AJ Styles has looked back on his WrestleMania 35 match against Randy Orton, praising “The Viper” as one of the most unique figures in WWE while also revisiting the circumstances that hurt the live crowd’s experience of their bout.
Styles and Orton met at WrestleMania 35 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in 2019. The match paired two of WWE’s most accomplished performers, but Styles believes many people in the building had trouble engaging with it for a practical reason beyond what was happening between the ropes. In his recollection, a spotlight made it difficult for portions of the audience to see the ring.
That visibility issue, Styles said, helps explain why the stadium crowd was quieter than he expected for a major WrestleMania singles match.
“Now, this match, it was good, but most don't remember it 'cause nobody was making noise,” Styles said. “'Cause in this match, they were being blinded by the lights.”
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For Styles, the situation was especially frustrating because the match itself was one he considered good. The problem, as he described it, was that the audience’s ability to follow the action was compromised. A crowd response is a major part of how a match is experienced in a stadium setting, both inside the venue and by viewers watching elsewhere. When fans are unable to clearly see the ring, the natural reactions that help build the atmosphere can disappear.
Styles connected the lighting issue to a change in the early WrestleMania 35 running order. He recalled that he and Orton had initially been positioned to open the show, or at least to appear very early on the card. However, Styles said the placement changed after Brock Lesnar wanted his Universal Championship match against Seth Rollins to go on first.
“Why were they being blinded? 'Cause I do believe we were either second or first, but that got changed because Brock wanted to go,” Styles said. “And so apparently we follow the rules of Brock Lesnar when it comes to deciding who goes first or second.”
Styles framed that portion of the story with some uncertainty, saying he believed his match was slated for the first or second position before the adjustment. His central point was that the shift in timing left Styles vs. Orton in a spot where the lighting was a greater issue for spectators in the stadium.
Lesnar and Rollins ultimately opened WrestleMania 35, with Rollins defeating Lesnar. Styles and Orton went on later in the event, but Styles’ comments offer an explanation from one of the participants for why their match did not receive the kind of sustained audible reaction that might ordinarily be expected from a WrestleMania audience.
Styles Calls Orton a Defining WWE Star
While the crowd circumstances remain a notable part of Styles’ memory of the match, he was emphatic in his praise of Orton. Styles described Orton as someone who represents WWE in a fundamental way and pointed to the enduring popularity of the RKO as evidence of his opponent’s impact.
“I think Randy Orton is WWE,” Styles said. “I mean, ever since the freaking RKO blew up on memes everywhere, everybody wants to get RKO'd or they want to RKO you. He has one of the most famous wrestling finishers in wrestling. I mean, everybody wants to do it.”
The RKO has long been central to Orton’s presentation, and Styles’ comments focused on how the move has transcended the usual boundaries of a finishing maneuver. For Styles, the fact that people recognize it, reference it, and want to recreate it speaks to the broad appeal Orton has built over his career.
Styles did not limit his admiration to the finish. He also echoed a reputation Orton has held among wrestlers for years: that he is exceptionally smooth in the ring and has a deep understanding of professional wrestling as a whole. Styles said Orton understands the business better than anybody, a significant assessment from a performer with extensive high-level experience of his own.
“There'll never be another like him,” Styles said of Orton.
That praise puts the WrestleMania 35 meeting into perspective. The match was not simply a pairing of recognizable names on a major card. It was a contest between two wrestlers whose reputations are built on timing, ring awareness, and the ability to make major moments feel important. Styles’ recollection suggests he remains confident in the quality of the work they produced, even if the live conditions prevented the crowd from responding in the way he felt the match deserved.
The Difference Between a Good Match and a Strong Arena Reaction
Styles’ comments underline a reality of wrestling that can be easy to overlook when discussing matches years later: the in-ring performance and the environment surrounding it are inseparable in the moment. A match can be technically sound, well-paced, and feature two experienced performers, but presentation issues can alter how it is received by the people in attendance.
At an event as large as WrestleMania, the challenge is amplified. Stadium shows must account for enormous crowds, expansive production setups, long sightlines, and lighting designed for a global television presentation. Styles’ account does not question the effort put into the match by him or Orton. Instead, it identifies the spotlight obstruction as the reason he believes the live audience did not make much noise.
That distinction matters in assessing the bout. Styles called the match good, while also acknowledging that it is not remembered by many people because the audience response did not match the profile of the performers or the scale of the event. His perspective places the issue squarely on the viewing conditions for fans rather than on a lack of chemistry between the two wrestlers.
The timing change is also a meaningful detail because opening WrestleMania carries a unique responsibility. The first match is charged with establishing the tone for the entire event, and the wrestlers in that position typically perform before the audience has settled into the long night. Styles’ belief that he and Orton were intended to occupy that spot adds another layer to his memory of how the evening unfolded.
Instead, Rollins and Lesnar opened the show. Styles’ remarks present that decision as one driven by Lesnar’s preference, though he couched his recollection of the exact early-card placement in uncertain terms. What Styles is certain about is the consequence: he and Orton worked in front of spectators dealing with bright lights that obstructed their view.
A WrestleMania Match Viewed Through a Different Lens
Years after WrestleMania 35, Styles’ reflections offer a more nuanced view of his match with Orton. The bout can be remembered both as an encounter involving two major WWE stars and as an example of how venue presentation can shape a crowd’s response. Styles has no issue defending the match itself. His frustration is directed at the conditions that, in his view, prevented the audience from fully experiencing it.
His comments also reinforce the respect he has for Orton. Styles sees him as an irreplaceable WWE figure, a performer whose finishing move became part of popular culture and whose in-ring knowledge remains a benchmark for others. Even while revisiting an unsatisfying aspect of their WrestleMania night, Styles made clear that his regard for Orton’s abilities has not diminished.
For Styles, the lasting takeaway is straightforward. The match against Orton was good, but the people in the stadium were not able to react as strongly as they otherwise might have because of the lighting. The result is a WrestleMania contest he believes deserved a more favorable live environment, featuring an opponent he considers one of the most singular talents WWE has ever produced.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.