AJ Styles is grateful for his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling before signing with WWE.
SmackDown Superstar AJ Styles recently sat down with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated. When asked about his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Styles said the company taking a chance on him and putting their IWGP World Championship on him immediately changed everything for him.
“The creative changed everything for me,” AJ Styles said. “If I were bringing somebody over to be in my company, the last thing I would do is have them win the heavyweight championship as soon as they got there. But that’s what they did. And it worked. It put me on the map immediately.”
As the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, Styles was able to mix it up with the company’s top talents, whom he couldn’t stand across from while in TNA.
“New Japan was getting hot, real hot, and that’s when I got there,” AJ Styles said. “I got to be in the ring with incredible talent like Shinsuke, Okada, and Tanahashi. Those guys, they’re big-time. And there were no handcuffs. Whatever I wanted to say or do, I could.”
In 2016, Styles chose to depart New Japan and sign with WWE. This decision was made after learning that Shinsuke Nakamura was WWE-bound.
“When I heard Shinsuke was leaving, he didn’t even know I knew,” AJ Styles said. “Nobody knew, I’ll put it like that–and that’s when I spoke about it with Gallows and Anderson, and we all decided to leave.”
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What do you make of AJ Styles’ comments? Did you enjoy his run in New Japan Pro-Wrestling with Bullet Club? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
