It was surprising to see AJ Styles on the Memorial Day edition of Monday Night RAW. As one of the biggest stars on Friday Night SmackDown, Styles’ sudden appearance on the WWE’s flagship show raised eyebrows. While seeing Styles sharing the ring with Seth Rollins as a teammate gave fans a memorable match worthy of a PPV inclusion, it also shone a spotlight on the ongoing debate regarding the WWE’s creative direction.
The WWE draft and brand split separates the rosters and enhances the unique identity of each show. But, this unexpected shift was reportedly a last-minute decision by the WWE executive chairman, Vince McMahon.
As per PWInsider, McMahon has been making changes to the WWE behind the scenes and outside of everyone’s view.
Styles’ inclusion on the May 29 episode of Monday Night RAW saw him share a heartwarming moment on becoming the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion following their clash in Jeddah at Night of Champions.
What came next was a classic WWE match: a tag team match featuring two superstars that just risked life and limb against each other going up against the Judgment Day duo of Finn Balor and Damian Priest.
The main event ended with Styles and Rollins standing tall in victory, even celebrating the win with fans off-air.
Even if the crossover might seem harmless, it stirs questions regarding the creative direction of the WWE. In recent months, it’s claimed McMahon has made changes to creative changes without showing up backstage. But, just because McMahon hasn’t been physically present since WrestleMania week, this doesn’t mean that he doesn’t have the power to make last-minute changes to matches and scripts.
Despite Triple H assuming the role of Chief Content Officer, it seems McMahon still has his fingers on the creative pulse of the WWE.
Vince McMahon’s legacy as the key figure behind the WWE remains unchanged. But, in recent years, many have expressed discontent with his management. This is why most praised the decision to give Triple H the creative reins of the WWE. Triple H, who spent decades working for and with Vince McMahon, proved his mettle as a puppeteer with his work with NXT.
Unfortunately, despite the criticism, it appears McMahon’s influence within the WWE remains as strong as ever. The abrupt inclusion of Styles on RAW points to the kind of unpredictability that was characteristic of how McMahon used to run things.
This revelation casts serious doubt on the WWE’s creative direction, especially as it continues to build storylines revolving around Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, and Roman Reigns.
As fans, we can only hope that, regardless of who is the one calling the shots, the leadership will be led by a “visionary” of “phenomenal” taste and plans.
