WWE Rumor: The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles is Being Planned for WrestleMania 36
A big, first-time ever match could be happening at WrestleMania 36 this year in Tampa Bay on April 5th. The match would see the legendary Undertaker face off with former two-time WWE Champion AJ Styles. The rumored match was first reported by Bill Prichard of Wrestlezone, which is a popular wrestling website for many years, but they haven’t been known to break news that often. I’m not trying to criticize or cast doubt. It’s just hard to know what’s accurate out there. The Undertaker/Styles match was also reported by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, who has said that Undertaker vs. Styles is being planned for WrestleMania right now.
The Undertaker turns 55 years old next month, so we have no idea how many matches he has left. A lot of us thought he retired at WrestleMania 33 in 2017 when he lost to Roman Reigns, but he came back for more. The Undertaker is in great shape, he likely makes huge money for working a couple of times per year, so he’ll keep going as long as he wants.
Styles is one of the top heel wrestlers on Raw right now without a current storyline, so it would make sense to build up a rivalry with Undertaker. While I don’t expect a five-star match like Undertaker had with Shawn Michaels at WrestleManias in 2009 and 2010, I think Styles is the right kind of opponent for Undertaker as a smaller guy that can sell for Undertaker’s power moves. I’m sure Undertaker would have no problem selling for Styles’ offense either since Styles is one of the best wrestlers in the world.
Styles is currently out of action with a left shoulder injury, but it’s not considered serious since he is being advertised for a Tuwaiq Trophy gauntlet match at Super Showdown on February 27. Styles suffered the injury during the Royal Rumble match when he did a flip bump after a Spear from Edge. Styles has said that it was his fault for selling it that way. Styles should be ready to go for WrestleMania in April.
There hasn’t been much Undertaker/Styles interaction in WWE. In November 2016, Undertaker issued a warning to the Smackdown team that Styles was on, but there wasn’t a follow up on that.
The reason I put “WWE Rumor” is because it’s not confirmed right now and we all know that in WWE, plans can always change.
That means some of the big matches planned for WrestleMania 36 look like this:
WWE Championship: Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – This is the only confirmed match right now. Consider everything else below just a rumor for now.
Universal Championship: Bray Wyatt (c) vs. Roman Reigns
Randy Orton vs. Edge
Raw Women’s Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Shayna Baszler
The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles
NXT Women’s Championship: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Charlotte Flair
That’s all I can think of right now. I’m sure wrestling fans all over are trying to predict other matches too.
TJR Thoughts: I think Undertaker/Styles should be fine. I expect Undertaker to be in great shape, the fans like watching him after 30+ years and I think they can have a pretty good match that goes around 12-15 minutes. It would be one of the biggest matches of AJ’s career, so I’m happy for him.