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A. J. Styles Psyched Up About Big Gig Against Sting

Posted: Oct 17th 2009 By: CMBurnham

Earlier this decade, a minor World Championship Wrestling performer named Allen Jones was eating a backstage meal when one of the industry's top stars sat at the same table.

"I thought, 'Oh my God, that's Sting!' " said Jones, who had yet to establish himself as the "Phenomenal" A. J. Styles. "Now, I'm wrestling against him in (TNA Wrestling's) biggest pay-per-view of the year. It's unexplainable how big that is."

Someday, younger grapplers may express similar awe about their personal interaction with Styles.

How far Styles has come in seven years with TNA is reflected by his standing on Sunday's "Bound for Glory" show emanating from Irvine, Calif. Styles won the TNA world title last month and will defend it against Sting (Steve Borden) in what is hyped as possibly being the latter's final match.

While it doesn't appear the 50-year-old Borden will actually be retiring, there could be no better grappler for him to pass the torch to than Styles. Like late World Wrestling Entertainment stars Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit, the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Styles made the successful transition from high-flying junior heavyweight to working with larger, main-event talent. Along the way, Styles has become one of TNA's most popular grapplers.

"My style has slowed down a little bit, but not in a bad way," said Styles, who is considered one of the industry's top in-ring technicians. "I think I get more out of the little things through psychology rather than just doing spot after spot. There's a lot more that goes into a good match than crazy moves.

"Personally, I don't think much has changed. I still think I'm as humble as ever, and I'm glad to be in the spot I'm in. The biggest difference is my family has grown. When I started in TNA, I didn't have any kids. Now I have three. That's a good thing. I love being a dad."

Styles, 31, is one of three wrestlers remaining in TNA who appeared on the company's inaugural pay-per-view offering in 2002 (James Storm and Jeff Jarrett are the others). Styles began in TNA's X division before breaking from that pack of smaller entertainers. Styles has since held every TNA title, including an earlier version of the company's heavyweight crown in 2003 and 2004.
Styles takes pride in being a TNA original.

"At the beginning, we heard all the horror stories about how the company wasn't going to make it to the next month and whatnot," said Styles, who had returned to the Georgia independent circuit after WCW folded in 2001. "This is my baby. I've put my blood, sweat and tears into it."

Styles and Sting share a bond. Unlike other top TNA talent, neither has ever worked for WWE. Styles had the chance to sign a WWE developmental contract in 2002, but declined for family reasons. Styles didn't want to uproot his wife while she was attending college classes.

If he has his way, Styles will never wrestle anywhere else but TNA.

"My next career goal is paying off my mortgage," a laughing Styles said during a Tuesday telephone interview. "I just want to make sure my personal life is taken care of, and someday I can say I retired from TNA after being there from the get-go."

For more information on "Bound for Glory," visit www.tnawrestling.com.

Pro wrestling lost one of its most colorful characters when Captain Lou Albano died Wednesday at the age of 76. Albano combined a shaggy appearance -- complete with self-described "diddly-dos" (rubber bands) hanging from his face -- and rapid-fire delivery on interviews to become a top-heel WWE manager in the 1960s and 1970s. He also played a key role in the story line that helped WWE gain a national foothold in the mid-1980s. Albano feuded with pop star Cyndi Lauper, leading to a bout where their two charges (the Fabulous Moolah and Wendi Richter) fought on a highly rated MTV special. WWE parlayed the success of that show into promotion of the inaugural "Wrestlemania" in 1985.

Tags: WCW, Sting, A. J. Styles, TNA, WWE, Jeff Jarrett, Fabulous Moolah