AJ Styles: Top Match, Moment and More for WWE Superstar of the Week of Jan. 30

Credit: WWE.com

When 2016 got underway, not many would have predicted that AJ Styles ^[1] would be eligible for WWE Superstar of the Week by the end of January. However, here we are—and there should be little doubt that The Phenomenal One has been the standout wrestler of the past seven days.

Between one of the most arresting debuts in recent history and two above-average television matches, Styles has hit the ground running in the early days of his WWE career. There were many who thought we'd never see him join the roster, but any doubters have been conclusively silenced this week.

WWE Superstar of the Week of January 30: AJ Styles

In the hours that followed the incredible match between Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura at Wrestle Kingdom 10, reports began to circulate ^[2] that WWE had pulled off an earth-shattering talent raid.

Details remained hazy over the following weeks, but as the various pieces began to line up, speculation about a potential Royal Rumble appearance grew stronger. Still, there were plenty of reasons to doubt that Styles would debut at the event.

For one, even big names like Samoa Joe had been sent to NXT before heading to the main roster. Secondly, WWE has historically saved debuts for the post-WrestleMania lull rather than try to establish new wrestlers on the approach to the biggest show of the year.

Of course, when the countdown timer elapsed to bring out the third entrant in the Battle Royal, logic went out the window. Styles was met with a huge response from the Florida crowd, and he kicked off his tenure with WWE by squaring up to then-champion Roman Reigns.

It remains to be seen whether or not the company will execute on the massive potential Styles possesses in his new home—but the way his run started was certainly memorable.

AJ Styles' Defining Moment for the Week of January 30: Surviving for 27 Minutes in the Royal Rumble

In retrospect, the Royal Rumble was the perfect opportunity to debut Styles and have him clash with a broad swathe of WWE's finest.

From working against and alongside Roman Reigns, to sparring with Chris Jericho, to his brawling with (and eventual elimination by) Kevin Owens, The Phenomenal One took a whistle-stop tour of the current roster.

Credit: WWE.com

Few other scenarios present a wrestler with almost half an hour to sell himself to a new audience. That being said, few wrestlers could do as much with that time as AJ Styles.

Styles showed off his intensity, his athleticism and his massive war crate—and crucially, he shone on his own merits rather than forced praise from the commentary team. We saw why he's been called "Phenomenal," and Styles still had plenty left in reserve.

This debut was perfectly executed for both segments of the audience: Fans who've never heard of Styles saw what he's capable of, and those that know his work were teased with several of the rivalries we're sure to see play out in the near future.

Social Response

Styles' debut resulted in some harsh criticism being thrown around on Twitter—not directed toward The Phenomenal One—but at the camera work that focused on anything but the man stepping through the curtain.

I wonder if the WWE will show a different camera angle tomorrow of AJ Styles Debut. they seem to have missed the titantron during the show
— Mat Men Podcast (@Matmenpodcast) January 25, 2016 ^[5]

Seriously, though -- what the hell was Kevin Dunn doing during AJ Styles' entrance last night? How do you not show the tron at that spot?
— Bowie Person (@saveitnerds_) January 25, 2016 ^[6]

However, this bad feeling was hastily swept under the rug, as WWE quickly released to YouTube a better shot of his entrance to:

WATCH: Additional camera angles of @AJStylesOrg's @WWE debut last night at #RoyalRumble!https://t.co/0JewFJj21B ^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]
— Joey Styles (@JoeyStyles) January 26, 2016 ^[11]

There was plenty of praise for both of Styles' television matches that would air through the week. On Monday Night Raw, he stepped into the ring to take on Chris Jericho, having sparred with Y2J in the early part of the Rumble the night before.

Solid match between AJ Styles and Chris Jericho, but it had a sloppy start. It wasn't as good as I expected, but still damn good. #WWE #Raw ^[12]^[13]
— Donald Wood (@Donald_Wood) January 26, 2016 ^[14]

Fantastic, talent filled, pure pro-wrestling thrill ride of a match. Both @IAmJericho & @AJStylesOrg are phenomenal. #RAW #StylesvsJericho ^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]
— Jamie Martin (@AngleRKO) January 26, 2016 ^[19]

Jericho would tweet about the bout throughout the week, noting that he enjoyed himself:

Thanks!! Had a blast! https://t.co/HtYFSUsm0v ^[20]
— Chris Jericho (@IAmJericho) January 26, 2016 ^[21]

On SmackDown, Styles faced Curtis Axel in another entertaining match—even if it wasn't quite as competitive as his faceoff with the Lionheart.

The way the match ended was the reason many were watching, as it was the first Styles clash the former Bullet Club head honcho performed in a WWE ring. Having teased the maneuver in the Rumble and against Jericho, many were pleased to see it executed.

Is there another platform I can talk to fans on this LOONG flight without flooding TLs about fantasy booking and Styles Clash on smackdown?
— Wale (@Wale) January 29, 2016 ^[22]

I love that the Styles Clash is OK in WWE but the piledriver is still banned.
— MaffewOfBotchamania (@Maffewgregg) January 27, 2016 ^[23]

If a wrestler performs the Styles Clash for the first time on Smackdown, has he actually performed the Styles Clash?
— David Shoemaker (@AKATheMaskedMan) January 29, 2016 ^[24]

Who's your pick for the best all-around WWE competitor of the past week? Let us know your answer in the comments section below.