WWE WrestleMania 35 preview: AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton

Two of the biggest names of the 21st century will battle it out at WWE WrestleMania 35 as AJ Styles takes on Randy Orton.

Over the past 17 years, there have been few in the professional wrestling industry that can claim more success than Randy Orton and AJ Styles. While Orton was winning championship after championship after championship in WWE (including becoming the youngest world champion in company history in 2004), Styles took a much different path to this highly-anticipated matchup this Sunday at WrestleMania 35 .

After failing to land a contract with WWE after a few tryout matches back in 2002, the same year that Orton debuted on the main roster, Styles began his journey around the world. From TNA to Ring of Honor to New Japan to anywhere else he could find that had a wrestling ring, Styles put the world on notice that not all of the best wrestlers in the world were in WWE. But at the Royal Rumble in 2016, it finally happened: AJ Styles entered a WWE ring and the dream matchup possibilities began to become a reality. We saw Styles take on Chris Jericho in his WrestleMania debut, and we also saw him battle John Cena in an epic series of matches, a series that led to Styles making claims that he was the new face of SmackDown Live and that the blue brand had become the “house that AJ Styles built.” A 371-day reign with the WWE Championship certainly didn’t hurt.

Orton now has a little problem with Styles’ remarks. Since once again turning heel last year, Orton has made it a point of attacking some of the most popular stars in WWE, including Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio, and he now has his sights set on Styles, making claims of his own that it was he who built up the brand, not some guy from the indies that couldn’t even make it to WWE for almost 15 years. The two have had some great exchanges in the past few months, both physically and verbally, and it all comes to a head this Sunday at WrestleMania.

Styles and Orton have battled in the past but certainly not on this level. Even with no gold on the line this Sunday, this has a big-match feel to it as two of the most dynamic in-ring performers of the 21st century will finally get after it on the biggest stage in professional wrestling. This has the chance to be a show-stealing affair and the winner could get right back into the WWE Championship picture.

Who’s your pick to win the AJ Styles vs. Randy Orton match at WWE WrestleMania 35? Join in the conversation in the comments section below.