EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — SmackDown LIVE has become known as “The House that AJ Styles Built.” And at WrestleMania 35, he defended it.
With 80,000-plus cheering him on, The Phenomenal One conquered Randy Orton who, for several weeks, has claimed to be the rightful standard-bearer of Team Blue as a 17-year WWE veteran.
WWE’s Apex Predator certainly lived up to his moniker as expected, using his size advantage to ground The Phenomenal One in the early goings. Once Styles focused his attacks on Orton’s knee, however, The Viper was vulnerable to the excruciating Calf Crusher. Hobbled yet no less malicious, Orton attempted to counter the Phenomenal Forearm with an RKO, but clever scouting by Styles created an opening for a 450 Splash onto the stunned Orton.
The Viper and The Phenomenal One go to war on The Grandest Stage of Them All: Courtesy of WWE Network.
After Orton’s signature backbreaker failed to deter the resilient Styles, The Viper entered desperation mode — something rarely seen from the 13-time World Champion. Not known for his aerial offense, the third-generation Superstar nevertheless took his dazed foe to the top rope with a Superplex, the move made famous by his WWE Hall of Famer father, “Cowboy” Bob Orton. Pressing his advantage, Orton punished Styles with a rope-assisted DDT and hit the RKO, which seemingly sealed the fate of The Phenomenal One.
Except it didn’t. Styles kicked out.
When Orton tried to take Styles aerial once again — this time for an RKO from the top rope — the two-time WWE Champion countered with a Pelé Kick. The constant chain of reversals continued as Orton nearly trapped a soaring Styles with a mid-air RKO, which AJ answered by dropping The Viper throat-first onto the top rope. Styles then finally connected with the Phenomenal Forearm to pick up a massive win on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
With The Viper defeated, Styles now looks ahead to a bright future for SmackDown LIVE — the house that, after WrestleMania 35, is indisputably his.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — SmackDown LIVE has become known as “The House that AJ Styles Built.” And at WrestleMania 35, he defended it.
With 80,000-plus cheering him on, The Phenomenal One conquered Randy Orton who, for several weeks, has claimed to be the rightful standard-bearer of Team Blue as a 17-year WWE veteran.
WWE’s Apex Predator certainly lived up to his moniker as expected, using his size advantage to ground The Phenomenal One in the early goings. Once Styles focused his attacks on Orton’s knee, however, The Viper was vulnerable to the excruciating Calf Crusher. Hobbled yet no less malicious, Orton attempted to counter the Phenomenal Forearm with an RKO, but clever scouting by Styles created an opening for a 450 Splash onto the stunned Orton.
The Viper and The Phenomenal One go to war on The Grandest Stage of Them All: Courtesy of WWE Network.
After Orton’s signature backbreaker failed to deter the resilient Styles, The Viper entered desperation mode — something rarely seen from the 13-time World Champion. Not known for his aerial offense, the third-generation Superstar nevertheless took his dazed foe to the top rope with a Superplex, the move made famous by his WWE Hall of Famer father, “Cowboy” Bob Orton. Pressing his advantage, Orton punished Styles with a rope-assisted DDT and hit the RKO, which seemingly sealed the fate of The Phenomenal One.
Except it didn’t. Styles kicked out.
When Orton tried to take Styles aerial once again — this time for an RKO from the top rope — the two-time WWE Champion countered with a Pelé Kick. The constant chain of reversals continued as Orton nearly trapped a soaring Styles with a mid-air RKO, which AJ answered by dropping The Viper throat-first onto the top rope. Styles then finally connected with the Phenomenal Forearm to pick up a massive win on The Grandest Stage of Them All.
With The Viper defeated, Styles now looks ahead to a bright future for SmackDown LIVE — the house that, after WrestleMania 35, is indisputably his.
