In this interview, which was conducted after PWG’s “Are You Adequately Prepared to Rock?“, AJ discusses what it’s like being the NWA Heavyweight Champion, his take on the infamous Styles Clash to Frankie Kazarian, and why he turned down the WWE.
Robby Deming: Alright well I just want to say first off, thank you very much for this opportunity.
AJ Styles: No problem.
RD: It means a lot to me. So, how do you feel about your match tonight with Chris [Daniels] & Frankie [Kazarian]?
AJ: Wow. That was one of the best three ways I’ve had. It’s different because you always try to have a different kind of three way because especially with me and Chris. We’ve been in a couple thousand. But you always want them to be different. And that definitely was different, it was definitely something special. It was really a great match.
RD: Yeah, the finish with the Styles Clash & The Wave of the Future was really cool.
AJ: I thought it went really well. I thought it was a good impact with the sound and all, everything went perfect.
RD: Yeah, it was really good. How do you feel about working with those guys?
AJ: Well, they’re the best. I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else. I love the style, I love the speed. I love everything about it.
RD: It came off really well, we were really treated with that. So, going back a bit, can you just give me a brief history of how you got started, you know, who trained you and how you got to where you are now?
AJ: I had two guys, they found a place – I went to school with these two guys, they were friends of mine. And, they found the place to train for wrestling. I wasn’t the biggest fan of professional wrestling, but I figured, “Hey, I’ll give it a shot”. So, I went up there with them, they quit, I stayed. I was trained at the NCW Arena but I wouldn’t say they showed me a lot of stuff. I’ve learned most of my stuff on my own. I learn from every person I’ve ever wrestled. I guess I’m a like a sponge or something, I don’t know, but that’s how I’ve learned most of my stuff. And, now here I am talking to you.
RD: Yes. What was it like going from NWA Wildside to the WCW Power Plant to TNA?
AJ: Well the thing is, I never went to the Power Plant. I went straight to TV which is really odd.
RD: Wow.
AJ: You know, when nobody thought they were hiring. So it was really neat and I was glad to be there. Everybody always asks, “Hey, what was it like?” I don’t know, I was just glad to be there, I was just happy.
RD: Yeah, do you see any real differences between that and TNA now?
AJ: The difference is, nobody’s got the big head. You very rarely see somebody with the big head acting better than somebody else. We all have the same locker room and it’s not the best in the world, but I think we’re all on the same team and that’s why we get along so well.
RD: Alright. You’ve been in TNA since the start, 16 months now. How has it changed since the beginning?
AJ: Man, I really can’t say that it’s changed that much. It’s changed for me because I’ve gone from X Division to Heavyweight, and that’s a good thing because that just helps me as a wrestler, it gives me more credibility. But I do enjoy the X Division, don’t get me wrong.
RD: The X Division is always a joy to watch man.
AJ: Well, it’s the best. That’s the kind of style we did tonight. That’s what I like to do anyway.
RD: It’s always fun to watch, it keeps us interested. I got to ask you really quick man. I asked Frankie about a month ago about the Styles Clash. What happened there?
AJ: I don’t know what happened. All I know is it came down to the finish and I gave him the Styles Clash, and it scared me to death because I didn’t know what happened. And I tried to be AJ Styles, and not Alan Jones out there. But as soon as we got in the back I was like, “Oh my God! I’m so sorry, I thought you knew how to take it” And he said, “I know how to take it, I don’t know why I tucked my head” I was so afraid for him but I’m glad he’s alright. It was just one of those goofy things that happens.
RD: Yeah, that was definitely a scary moment. They promo the hell out of it now.
AJ: I know, I know. It’s funny because you hear, “Ooh….Ahh…OH MY GOD!” It was just really weird.
RD: Definitely, that was pretty crazy. Well, right now, you are the NWA Champion. What’s that like? How did you react to that when you first heard it?
AJ: Honestly, it was really weird because I didn’t feel like a Heavyweight Champion. I didn’t feel like a Heavyweight Champion of the world. You know, Ric Flair said a long time ago that the champion is the guy that puts butts in the seats. I was kinda scared of that responsibility. So to think that people would come to see AJ Styles was weird. And to think that I’ve held the same belt as Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race and all of those guys, it’s just really…. It finally sunk in maybe a month ago or something. But I don’t know, I’ve never really felt worthy, but in the same sense it’s a great honor.
RD: Well you put our asses in the seat tonight. We heard you were here and we were like, “Damn, we gotta go.” Like you were saying earlier, what kind of pressure did you feel with the title?
AJ: Well, the added pressure is that I wasn’t going to be wrestling X Division guys. So, the moves that I do, the Heavyweight can’t do them. They can’t take them or what not. And so that really at first…but then you kinda make up for it in that you get guys that know a lot of psychology which I guess helps in the same sense because I’d had great matches with Jeff Jarrett and Raven – who is one of my favorites. The added pressure was definitely just being in the Heavyweight Division, because there’s so many things that I just cannot do.
RD: It’s definitely a different style.
AJ: Yes.
RD: You mentioned earlier that Dusty held the title. What’s it been like working with him these past few weeks?
AJ: It’s great. He’s the nicest guy in the world, I’ve known him for a while. He’s always been really nice to me and it’s just really awesome to work with him and this Wednesday, I can’t wait. It’s gonna be really great. I always try to get guys who have been in the business a while to do different things. For example, I got X-Pac to do a dive and he hadn’t done that in a while, Larry Zybysko you know, I got him to do some stuff. I’m always going to try to get one of the older guys to give me something new that they hadn’t done in a while, so I’m going to see if I can get Dusty to do something crazy come Wednesday.
RD: I will definitely be watching, I actually write a review every week of TNA.
AJ: Great, great.
RD: Also, you’ve worked with Sting. What was that like?
AJ: Well, if you notice, Sting gave me all of his finishers, all of his little trademark moves. I made sure of that. That’s one of the things like I said. I always try to get the guys that have been there and done that to give me something that they haven’t done in a while. I got him to give me the House Show Dive, the Crossbody off the top-rope and he hadn’t done that in forever. So it was really neat, it was really fun.
RD: Yeah, that match came off really well, I really liked that. You’ve had numerous on-screen with Vince Russo. You hear a lot about him on the internet, what’s it been like working closely with him?
AJ: Honestly I love working with him. He’s got some bad stuff and what not, but this is the same guy that’s made WWE what it is today. But I mean I think he’s got good ideas and he’s got bad ideas, we all do. But him and I get along really well, and he’s really helped me out with my interviews. So I got nothing but good praise for him, I appreciate his help.
RD: I have always had a pretty good opinion of him, but that’s just me. He’s not too popular, but I think you really have to understand that he’s responsible for the way wrestling is today.
AJ: That’s right, he’s the one that took it to another level.
RD: Definitely. Let’s talk about the indy scene in general. You are probably one of the, if not the most sought after indy stars out there. You’ve been on the scene for a while, what’s it like? Has it changed at all since you first got into it?
AJ: Well obviously it’s changed that guys when they meet me, it’s kinda funny. It’s like the first time I met Jerry Lynn, I was like, “Ahh…uhhh….” It’s kinda fun to see guys like that but its also fun to go to different areas and get to meet everybody and talk to everybody. Because that’s the whole thing, I love to meet different wrestlers and talk with them about stuff. It’s really cool.
RD: Who do you think is the coolest person you’ve met so far?
AJ: Coolest person as far as in the indy scene or just in general?
RD: Just in general.
AJ: Well, I gotta tell you. Jerry Lynn and Christopher Daniels are guys who I think have helped me tremendously like as far as the independents because I learned from them. So it was really neat and those guys have always treated me really well. Jerry Lynn and Chris Daniels, they’re like my best friends,
the treat me like brothers. Chris and I, our wives talk to each other and we go out to see them, it’s just like that. It’s a good relationship.
RD: That’s some pretty good teachers there.
AJ: Yes it is.
RD: This is your second show now for PWG. Do you see yourself working out in SoCal more often?
AJ: I hope so, I hope so. I have a good time out here. Every match I’ve had out here so far, of course the first one with Frankie and then the three-way, they’ve all been great.
RD: We definitely love having you out here man. We don’t get enough of you guys out here from the east coast.
AJ: I know I’m the only one that talks funny, it always seems that way.
RD: (Laughs) It brings a different dynamic to the whole scene, it’s what we need. But what are your general thoughts on the SoCal scene, being here a few times. And how do people on the east coast see it?
AJ: You know I really don’t know much about the scene because it’s kinda new. It’s not really out and about as much as I wish it was. But, I love it out here. Its fun, and I have a good time with it. A lot of my friends are out here. And it seems like there’s a lot of good talent too.
RD: Definitely, I wish we got as much press out here as a lot of people on the east coast do, but…
AJ: That’s the thing about the east coast. They get all the press.
RD: Yeah, so, some other things now. It’s fairly well-known that you turned down the contract from WWE a while back. Would you ever sign with them, and if so, what kind of offer would you want to see?
AJ: Well, obviously I’d want to see great money. I mean that’s what its all about. That’s what it was about the first time. There’s no way I could have taken it, my wife was in college. I couldn’t have moved to Cincinnati, it just wasn’t right for my family. And people say, “Well I love wrestling, it’s not about the money”. But when that’s what you do for a living, it is about the money. But I love wrestling too, don’t get me wrong. I think it was obvious tonight that anytime we’re in the ring, or I’m in there, I don’t like to half-A, I like to put it out there.
RD: It definitely seems like you enjoy yourself out there.
AJ: Absolutely.
RD: Well, kind of building on that idea of you love wrestling and everything. Do you think TNA has what it takes to get there? What do you think they need to do?
AJ: What do they need to do? They need to stop trying to do what Vince [McMahon] is doing. Personally I don’t think they need as much storylines because that’s what Vince does and its not working well. I think wrestling’s come full circle. It’s come back to the fact that fans want to see wrestling, action. And I think that’s what they need to do. Yeah I guess we need some storylines and what not, even in Japan they have storylines, but its more about the wrestling and I wish that we’d think more like that.
(At this point Jay Briscoe comes in and AJ pointedly states that Jay has interrupted
the interview)
RD: So yeah, I definitely think TNA can make it. I’ve been a WWE mark for a long time, and I got the One Year Anniversary show as my first TNA show, and I was hooked instantly.
AJ: Personally its not one of my favorites, but you know.
RD: I’ve just always been amazed by the things that you guys do. So you know, what’s your ultimate goal in all of this? How long do you want to keep doing this?
AJ: I want to do it as long as my body holds up. But, my ultimate goal is to retire and live in a house where I never have to wrestle again. To save money, that’s the ultimate goal, to retire. I don’t want to be like Terry Funk, God bless him that he still wrestles but I don’t want to be like him. I want to play with my grand-kids and stuff like that. That’s my ultimate goal, to have a family.
RD: I don’t think anyone will ever fault you for that man. What are your thoughts on the internet in general? There’s a lot of stuff said about that too, good and bad.
AJ: Well, you’re always going to have your guys that think they know everything about wrestling when they’re at the airport selling candy (both laugh). You know the internet, is good and bad. For a long time I think that I got a lot of press from it, good press, so I can’t complain about that. And I appreciate
it. But, the internet’s the internet. What are you gonna do? It’s not going anywhere. You might as well appreciate it.
RD: Alright well, last form question here. If you could wrestle anyone, in any –
AJ: Chris Benoit.
RD: Alright, what kind of match, where?
AJ: I would definitely love to wrestle Chris Benoit. I love his style, I love the intensity. I try to do a little Chris Benoit in some of the matches, but not so much that you can tell. I just think that he’s an awesome wrestler, I mean if you can’t learn from him you can’t learn from anybody. There’s a couple others too, I mean I would love to wrestle Jyushin Thunder Lyger, who wouldn’t? Christopher Daniels does, that butt-hole. You know, Eddy Guerrerro. Any guys that went to Japan and is an American wrestler, I love their style.
RD: Have you been to Japan before?
AJ: Yes, Zero-One.
RD: Did you like it?
AJ: Yes, I had a great time, I had a great match with Low Ki. Low Ki, and Tokawa & Otani, and they were a tag team that I really looked up to so it was really an honor to wrestle those guys.
RD: Finally man, you got any closing thoughts or anything you’d like to say to get out there?
AJ: Well, just to say this about the fans. If it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be here right now. I totally appreciate it. If there’s anything I can sign for you or anything, just let me know, because without them, I’m nobody.
RD: Well, we definitely appreciate you man.
AJ: Thank you.
RD: Thanks for the interview.
AJ: No problem.