AJ Styles vs. Chris Jericho: Preview, Odds and Predictions for WWE Fastlane 2016

An old saying rings true when discussing the feud between AJ Styles and Chris Jericho: “Good things come in threes.”

These two WWE Superstars will go to war once more at WWE Fastlane this Sunday. Their series is tied at one, with the rubber match hopefully closing out their story.

Styles took the first fall in his first singles match at WWE Raw on January 25. He rolled up Jericho with a variation of a sunset flip for the victory.

Jericho evened up the score at one victory apiece on WWE SmackDown on February 11. He pushed Styles to the exposed turnbuckle, picked him up and hit the Codebreaker for the three-count.

These two men are all set for battle at WWE Fastlane. The Phenomenal One in Styles takes on The Ayatollah of Rock and Rolla, Jericho. Something has got to give with these two veterans locking up.

AJ Styles	-675
Chris Jericho	+425

Let’s take a look and predict the rubber bout between Chris Jericho and AJ Styles.

For starters, let’s analyze the experience. Both have been battle-tested all over the world. Jericho has the edge in WWE due to his runs there. Actually, he’s the only one who can claim he defeated Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock on the same night.

Jericho also possesses the psychological advantage. Granted, there’s not much bad blood in this match, but the elements of psychological warfare are there.

Before their SmackDown rematch, Styles and Jericho defeated The Social Outcasts members Curtis Axel and Adam Rose. Styles blind-tagged himself in to pin Rose with a Springboard Elbow. Jericho returned the favor by hitting a Codebreaker on Styles.

February 8 saw Styles challenge Jericho for their Fastlane encounter. He wanted this; Styles seeks for revenge, which must play heavily into their match.

Despite the mental and emotional edge, Jericho hasn’t gotten everything Styles offers.

Styles can beat opponents just like Jericho: not just by pinning them but by also making them submit.

The Phenomenal One uses the Styles Clash, driving his opponent’s face first into the mat for the pin. Styles rolls up one of his opponent’s legs, twisting it and pressing his leg against his challenger’s calf, a move fittingly called the Calf Crusher

How deadly is it? Just ask The Miz, who tapped out to the same maneuver twice.

Styles has the clear wrestling advantage over Jericho. He looks like he’s in a fight as opposed to just wrestling. That’s not a knock on Jericho, but Styles is more of an aggressor than Jericho.

Jericho is no pushover himself, as he can match Styles in vicious strikes and taking advantage of his opponents.

But Styles is the quicker of the two, using those strikes from the ground and the air. It’s almost as if Styles is a mirror image of the Jericho of old. The brash attitude matching the ability to adapt illustrates the arsenal of AJ Styles.

Chris Jericho must ground AJ Styles to win the rubber match—neutralize his legs so he won’t be able to fly across the ring. That’ll set Styles up for The Walls of Jericho, the infamous variation of the Boston Crab that finished many of Jericho’s enemies in the past.

Keep in mind: Jericho can perform the Codebreaker at any time. 

Styles must pick up the pace to be victorious against Jericho and use his strikes from each angle to fluster Jericho. That’ll set him up for the Styles Clash, and the Calf Crusher as backup.

Frankly, it’s all about who's quicker at the helm. With that being said, expect AJ Styles to defeat Chris Jericho and settle their grudge once and for all.