Hey guys your pal KC here again. Today I would like to talk about the growing rivalry between Randy Orton and AJ Styles. As usual, I am going to start by looking at the accomplishments of both men before coming to WWE. We will start with AJ Styles. He debuted in 1998 for various independent promotions. He would then make a very brief stop in WCW in 2001. In 2002 he debuted with the fledgling company TNA, where he would see great success.
He would also make sporadic appearances from 2002 to 2006 in ROH where he became the 1st ROH Pure champion. In TNA he was a two time NWA Heavyweight champion . He also became the inagural X-Division champion [a title he would hold a total of six times]. Styles was also the 1st TNA Triple Crown champion [an honor he would hold a total of five times]. AJ would also become the 1st Grandslam champion, an honor he held twice. In 2010 Styles would be the 1st TNA contracted wrestler to be named #1 on the PWI top 500 wrestlers of the year list. In 2014 he signed with NJPW, and won his 1st of two IWGP championships in his debut match. Styles was also a very instrumental member of Bullet Club during his stint in NJPW. AJ Styles would debut with WWE in January 2016.
Now onto Randy Orton. Orton had a very different set of accomplishments almost all of them on WWE’s main roster. outside of him winning the OVW Hardcore Championship on two occasions there is not much to say on his pre-WWE days. Outside of his amazing family pedigree, Orton being a 3rd generation wrestler. His father was “Cowboy” Bob Orton, his grandfather was Bob Orton Sr.
Well now that we have finished our history lesson, lets get to the meat and potatoes of this article, the rivalry. This rivalry has a great deal of interest to me personally becauase of the dynamics of the last few weeks on RAW. First we had Orton’s face turn, which was done in a very mysterious way that I felt perfectly suited “The Viper”.
AJ Styles on the other hand had been on his way to heel turn after losing the United States Championship. Now blaming Randy Orton for being the proverbial “monkey on his back”. With that being said I really think The OC are perfect for this whole rivalry because sometimes you need a goon squad for some extra excitement.
With The OC you have some perfect chemistry you have Karl Anderson who is obviously AJ’s little cronie, and then you have Big Luke Gallows who is obviously your enforcer. Now looking at Randy Orton who has basically proved he can overcome any faction, especially after being royally screwed by the likes of “Evolution”.
Some of the best points of this rivalry have come over the last two weeks starting with Orton’s “fake” injury. We all know that you don’t insult and mock Orton hurt or not, without having “The Viper” strike and bite you with an RKO. AJ Styles then goes on to complain about having trusted Orton on being legitimately hurt. Which is again AJ’s fault for trusting Orton. Well after all that being said I am really looking forward to see where this goes at the Royal Rumble. I can promise one thing though this is far from over.
