SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
A.J. Styles is the new #1 contender to the WWE World Title after winning a fatal four-way match in the main event of post-Mania Raw.
Styles beat Chris Jericho, Kevin Owens, and a returning Cesaro in the match by pinning Jericho with the Styles Clash.
Styles now matches up with new WWE World Hvt. champion Roman Reigns at a date to be determined.
Former WWE champion Triple H did not appear on Raw the night after losing the WWE Title to Reigns at WrestleMania. Hunter’s presence in the title picture will be addressed at a later time.
Raw signed off with a big celebration for Styles being crowned the new #1 contender to close WrestleMania Week, which continued after Raw went off the air.
I’m barely a casual fan, every couple of weeks I’ll DVR a wrestling show and end up fast forwarding through most, so I have what maybe a dumb question. Why did the guy who lost the night before, win the top contender match? What ever happened to building a contender by having him tear through everybody for a few months? Guys who lose as much as they win should’t be contenders.
Unfortunately, it’s the way WWE goes about booking everyone below the top-line (Cena, Reigns). The 50/50 booking of trading wins and losses has become the norm and has watered down so many wrestlers as a result. I’m with on building up a guy with quality wins, a la how they built up Rusev when he was introduced a few years ago until Cena conquered him. Now, Rusev is trying to find his way in the League of Nations faction. [JC]