response, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis decided that a Fatal 4-Way Match would be the most fitting resolution to settle the dispute. ## Each of Reigns' challengers holds a legitimate grievance against the esteemed titleholder. The Bloodline orchestrated a brutal attack that resulted in The Viper, Randy Orton, being sidelined for a staggering year-and-a-half. ## Additionally, they inflicted substantial damage on AJ Styles, forcing him to endure nearly three months of recovery. As for LA Knight, his aspirations to dethrone The Tribal Chief at WWE Crown Jewel were thwarted by The Bloodline's interference, leaving him just shy of championship glory. The Royal Rumble promises to be a clash of titans, with each contender fueled by a personal vendetta against the dominant champion. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Stamford, December 16 - WWE has been consistently revisiting past pay-per-view themes for NXT over the years, such as No Mercy, Halloween Havoc, and Great American Bash. In a surprising move, the company is extending this practice to the main roster for SmackDown. Given the upcoming Christmas break, WWE granted the talent and crew time off and pre-recorded the December 22nd episode. ## During the taped show, AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and LA Knight stepped into the ring to state their cases for facing Roman Reigns. Consequently, a triple threat match was scheduled for the New Year's Revolution episode of WWE SmackDown. The victor of this match would earn the opportunity to challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble. ## It's worth noting that WWE previously organized three New Year's Revolution events from 2005 to 2007. The inaugural show featured a headline match pitting Triple H against Batista, Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Edge in an Elimination Chamber match for the vacant World Heavyweight Championship, with Shawn Michaels serving as the special guest referee. ## The subsequent year saw John Cena defending the WWE Championship against Carlito, Chris Masters, Kane, Kurt Angle, and Shawn Michaels in an Elimination Chamber match. Cena managed to retain, only for Edge to seize the title through the first-ever Money in the Bank cash-in immediately following the match. ## At the third and final New Year's Revolution event, Cena defended the WWE Title against Umaga. These nostalgic callbacks to past events add an intriguing layer of anticipation for the upcoming showdowns on SmackDown and the Royal Rumble. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Stamford, December 15 - In a sensational comeback, AJ Styles graced the December 15 episode of WWE SmackDown, emerging as the unexpected savior for Randy Orton and LA Knight during the show's final segment. ## The duo found themselves under relentless attack from The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, & Jimmy Uso) following the main event. The arena erupted with cheers as AJ Styles' signature music hit, signaling his return. ## With impeccable timing, Styles executed a phenomenal forearm on Roman Reigns, forcing The Bloodline to retreat. However, Styles' intentions extended beyond just countering The Bloodline, as he turned his attention to LA Knight, launching a surprise attack before calmly walking past The Bloodline and making his exit up the ramp.## In the main event, Randy Orton emerged victorious against Jimmy Uso. The match, however, descended into chaos with involvement from Solo Sikoa and LA Knight. Post-match, Reigns confronted Orton, triggering a brawl where The Bloodline had the upper hand—until the timely arrival of AJ Styles.## Styles had been absent from television since the September 22 episode of WWE SmackDown when he was ambushed backstage by Solo Sikoa. His return adds a thrilling twist to the ongoing WWE storyline.## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Glendale, September 22, 2023 - Tonight's main event from Glendale, AZ took an unexpected turn as WWE had to change the plan with one superstar getting out of action due to testing positive for COVID-19. ## Originally, LA Knight was listed as being involved in tonight's contract signing. Knight was listed as a surprise to help John Cena. He was also internally listed as teaming with Cena in a dark match following the show. ## Following the completion of the show, Fightful Select came out with another report stating that LA Knight tested positive for COVID just before WWE Smackdown, and had to leave the building. ## Adam Pearce was already in the ring when he introduced Cena as the first participant. Cena stepped into the ring and signed the contract without any disruptions. Next up was AJ Styles, but the action took a turn as Styles got attacked backstage by The Bloodline. ## John quickly left the ring and headed backstage to assist Styles. Meanwhile, Solo leaped from some cases with a splash onto Styles. WWE officials intervened, separating Styles from the cases, and Cena arrived to check on him. ## After the commercial break, Styles was shown being taken out in an ambulance to the hospital. ## In the arena, Paul Heyman appeared, and Jimmy and Solo soon joined him. Solo's fiery temperament led to him tossing objects out of the ring, which elicited loud boos from the crowd. Heyman attempted to address the crowd, but they wouldn't let him speak. Eventually, Heyman announced that he had the contract in his hands, signed by the second "Greatest of All Time" without a tag partner. ## Jimmy grabbed the microphone and took a jab at Cena, sparking a brawl. Cena swiftly took down Solo, entered the ring, and rained down punches on Jimmy. Cena then executed an Attitude Adjustment on Jimmy, but Solo retaliated with a superkick, followed by a Samoan Spike. Jimmy contributed with another superkick, and Solo delivered a Frog Splash from the top rope. Finally, Jimmy and Solo signed the contract, with Jimmy placing it on John's chest before climbing to the top for another Frog Splash. ## #TheBloodline doing what they do best... ☝️😤Jimmy @WWEUsos and @WWESoloSikoa just took out @JohnCena's partner, @AJStylesOrg! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/eGDNoDL2Yj— WWE (@WWE) September 23, 2023 ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...

BY SACNILK

Boston, September 8 - This week on SmackDown, AJ Styles secured a win against Jimmy Uso. In the main event of the September 8th episode of SmackDown, Styles faced off against Jimmy Uso. It was a tough challenge for Styles as he refused to allow The O.C. to be present at ringside during the match, meaning there was no O.C. support. Despite dealing with interference from Solo Sikoa, Styles managed to claim victory in the main event against Jimmy Uso. ## Below check out the full recap of the match: ## Both superstars are in the ring, The bell rings and Jimmy goes for a Superkick, but Styles avoids it and takes him down with a kick on his legs, Uso gets out of the ring to feel some relaxation. Styles once again gain the control. Styles with a kick to the back of the neck of Jimmy. The referee is checking on Jimmy. Meanwhile, Styles with a kick to the face and he rolls out of the ring, The referee is trying to stop Styles. ## Jimmy gets back into the ring and lands a left hand to the chin of Styles. Jimmy Uso once again rolls out of the ring. Meanwhile, Styles with a Basement kick to take him down. Styles gets on the apron, but Jimmy with a Superkick to take him down. Styles still hangs on the apron. Meanwhile, Solo along with Paul Heyman appears there. ## Jimmy throws up a smile and sends Styles head-first into the ring steps, We go to the commercial break. We are back and Jimmy drops Styles over the head, Styles is down in the corner, and Jimmy lands some punches and goes for a ring-shaking impact. Jimmy goes for the cover, but Styles kicks out right there. Styles tries to gain the power, but Jimmy drops Styles to the mat. ## Both men trade punches, with Jimmy landing a kick to the back. Meanwhile, Styles responds with a Pele kick that brings Jimmy down. Styles quickly regains control and tosses Jimmy out of the ring. Styles hits Jimmy with a forearm off the ropes. He then sends Jimmy back into the ring and gets ready for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Jimmy manages to avoid it. Styles counters with a backbreaker and goes for the cover, but Jimmy kicks out.## Jimmy retaliates with some punches and goes for a cover, but it's only a near fall. He follows up with a headbutt, while Styles executes a DDT from the top rope for another cover, but Jimmy kicks out.## Styles heads to the apron, but Jimmy delivers a massive Superkick while Styles was distracted by Solo and Heyman at ringside. Styles is sent to the floor, and Solo approaches Styles, but Jimmy also joins in. Styles fights back, taking down Solo. Styles then gets Jimmy back into the ring and finishes the match with a Phenomenal Forearm for the cover and the victory. ## WINNER: AJ Styles ## After the match, Solo enters the ring, but Styles rolls out. Out of nowhere, Priest attacked Styles when he was making his way out of the arena, Finn Balor also joined there and they sent Styles back into the ring only to be handled by Solo. Solo with a Samoa Spike on Styles. ## Stay Tuned To Sacnilk...