In the main event of the first night of WrestleMania 36, AJ Styles was defeated by The Undertaker in the first-ever Boneyard Match. The match was very well-received by fans and critics.
In the fantastic Last Ride documentary series on the WWE Network detailing the latter stages of ‘Taker’s career, it has emerged that Styles actually personally called Undertaker to ask for a match.
After a few weeks of thinking about the request, ‘Taker decided that would face Styles on the “grandest stage of them all”. He called Vince to let him know what he was happing to face AJ.
During the documentary, ‘Taker also revealed that he tried to rib AJ Styles before their WrestleMania match. Here’s what he had to say on the matter:
“I called Vince up. I tried to rib AJ, I said look I’m gonna do it but I want you to call AJ for me. I want you to let him know that I’m gonna work ‘Mania, but just tell him that I’m gonna work with somebody else (laughs).”
During the documentary chapter, AJ also opened up about being ribbed by Undertaker and Vince McMahon:
“Vince, he goes (imitates Vince’s voice) Well, I talked to ‘Taker and there’s some kid in Tennessee he wants to get over and stuff like that. (In normal voice) I’m like what? He goes no, I’m serious, you probably need to call him. And then I called ‘Taker. ‘Listen, there’s this younger kid that I want to put over’. I was like bull crap, man! That’s bull. You know so they tried to rib me, but come on.”
In the final moments of the documentary, Undertaker seemingly finally retired from in-ring competition. However, he left the door open to returning in the instance that Vince McMahon needed him.
