Big E Ranks AJ Styles on the Mount Rushmore of In-Ring Workers, Evaluates Iyo Sky & Asuka Storyline

During last night’s Raw Recap, former WWE Champion Big E commented on the career of AJ Styles ahead of his match against John Cena at WWE Crown Jewel Perth, ranking Styles as a Mount Rushmore level in-ring worker. He also analyzed the ongoing storyline featuring Iyo Sky, Asuka, and Kairi Sane on WWE Raw. Below are some highlights (via Fightful):

Big E on AJ Styles being a Mount Rushmore level in-ring worker: “I would put him, I think a lot of people would put AJ on their Mount Rushmore of in ring workers. I mean, one of the best to ever do it. Truly incredible. I will say as a quick aside, I am so excited that we are getting this AJ and Cena match. When I think of Cena’s greatest rivals over the last 10 years, the beat up John Cena stuff, the stuff with The Club was so incredible, and those two put on classics. So Perth is going to be blessed by this one. I think we’re going to see as far as work rate in ring ability, I think this might be the best version of John Cena that we see on this entire run. Truly, truly excited for this.”

Big E on the Iyo Sky and Asuka storyline: “Well, the mist is unsettling. I was seeing Rhea. It looked like a 10-gallon bucket of paint got dumped on her last week. The amount of mist, and it kept spreading. I swear it kept spreading throughout the night. It got worse and worse. Clearly, poor IYO was infected with this venom. Look, this is for me, this is the most compelling story we have in WWE right now. This is the one that I’m riveted to, this is the one that I’m paying attention to. We’re talking about a lot of history with these women. I think Asuka doesn’t get enough credit for opening the door to all these incredible performers from Japan showing that, hey, there could be a home here for you in WWE. I’m not sure we get IYO SKY without Asuka. I’m not sure that we get Kairi without Asuka. Look, to see how long we’ve had Asuka under the WWE umbrella to know she had an amazing career as kind of before she got to WWE. Now to see she still got it to see her in a singles match last week. She is still an incredible performer. She hasn’t lost a step. It seems I’m really, really excited for this tag team match. Also, can I say the centipede makeup was was one of the coolest things I have ever seen.”

On Asuka reaching another level: “Asuka’s on another level right now, and it seems like in many ways, I feel like she’s been, the last couple of years, I know she’s dealt with some injuries as well. She’s almost been on the back burner, and I think we forget how terrifying one this woman is, but how incredible she is. I have to say, I’m really, really looking forward to this match in Perth at Crown Jewel. There’s so much meat here. Obviously Rhea headed back to her home country. She’s gonna get just an incredible reception as well. But seeing all four of these women really step up in so many different ways. I feel like I have to stifle a laugh every time I see Kairi on screen as well. Whether she’s doing the fisticuffs, she is a gem as well in the background. There’s so many elements of this story and just the very real elements I think that are in play for IYO because there’s really obviously a real kinship with Asuka, with Kairi, what they’ve been through as a family. You see her just kind of being torn apart here, so I’m really intrigued to see how this match will play out in Perth.”

At WWE Crown Jewel Perth, AJ Styles takes on John Cena in a singles match. Also, Iyo Sky teams with Rhea Ripley against The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). The premium live event takes place on Saturday, October 11 at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. It will be broadcast live on the ESPN App in the U.S. and on Netflix internationally.