AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura’s storied rivalry stretches across more than a decade, having initially feuded in NJPW before locking up in WWE. This past January, both men battled against each other for the last time at Saturday Night’s Main Event, as Styles officially retired from professional wrestling a week later at the Royal Rumble. However, the final clash between both stars was one of their best, and according to Styles, it’s the quality of match they should’ve had eight years ago.

Styles and Nakamura’s first singles match together in WWE was at WrestleMania 34, a contest that famously underdelivered, and during a recent appearance on “The Phenomenally Retro,” the 48-year-old claimed that the fan expectations were too unrealistic going in, but is proud of his most recent bout with “The King Of Strong Style.”

“The match with Shinsuke was really good, and it was the match we probably should have had at WrestleMania, but everybody, their expectations at WrestleMania were way too high. And we thought we had to find a way to get to that expectations rather than doing what we knew would work and that’s what we did at Saturday Night’s Main Event.”

Styles continued by reflecting on his time competing in Japan, stating that the country’s fans are unlike anywhere else because of their appreciation for the sport and its wrestlers.

“I’m convinced too that Japanese fans will make every match great. They’re just so amazing as far as being fans and so respectful … they inspire you to be better because they appreciate what you’re doing in that ring. They appreciate the athletes.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “The Phenomenally Retro” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

WWE Hall of Famer RVD has recalled his iconic match with John Cena, and what it felt like to defeat him.

The crowning moment of RVD’s WWE career came when he beat Cena at ECW’s One Night Stand pay-per-view, with RVD stating to “Monopoly Events” that he felt invincible entering the arena. 

“I felt like Superman. I felt completely invincible walking out there because I knew that was my house, those are my people, and this was my match. So, I couldn’t have felt better, you know, like confidence through the roof. The normal pressure that I had before a match of not wanting to screw up, you know, I put myself at high risk situations and to fail something like that would just be the worst thing in the world to me,” he said. “The match was great and the people were beyond great. I knew that they were going to be all for me and against him, but I couldn’t have predicted that they were going to be that extreme. That was a whole new level that no one had seen before.”

RVD was told in the interview that the ECW event was Timothee Chalamet’s favorite pay-per-view in pro wrestling, which the actor had spoken about in detail while speaking with Cody Rhodes. The WWE Hall of Famer was pleased to hear that Chalamet loved the show, stating that there are a lot of wrestling fans in other forms of entertainment too.

“That sounds pretty good. And there’s a lot of wrestling fans everywhere, you know what I mean? And when you’re on TV, you never know who’s watching you. So, it’s great to, you know, like I knew at that moment, after the match when I had the championship, I knew I was on top of the world and I knew moving forward, everything was going to be better,” he added.

RVD said the match with Cena was the high point of ECW’s return, pointing out that it all went downhill after that with regard to the show.

Since joining WWE in 2021, LA Knight has been on a slow but steady rise through the company, but his journey through the industry stretches back more than 20 years. According to Knight, he had to figure out his own way, as he said during an interview with “The Coach’s Corner” that he’s never had any specific person around to guide him through the business.

“What’s that?” Knight said with a laugh after being asked to identify his mentor. “I don’t know. I never had one. I had trainers, if that’s what we’re asking, but I think that’s different than what I’ve come to understand as a mentor.”

After getting his start on the independents, Knight had a brief WWE run that ended with his release in 2014. He headed to TNA after that, eventually capturing the top title there before moving on to NWA and eventually his WWE return.

Knight reiterated that he’s never had anyone take him under their wing, so instead, pro wrestling has been a “very independent venture” for the WWE star. In some ways, Knight believes that may have set him back.

“Maybe that’s why it took me as long as it did, possibly. I don’t know,” Knight mused.

With WWE WrestleMania 42 approaching in a matter of weeks, it remains unclear what (if anything) Knight will be doing on the show. The wrestler said as much in the same interview, with Knight claiming that he wasn’t made aware of any specific plans WWE might have for him at the big event. Knight continues appearing on TV, however, including his participation in the 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber match and his involvement in The Vision’s storyline following the last PLE.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “The Coach’s Corner” and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.