In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, the Rated-R Superstar spoke on full-time talents taking back the main event of Wrestlemania. Specifically, Edge mentioned how great of a main event WWE could have on their hands if they have Shinsuke Nakamura win the Royal Rumble.
Edge believes AJ Styles is the guy that can prove to the WWE brass that full-time talent can be given the task of main eventing on the grandest stage of them all.
I don’t think main-eventing Wrestlemania is just for part-time talent, and I think AJ will prove that. He is a guy who has caught fire and figured out what he needs to do in WWE, which isn’t far off from what he was already doing, but you can tell he made some tweaks. Now he’s just firing on every cylinder you can fire on. So I think he can be one that shows you can be with the WWE full-time and main-event.
Edge later explained why Nakamura winning the Royal Rumble would lead to an epic main event match with AJ Styles.
The North American audience and, to an extent, the worldwide audience, has not seen what Nakamura brings to the table. We’ve seen flashes of it in his matches against Sami Zayn and Randy Orton. As evidenced by his New Japan work, he can be a very special performer. It would be nice to see him at least given that shot. From there, it’s up to him whether he sinks or swims. Sometimes, not everyone adapts to the style. It’s a different company, it’s a different audience, it’s an entirely different hurricane. Sometimes styles don’t translate. Rey Mysterio was a master of doing that. No matter where he went, Rey could make his style adapt. But not everyone is Rey Mysterio.
I love Nakamura, but it’s a transition for anybody who comes to WWE. You start him off with Sami at NXT, and talk about having the ultimate meal set for you: you get this amazing selling babyface and get to have this spectacular match. As I’ve talked about on the podcast, NXT is a different beast from WWE. But I think he and AJ can be one of the main events, and I also know the people want it. With the proper build, AJ-Nakamura could be the match on last.
That’s why I’d like to see Nakamura win the Rumble. He and AJ would have an amazing match, and that would give a different flavor to WrestleMania. You’d also have Brock-Roman and maybe Cena-Taker, as well as the women’s division, so then you’re pretty much set with a solid card.
Edge seems hopeful that Shinsuke Nakamura can shock the world on Sunday, and is hoping the WWE sees the kind of potential they have in a Nakamura/Styles main event. For what it’s worth, Nakamura is still in the top five in betting odds heading into Sunday, behind only one man; Roman Reigns.
