Seth Rollins has something AJ Styles wants, and as The Phenomenal One made clear at the outset of their Universal Title Match contract signing, he’s willing to do some unexpected things to get it. And indeed, Styles was noticeably more arrogant than usual throughout the confrontation, insinuating that Rollins — a Superstar Styles admitted had all the tools to be champion — had spent all his energy on winning the Universal Title from Brock Lesnar and left himself with nothing in the tank to defend it … and, with The Shield gone, no brothers to back him up.
Rollins remained unimpressed, reminding Styles that he had accomplished what the two-time WWE Champion could not when he slayed The Beast in the first place. And given that he was at his best against Lesnar and will be again at WWE Money in the Bank, Rollins said his challenger would have to be “better than phenomenal” to take his title. Even that wasn’t enough to humble Styles, who brazenly laid hands on The Beastslayer’s title, handed it back to him and slugged Rollins across the face after the champion refused his offer of a handshake and raised the championship over The Phenomenal One’s head.
A brief brawl ensued, and despite a suicide dive from Rollins that put Styles on his back, The Phenomenal One got the last word, plowing The Architect through the signing table with a Phenomenal Forearm. Brazen? Yes. Brash? Definitely. Surprising? Not quite. True, dropping a man through a table is a bit of a far cry from the humble workhorse of the past two years. But as Styles said, Seth Rollins has something he wants. And if you didn’t expect this, at the very least, you haven’t been paying attention.