AJ Styles triumphed over Shinsuke Nakamura in the main event of WWE Saturday Night, maintaining his strong momentum as he approaches next weekend’s Royal Rumble match against Gunter, which could potentially threaten his wrestling career. It was announced that Styles’ match against Gunter would put his career on the line, and Nakamura stepped up to reignite their famous rivalry by delivering their signature moves during the Saturday Night main event.
A crucial storyline aspect involved Nakamura’s knee, which was worn down and injured by the Calf Crusher, leading to his collapse as he attempted to set Styles up for a Kinshasa. Styles countered with his own Kinshasa, but Nakamura managed to break the fall on the ropes, resulting in a two-count. Ultimately, Styles sealed the victory by hitting a Phenomenal Forearm followed by Styles Clash, pinning Nakamura for the three-count.
The history between these two is deep-rooted, dating back to their first singles match a decade ago at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestle Kingdom, where Nakamura won to keep the IWGP Intercontinental Championship. The two entered WWE the next month with Styles debuting at the Royal Rumble and Nakamura starting at WWE NXT against Sami Zayn. They reunited for a WWE singles match at WrestleMania 34 in 2018 but have not faced off one-on-one since 2020. Styles currently holds a lead in their head-to-head record, standing at five wins, two losses, and two draws, including one disqualification.
—
Fan Take: This showdown is significant for WWE fans because it not only highlights the enduring rivalry between two iconic performers but also raises the stakes with Styles’ career on the line at the Royal Rumble. The development could reshape future storylines and keep fans invested in WWE’s evolving narrative landscape.
