AJ Styles

You know, like, but that for some reason, Carl couldn't wait to punch me, you know? So, um, but then I think two months after that, they finally show up in Japan or in, uh, WWE. But, Like I said, did we decide whether it was the 5th or 6th? Either way. The first week of January. I came home to Atlanta, the airport. My family came up. We ate at a restaurant. I got back on the plane.

I never went home to my house and flew to Pittsburgh to get all the medical stuff done. So from Japan to Pittsburgh, never going home. And then I think the next week I had a – independent show in England. I think it was, I didn't know if I was going to the rumble.

I never went home to my house and flew to Pittsburgh to get all the medical stuff done. So from Japan to Pittsburgh, never going home. And then I think the next week I had a – independent show in England. I think it was, I didn't know if I was going to the rumble.

And I believe I said, if I, if I get the opportunity, I'm going to kick some tail, you know, and everybody was like, yeah, I'm not going guys. And, um, sure enough, I was going, I didn't, didn't know what they flew me into Tampa rather than Orlando. So they kind of kept it a secret, which was really cool. And yeah, no, nobody really let it out.

And I believe I said, if I, if I get the opportunity, I'm going to kick some tail, you know, and everybody was like, yeah, I'm not going guys. And, um, sure enough, I was going, I didn't, didn't know what they flew me into Tampa rather than Orlando. So they kind of kept it a secret, which was really cool. And yeah, no, nobody really let it out.

We, we'd said there was a possibility, but nobody expected it. So it was, it was really cool in 2016 to walk out for sure.

We, we'd said there was a possibility, but nobody expected it. So it was, it was really cool in 2016 to walk out for sure.

I'd been in Japan for almost two years. Independence scene. TNA, which in the grand scheme of things, isn't that big. Would they know who I am? I don't know. And it was one of the best moments in my wrestling career to walk out and have them make the noise that they made. Oh, man. That moment I will never forget because I was so terrified that I wouldn't get anything.

I'd been in Japan for almost two years. Independence scene. TNA, which in the grand scheme of things, isn't that big. Would they know who I am? I don't know. And it was one of the best moments in my wrestling career to walk out and have them make the noise that they made. Oh, man. That moment I will never forget because I was so terrified that I wouldn't get anything.

And Vince wasn't going to have me out when I, he wasn't going to have me out third. And he said, nobody knew who I was. And, you know, for me, I thought he's probably right. But everybody else who spoke up for me, who had worked with me previously, maybe in TNA or whatever, they're like, I'm telling you, it's going to work. And man, did it. It was an amazing moment.

And Vince wasn't going to have me out when I, he wasn't going to have me out third. And he said, nobody knew who I was. And, you know, for me, I thought he's probably right. But everybody else who spoke up for me, who had worked with me previously, maybe in TNA or whatever, they're like, I'm telling you, it's going to work. And man, did it. It was an amazing moment.

I didn't really talk to Vince about what I should do. I just like, I didn't run to the ring. I just walked and enjoyed the moment. You know, I wish I'd have been more pumped about it rather than just looking at people with a straight face. But yeah, It was a very, very cool moment.

I didn't really talk to Vince about what I should do. I just like, I didn't run to the ring. I just walked and enjoyed the moment. You know, I wish I'd have been more pumped about it rather than just looking at people with a straight face. But yeah, It was a very, very cool moment.

Like, we didn't think it was possible. You know what was a cool moment, though, is that you, you guys, made so much noise. The folks at home were like, what is it? Who is it? So it was kind of cool that it worked out that way. But yeah, man, that was such an unbelievable moment.

Like, we didn't think it was possible. You know what was a cool moment, though, is that you, you guys, made so much noise. The folks at home were like, what is it? Who is it? So it was kind of cool that it worked out that way. But yeah, man, that was such an unbelievable moment.

Oh, yeah. Oh, I just knew I wasn't going to have a WrestleMania moment. I was never going to have one. And I was okay with it. I dealt with that. Like, just because... Someone may say that I'm not successful because I've never went to WWE. That's for them. But for me, I'm successful because I found a way to take care of my family. And at the end of the day, that's what I'm doing.

Oh, yeah. Oh, I just knew I wasn't going to have a WrestleMania moment. I was never going to have one. And I was okay with it. I dealt with that. Like, just because... Someone may say that I'm not successful because I've never went to WWE. That's for them. But for me, I'm successful because I found a way to take care of my family. And at the end of the day, that's what I'm doing.

If I were paid anything, I probably wouldn't be wrestling. So the fact that I was able to do something I love and provide for my family, that's successful to me.

If I were paid anything, I probably wouldn't be wrestling. So the fact that I was able to do something I love and provide for my family, that's successful to me.

Well, I mean, it's one of those things that you're, your body's going to change whether you like it or not. You better figure it out as soon as you can, because for some reason you're going to get wider. and not in a good way, you know, like you're not as slim as trim as you used to be. Like there's different ways of doing differently.