:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59182857/DZVu4OkV4AAWFzK.0.jpg)
Tonight (Mar. 27) on SmackDown the feud between Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles finally caught up to the pair’s expected in-ring performance.
Taking a backseat to builds for than few Raw and SmackDown WrestleMania feud, Nakamura and Styles had their best onscreen rivalry moment in the main event of SD Live. After a match between Nakamura and Shelton Benhamin, with Chad Gable and Styles, ringside conculded, the 2018 Royal Rumble winner took to the microphone to speak to his Mania opponent.
.@ShinsukeN will win... with a #Knee2Face! pic.twitter.com/m3iBj1TxbV
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) March 28, 2018
.@AJStylesOrg knows it...@ShinsukeN knows it...
— WWE (@WWE) March 28, 2018
The @WWEUniverse knows it...
The #WWEChampion and the #KingOfStrongStyle will put on an ABSOLUTE CLINIC at #WrestleMania! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/MjJt55QcPp
The #KingOfStrongStyle @ShinsukeN is all about playing mind games with @WWE Champion on the road to @WrestleMania... #SDLive pic.twitter.com/gFgzgJk1Rs
— WWE (@WWE) March 28, 2018
Styles uncorked one of his better emotional promos while Nakamura countered that the champion was too emotional and it would cost him at WrestleMania. As Nakamura left the ring, Styles was jumped from behind by Benjamin and Gable.
The King of Strong Style returned to the ring to make the save and then Nakamura did this to Styles.
See you later, AJ! See you soon... pic.twitter.com/fAQTjezWfm
— TDE Wrestling (@totaldivaseps) March 28, 2018
What you didn’t see in the GIF was Nakamura cupping the face of Styles then lightly patting the WWE Champion on the head. Nakamura’s mental warfare is chess while the rest of the world are attempting to play checkers with three missing pieces.
What do you think of the WrestleMania build so far between Shinsuke Nakamura and AJ Styles?