AJ Styles Proving He Belongs in WWE's Top Tier of Superstars

With every top-notch performance in the ring, with every strengthening of his bond with the crowd, AJ Styles is making it clear that WWE made the right choice in shooting him up to the main event picture just months after his debut.

It wasn't clear how The Phenomenal One would translate. His previous success had come in wholly different worlds—TNA, Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Questions about his size percolated as he arrived. Doubts lingered about whether he had just been the proverbial big fish in a small pond in the past.

Each night, though, Styles has shown himself to be worthy of WWE's top rungs.

Jim Ross has long believed in him. The Hall of Famer wrote on his blog, "[Styles] is one of the top in-ring performers in the world on anyone's list, and he's main event money for WWE if he's positioned as such."

But WWE hasn't always bought into wrestlers whom both critics and diehard fans salivate over. The company often has its own idea of what a major star looks like. Styles is not statuesque, larger-than-life or imposing like his Payback opponent, Roman Reigns.

Instead, Styles is thriving as an in-ring artist and an underdog the audience can truly invest in.

Monday's Raw was just the latest example of The Phenomenal One's ability to come through in the biggest matches. He and Sami Zayn battled, with the latter trying to earn his way into the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match alongside Styles and Reigns.

The bout was excellent, a fluid and dramatic showing. There were near-falls and high-level athleticism, and both men brought their best under the heat of the spotlight, which helped make it one of 2016's best offerings so far.

The folks at Inner Wrestling Nerd were among those thrilled by the action:

"

Agreed with Shane McMahon! Styles vs Zayn was AWESOME!!! #RAW

— Inner Wrestling Nerd (@InnerN3rd) April 12, 2016"

Styles has made a habit of performances like this. He and Chris Jericho have put on four outstanding matches. Even Styles' battles with The Miz were compelling.

And as part of the Fatal 4-Way match last Monday, Styles again excited.

His high-flying offense and hard-hitting strikes are looking right at home in the WWE arena. Fans of his earlier work won't be surprised in the least. He took on the top names at TNA and New Japan Pro Wrestling and continually produced work worthy of headlining.

At every stage, he has stepped up.

Styles believes he's at his best right now, and it's hard to argue with him. He told Rapzilla's Justin Sarachik in a February interview: "I'd say I'm in my prime now. You don't really get there until you're in your 30s. Unless you have been wrestling the top guys for a long time, you really don't get that experience."

Beyond his matches, he boasts a presence befitting a top star. He comes off as a gutsy warrior who belongs in the ring with the most impressive of titans.

And as the Mat Men podcast pointed out, fans are reacting:

"AJ Styles!" chants echo through the arenas each night. Support for him is loud and clear.

WWE has taken advantage of that so far, first by having him make an impact at the Royal Rumble and now positioning him as the No. 1 contender for the world title. 

Styles needs to be in the mix for that belt for the foreseeable future. He's performing at a level that is marquee-worthy.