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Phenomenal! A. J. Styles is TNA's first PWI 500 winner!

Phenomenal! A. J. Styles is TNA's first PWI 500 winner!

Posted: Jul 15th 2010 By: mikeiles

A. J. Styles still vividly remembers the phone call that would change his life.

It was April 2002, and on the other end of the line was John Laurinaitis from the office of WWE talent relations. ?Johnny Ace,? as he is known, was offering Styles a developmental contract with the company. As exciting as that might sound for a 23-year-old independent wrestler who was supplementing his wrestling income by mowing lawns, Styles had other things to consider, like a wife who was still attending college, that he would have to relocate from Gainesville, Georgia, to Cincinnati, Ohio, and the fact that the job would pay a mere $500 a week.

Styles thanked Laurinaitis for the offer and told him he?d have to discuss it with his wife. Shortly thereafter, he called Johnny Ace and turned down the offer.

?It was a family decision,? Styles said. ?I was not going to leave my wife to go pursue a wrestling career, and maybe prevent her from going after her own dreams. I just didn?t think that was right. I remember hanging up after I told Johnny Ace that. I was sick. I was sick to my stomach.?

As it turned out, the decision would set Styles on a course to becoming one of the most accomplished and respected wrestlers of the past decade?a course that culminates in the pages before you.

On the heels of the most impressive year of his career?one in which he wore the TNA World championship belt for seven months and had thrilling matches with a wide variety of opponents?Styles becomes the first-ever TNA wrestler to achieve a number-one ranking in the ?PWI 500.?

And Styles can?t help but wonder if he would ever have come this far had that fateful phone call ended differently.

?I think about that all the time. Where would I have been if I had taken that contract with WWE? Would I have been released in three months?? said Styles, who joined TNA weeks after turning down the WWE offer, and even competed in the very first match in TNA history. ?It seems like to me that it was a blessing. Coming to TNA and growing with them and growing the name of A. J. Styles turned out to be the best thing for me. And your magazine is proof positive.?

Styles, 32, said he was both excited and ?flabbergasted? when he learned of his number-one ranking. His surprise has nothing to do with his own self-worth, but rather the realization of WWE?s dominance in the sport. A WWE wrestler has ranked number one in 17 of the 19 previous ?PWI 500? lists, including the past 11 in a row.

?I think we have a lot of great wrestlers on this roster that deserve to be right up there, as well. But we go up against a monster known as WWE, and sometimes it?s hard for other people to take notice of what we think is the best,? Styles said. ?What an honor it is for the PWI staff to say, ?You know what? This guy deserves to be number one.? It means a lot to me. It really does, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.?

Styles gradual climb up the ?PWI 500? has mirrored his rise in the sport, and the peaks and valleys he encountered along the way. He broke onto the list in his third year as a pro at number 458 after creating a buzz in NWA Wildside.

?It was like barely making it in, and I thought, Oh man, that?s awesome. I thought it was so cool,? said Styles, who jumped to number 199 in 2001 after getting a bit of national exposure in WCW. ?And year after year you?re like, I wonder where I am, and you?d check out where you were ? But I always checked it out. I know guys who wore jackets that had their ?PWI 500? rankings on them. So, obviously it means not just something to me, but to a lot of other people.?

It was in TNA that Styles made the wrestling world take notice. He jumped to number 11 in 2003 after his first full year in the fledgling company, and earned spots in the top 10 in both 2004 and 2005?years in which he wore TNA?s heavyweight championship.

But it took until this most recent ?PWI 500? grading period for Styles to fully realize his potential. Styles? incredible run in the sport began in September, when he won his first recognized World title at TNA?s No Surrender pay-per-view.

In the months that followed, Styles stole one TNA show after the next with thrilling title defenses against the likes of Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, and Sting.

The Gainesville, Georgia, native, counts as the highlights of his year his series of matches against long-time adversary Kurt Angle, including ?tearing it up? on the special live edition of Impact on Monday, January 4.

?I know we went out there and left it all in the ring ? We had nothing else to give,? Styles said. ?That will always be one of those moments that I?ll never forget.?

Styles said he also grew exponentially as a performer over the last year by working alongside such greats as Hulk Hogan and his on-screen mentor, Ric Flair, whom he called a wrestling ?genius.?

But Styles also acknowledges that the past year in TNA has not always gone smoothly. Styles said he has at times had to defend his employer from criticisms lobbied from fans and observers, and at other times been the source of some criticism.

?It?s a roller-coaster ride. There?s good and bad. Something may work. Something may not,? said Styles, who publicly questioned whether recent TNA content was suitable for younger children.

?If there?s any negativity,? he said, ?it?s because I only want this company to do well ? And that?s what everybody wants.?

Styles said he realizes that his personal success in the sport is linked to that of TNA as a whole. For his part, Styles said he intends to keep learning, keep having the most entertaining match on every TNA show, and keep convincing one fan after the next that he really is the best wrestler in the sport today.

?I know I?m here for the long haul, so I?m going to force you guys to put me at number one again,? Styles said. ?That?s all there is to it. There?s no way you?re going to keep me out of there.?

 

Tags: A. J. Styles, TNA, WWE, WCW, Ric Flair

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Spotlight in History

  • 1941 Maurice Shapiro became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1958 Jim LaRock became the TSW United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1958 Jim LaRock def. Sandor Kovacs for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 1978 Jerry Brown & Bobby Jaggers def. Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 1982 King Kong Bundy def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1982 Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 1986 Rick Rude def. Lance Von Erich for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2002 Red Eagle def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 2002 Terry Montana def. Red Eagle for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 2007 The Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) became the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 2012 Kareem Sadat def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 2017 El Greengo Loco & Karnage def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion

Week of Sun 05-05 to Sat: 05-11

  • 05-05 1941 Maurice Shapiro became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock became the TSW United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock def. Sandor Kovacs for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1978 Jerry Brown & Bobby Jaggers def. Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 1982 King Kong Bundy def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1982 Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 1986 Rick Rude def. Lance Von Erich for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-05 2002 Red Eagle def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2002 Terry Montana def. Red Eagle for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2007 The Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) became the FCW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-05 2012 Kareem Sadat def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-05 2017 El Greengo Loco & Karnage def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1959 Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1969 Ramon Torres & Alberto Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treacherous Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1974 Rip Tyler def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) def. The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1985 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 2005 Shane Morbid def. Kenny Campbell for the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 05-06 2005 The 918 Boyz (Timmy J & Cade Sydal) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-06 2011 Jeff Starchild became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-06 2017 Lone Star, Inc. (Cody Burns & Trey Cole & The Longhorn Outlaw) def. Simply the Future (J. D. & Alex) for the WFC Tag Team Champions
  • 05-06 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. El Greengo Loco & Karnage for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 2023 Thrash def. Jason Jones for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 05-06 2023 MLP def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-06 2023 Red James def. MLP for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-07 1984 Killer Khan became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Cody Jones became the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Jack Legacy def. Jeff Starchild for the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Dustin Heritage def. Shane Morbid for the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 05-07 2010 A. T. F. (Al Farat & Gurkha Singh) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-07 2010 La Reina de Corazones became the NWA-OK Women's Champion
  • 05-07 2011 Rudy Edwards def. Ryan Styles for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 05-07 2011 Bernie D & Max McGuirk def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-07 2016 Tyson Jaymes def. Brandon Groom for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2018 Jack Swagger became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2018 The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) became the WCR Tag Team Champions
  • 05-07 2018 Damon Windsor became the WCR Revolutionary Champion
  • 05-07 2021 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Drake Gallows def. Oxley for the RDW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Derek James became the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Luna Nightshade became the RDW Women's Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Brandon Groom def. Derek James for the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Becky def. Luna Nightshade for the RDW Women's Champion
  • 05-08 1970 The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-08 1985 The Snowman became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-08 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. King Parsons for the WCCW World Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Brandon Groom def. Michael Barry for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2004 John O'Malley became the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Luc Lapointe & Se7en became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-08 2010 Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Se7en & Michael Barry & Jack Legacy) became the TAP Tag Team Champions
  • 05-08 2010 Wage def. Eric Rose for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-08 2010 John O'Malley def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2010 Michael H def. Tex for the 412PE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2010 J. R. Orullian & The Unknown def. The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Dennis Williams) for the 412PE Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 1967 Gorgeous George, Jr. & Jack Brisco def. The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-09 2004 John O'Malley def. Chris Matthews for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-09 2004 Se7en became the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-09 2004 Bernie Donderwitz def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-09 2009 Crazy Beautiful (Brett Taylor & Michael York) def. Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2009 Dane Griffin def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-09 2009 BLK-OUT (Jermaine Johnson & Montego Seeka) def. Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2015 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Hurricane Ross & J. R. Orullian for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2021 Erica def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 05-10 1966 The Assassins (Assassin 1 & Assassin 2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-10 2008 Jerry Bostic became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 05-10 2014 Billy Ray [1st] def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-10 2014 American Made def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE United States Champion
  • 05-10 2019 Kody Lane def. Latrell Upton for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 05-10 2023 Leo Fox def. The Wolf of War for the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 05-11 1976 Karl Kox & Bob Sweetan def. Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 1981 Ernie Ladd def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2008 The Midnite Rider def. Outlaw for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-11 2008 Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) def. The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 2013 Billy Ray [1st] became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2013 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Pretty In Pink (Mike Rose & Michael Duplanti) for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-11 2019 Drake Gallows became the KCW National Champion
05-05
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  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th Today!
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  • Shane Rawls May 5th Today!
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th Today!
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th Today!
  • El Gallardo May 5th Today!
  • Zane Morris May 5th Today!
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  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th
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  • Jake Danielsson May 9th
  • Sunny War Cloud May 10th
  • Rook Tyler May 10th
  • Tito Santana May 10th
  • Billy Brown May 10th
  • Jerry Brown May 10th
  • Psycho May 11th
  • Big J May 11th
  • Charming Charles May 11th
  • Sol Yang May 12th
  • Brock Baker May 12th
  • Sensei Jamo May 12th
  • Bill Howard May 12th
  • Prince Mahalli May 13th
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  • Maggie Rae May 13th
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  • Stan Kowalski May 13th
  • Danny Hodge May 13th
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  • Little Boy Blue May 13th
  • Steve Williams May 14th
  • Big Van Vader May 14th
  • C. M. Burnham May 14th
  • Scott Irwin May 14th
  • Tommy Rogers May 14th
  • Robert Fuller May 14th
  • Shawn Bragan May 14th
  • Oscar Amazing May 15th
  • Erwin IV May 15th
  • Koko May 15th
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  • Kevin Von Erich May 15th
  • Ryker James May 16th
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  • Alan Jefferson May 16th
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  • Buddy Roberts May 16th
  • J. B. Pain May 17th
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  • J. R. Wind May 18th
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