AJ Styles

You know, why is he not helping us? He's not advertising at all. His book or whatever it is he was writing about him in the shows, he never talked about TNA. I was pissed. But I now realize, I think he was embarrassed. It was embarrassing to him to talk about that. So he did it. And, you know, I think Dixie was trying to do some things, and it was just to keep butting heads.

So it just kind of fell apart. And when it fell apart, they lost a lot of money. When they lost a lot of money, they expected me to take a pay cut. My contract was up.

So it just kind of fell apart. And when it fell apart, they lost a lot of money. When they lost a lot of money, they expected me to take a pay cut. My contract was up.

You were the face of TNA. And they didn't say they were going to, well, the dates are not going to be as many. They didn't say that either. Oh, 60% less dates. Plus the same amount of travel and everything. So I was like, it was one of those things. I was like, man, this ain't right. On principle alone, I can't be here anymore. And I think they expected me to stay anyway.

You were the face of TNA. And they didn't say they were going to, well, the dates are not going to be as many. They didn't say that either. Oh, 60% less dates. Plus the same amount of travel and everything. So I was like, it was one of those things. I was like, man, this ain't right. On principle alone, I can't be here anymore. And I think they expected me to stay anyway.

I remember the day before Thanksgiving, John, what's Big John's last name? He works for WWE now. Sorry, John, I don't know your name anymore. Anyway. Big John. Big John. He called me and goes, hey. I'm over at her friend's house having Thanksgiving. And he says, Hey, we're going to have you drop the championship. You know, the next show I go, okay. All right. No problem.

I remember the day before Thanksgiving, John, what's Big John's last name? He works for WWE now. Sorry, John, I don't know your name anymore. Anyway. Big John. Big John. He called me and goes, hey. I'm over at her friend's house having Thanksgiving. And he says, Hey, we're going to have you drop the championship. You know, the next show I go, okay. All right. No problem.

Cause I think they were expecting me to go, hold on a second, wait, I'll sign. But I was like, man, I ain't, I ain't, I'm not going to do this with you. You want me to lose? That's fine. I can lose. And then I'm going to figure it out and we're going to be all right. It was a, again, timing was perfect. I didn't know it at the time.

Cause I think they were expecting me to go, hold on a second, wait, I'll sign. But I was like, man, I ain't, I ain't, I'm not going to do this with you. You want me to lose? That's fine. I can lose. And then I'm going to figure it out and we're going to be all right. It was a, again, timing was perfect. I didn't know it at the time.

I was a little scared because now after leaving TNA, if I don't work, I don't get paid. That's how that works. So there's no, I can't get hurt. And, you know, for like three months, I think before I started new Japan, you know, I was making, I was, I was hustling. I was hustling. Um, And then Japan happened and it really blew up. That was, again, timing.

I was a little scared because now after leaving TNA, if I don't work, I don't get paid. That's how that works. So there's no, I can't get hurt. And, you know, for like three months, I think before I started new Japan, you know, I was making, I was, I was hustling. I was hustling. Um, And then Japan happened and it really blew up. That was, again, timing.

Wouldn't have worked. Wouldn't have worked. I don't think I was sure who AJ Styles was exactly. I don't think I was mature enough to... I don't want to say mature enough. Maybe it was... I wasn't going to be bullied. I promise you that. I think some of that went on. I'm just not that type of guy. I'll take a little bit, then I'm going to start swinging. I'm not going to get bullied.

Wouldn't have worked. Wouldn't have worked. I don't think I was sure who AJ Styles was exactly. I don't think I was mature enough to... I don't want to say mature enough. Maybe it was... I wasn't going to be bullied. I promise you that. I think some of that went on. I'm just not that type of guy. I'll take a little bit, then I'm going to start swinging. I'm not going to get bullied.

I was raised different. I'm not saying everybody was like that, but I've heard some of that stuff goes on. I'm not one of those guys that goes out and drinks with the guys. Nah, I'm not doing that. I don't think it worked out. It would have worked out for me. The time that I spent in Japan And the way that I wrestled there, I just brought that same guy to WWE, at least by the second match I had.

I was raised different. I'm not saying everybody was like that, but I've heard some of that stuff goes on. I'm not one of those guys that goes out and drinks with the guys. Nah, I'm not doing that. I don't think it worked out. It would have worked out for me. The time that I spent in Japan And the way that I wrestled there, I just brought that same guy to WWE, at least by the second match I had.

The first match, I was trying to be what I thought they wanted. And to Vince's credit, he told me what he wanted, and I was like, I know that guy. I know him. I'm going to give you that guy because that's who I wanted to be anyway.

The first match, I was trying to be what I thought they wanted. And to Vince's credit, he told me what he wanted, and I was like, I know that guy. I know him. I'm going to give you that guy because that's who I wanted to be anyway.

Well, you know, because if you don't believe in what you're saying, it's hard to get into whatever that character is. Even when I was the Prince of Phenomenal, Like, I enjoyed that as much as people hated it because I was able to show a different part of AJ Styles. Be a little goofy, do a little goofy things, you know, with Christian and Kurt Angle and all that stuff that we did.

Well, you know, because if you don't believe in what you're saying, it's hard to get into whatever that character is. Even when I was the Prince of Phenomenal, Like, I enjoyed that as much as people hated it because I was able to show a different part of AJ Styles. Be a little goofy, do a little goofy things, you know, with Christian and Kurt Angle and all that stuff that we did.

That was good television to me, you know, as much as people hate it. But, you know, turns into Lone Wolf AJ Styles, which essentially is who you got – In Japan, just turned up a little bit more, having a little bit more fun rather than being angry the whole time. You know, that's all that was. What's the scariest moment you've had in the ring? Oh, I can tell you.