WWE stars AJ Styles and Bobby Roode spoke with Scott Fishman of Channel Guide Magazine during SummerSlam week and below are some highlights:
On being in WWE:
“I’ve become more comfortable,” Styles said, shortly after a Make-A-Wish Foundation event in New York City. “This is my home. As before, I was the new guy. Although I’ve been in the business for a long time, when you come to somebody else’s house, it’s a different story. Now to be part of this family, it means everything to me.
“I think maturity has a lot to do with that. As you get older, you mature. Even though guys and girls are adults when they finally get here, they are still a maturity that has to go on and an understanding of how this business works. That way you can be a better part of the team to put your best foot forward and make the team better and not just focus on yourself. If the team plays well, then everyone does well. That’s what I want because this place is like a family, and I want everybody to do well.”
Bobby Roode on the WWE Performance Center:
“Everyone at the Performance Center from Matt Bloom and his coaching staff down there, it has been incredible with how hands-on they all are,” Roode said while on the red carpet for the WWE2K18 Kickoff event during SummerSlam weekend.
“Triple H himself has been very hands-on. I had the opportunity over the last several months to sit down and be mentored by Shawn Michaels himself. So, it has been a really cool experience. Even though I’ve been in this business for almost two decades, this last year has been really gratifying. I’ve got to learn a lot and continue to learn. That’s one of the best things about being in this business is you never stop learning.”
Roode on being a locker room leader in NXT:
“It is probably the most special thing to happen to me,” he said. “Being able to headline TakeOver events, especially during WrestleMania weekend with [Shinsuke] Nakamura into SummerSlam weekend. It has become a huge time for NXT…
“I really don’t go out of my way to take anybody under my wing, but people do come to me for advice and certain things like that, which is really cool. It has been this gratifying experience. To be looked upon as a locker room leader and someone who can be counted on is nice.”
Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.
