AJ Styles may be facing Smackdown Live Commissioner Shane McMahon at WrestleMania 33, but prior to WWE electing to go in that direction, Styles taking on the legendary "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels was where the company wanted to go.
Michaels spilled the beans on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast about the proposed match.
Via IWnerd:
"I could've had that match, they did not have an opponent for AJ at Wrestlemania,"
"Shawn would go on to say that he was approached to take on AJ because fans wanted to see the match. It also had to do with them not having any other plans for AJ at the time. Michaels declined, wanting to stay retired.
"I wish that man was here 10 years ago man, I really do,"
With the direction of Styles' character since losing the belt to John Cena, you could get the sense that WWE wasn't sure what to do with Styles at WrestleMania 33. And as good as the buildup has been for Styles vs. McMahon, Styles getting Michaels out of retirement for one more match would have been insane.
Michaels does point out, though, that timing was the biggest roadblock to the proposed match. Styles made the jump to the WWE too late for Michaels, but that doesn't mean Michaels doesn't wish he could've torn the house down with Styles.
The Michaels vs. Styles dream match looks like it will stay that way.
