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AJ Styles looking to do great things in WWE

AJ Styles looking to do great things in WWE

Posted: Aug 27th 2016 By: Brian Fritz

The sky is the limit as to how far A. J. Styles will go in the WWE.

He does have a big notch on his belt after defeating John Cena at SummerSlam this past Sunday in what turned out to be the show-stealing match of the event.

“I didn't know what I'd be doing here in the WWE, but the cream will rise to the top,” Styles said. “You have to put guys in position to make WWE great. I'm not saying I'm that guy, I'm just saying I'd like to be that guy to make it better. It's already great. I'd love to make it better. I love being on 'SmackDown.' I want to make it the flagship of the company. There's a lot of great things and it's great being a part of the WWE.”

The 39-year-old has already made quite the impression during his short time in the WWE. After debuting in January at the Royal Rumble to a huge ovation, he’s had exciting matches and feuds with the likes of Chris Jericho and Roman Reigns.

Still, what stands out to him the most is that first night at the Rumble.

“I mean, how can you forget something like that?,” Styles said. “Your debut and not only did you debut in WWE, but it was at the Royal Rumble and the WWE Universe went nuts for it. I don't know if I can ever top that. I'm going to give it a shot, but I don't know if I can ever top it.”

Maybe he can with the WWE Championship now in his sights after defeating Dolph Ziggler this past Tuesday on "SmackDown." With the victory, Styles earned a match against Dean Ambrose for the title at the upcoming "Backlash" event.

After making a name for himself in TNA Wrestling, where he worked for more than a decade, Styles took his game to another level in New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he became a two-time IWGP heavyweight champion.

After his two years with the Japanese promotion, he wanted to be closer to home. Plus, the lure of the WWE was something that Styles couldn’t pass up.

Another perk for the avid video gamer is being in the upcoming "WWE 2K17," which hits stores in October for the PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One systems.

“I think my son is more excited about it than I am, and I'm pretty freaking excited about this,” Styles said. “Being in a game like '2K17' is unbelievable. The stuff you can do in this game, the soundtrack that it has, the characters. So many great things about this game and now being a part of it, I'm on cloud nine.”

Styles didn’t make the transition to the WWE alone, as his friends Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows — who together were part of the ultra-popular Bullet Club faction in NJPW — made the jump as well, debuting in April.

The trio were put back together as The Club and starting gaining plenty of traction in their quest to beat up John Cena every chance they could. But when the WWE draft came along, they were split apart with Anderson and Gallows going to "Raw" and Styles over to "SmackDown." The move legitimately caught him by surprise.

“I think it's an opportunity for them to do something special and an opportunity for me,” Styles said. “Who knows what the reasoning is for the draft and going separate ways that we did, but we're going to make the best of it. It was shocking because I didn't see that coming. It literally came out of nowhere.

“But everything happens for a reason. I'm not sad about it. They're going to do their thing, I'm going to do mine and we'll met up later.”

Styles still keeps up with what happens over in New Japan, where his former Bullet Club running mate Kenny Omega just made history, becoming the first non-Japanese wrestlers to win the G1 Climax.

“I think Kenny was always capable of doing it. I don't know if they didn't see it at the time or maybe the group was so big that we were in that it was hard to see how great Kenny was. I'm so proud of him. I texted him to tell him how proud I was of him. He's got a first under his book; he's the first gaijin to ever win the G1. That's huge. Everybody, we're all so very proud of him.

“He got me on his one. Trust me, I wanted that bragging right, but I'm glad Kenny has it.”

 

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Spotlight in History

  • 1937 Hugh Nichols def. Bobby Chick for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 1980 Gino Hernandez def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 1984 The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) def. The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 1989 Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack def. Jeff Jarrett & Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 1989 Super Zodiac def. Eric Embry for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 2007 Brent Albright def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
  • 2007 Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) def. Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & The Bounty Hunter) for the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champion
  • 2012 Ignition def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 2012 Super Skunk Ape, Jr. def. Se7en for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 2018 Jerry Dean/Jerry Storm became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 2018 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 2023 Brody Wortman def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 2023 Skidz def. Brody Wortman for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 2023 Jason Simon def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
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  • 2023 Punk Synister def. Brandon Groom for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
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  • 2023 Mikey O'Shea def. Nibira for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion

Week of Sun 05-19 to Sat: 05-25

  • 05-19 1937 Hugh Nichols def. Bobby Chick for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-19 1980 Gino Hernandez def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-19 1984 The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) def. The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-19 1989 Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack def. Jeff Jarrett & Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 05-19 1989 Super Zodiac def. Eric Embry for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-19 2007 Brent Albright def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-19 2007 Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) def. Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & The Bounty Hunter) for the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champion
  • 05-19 2012 Ignition def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
  • 05-19 2012 Super Skunk Ape, Jr. def. Se7en for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 05-19 2018 Jerry Dean/Jerry Storm became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-19 2018 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Brody Wortman def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Skidz def. Brody Wortman for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Drake Gallows def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Punk Synister def. Drake Gallows for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Punk Synister for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Brandon Groom def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Punk Synister def. Brandon Groom for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Punk Synister for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Nibira def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-19 2023 Mikey O'Shea def. Nibira for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 05-20 1980 Junkyard Dog def. Terry Gordy for the MSW Louisiana Champion
  • 05-20 2006 Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) def. The Old School Assassins (Brad Michaels & Seth Allen) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-20 2006 John O'Malley became the IZW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 05-20 2017 Robyn Reid def. Erica for the IZW Womens Champion
  • 05-20 2017 Beach Bod Gods (Angel Camacho & Ray the Bae) def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-20 2017 Kevin Morgan def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-20 2017 Riker def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-20 2022 Wesley Crane def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-20 2023 Royal Pimpin' (Alex Royal & Mr. Nasty) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 05-20 2023 Cappuccino Jones def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-21 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Champion
  • 05-21 1984 Kevin Von Erich def. Killer Khan for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-21 2004 Cade Sydal def. X-Cal for the SRPW Light Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-21 2004 Michael Faith def. Butch Dalton for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-21 2004 New Canada (AWOL & Jon Davis) def. Sexy Bologna (Anthony Jackson & Sudden Impact) for the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-21 2016 Skylar Slice def. Athena for the IZW Queens Champion
  • 05-21 2017 Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) def. The Arrow Club (Kyle Hawk & Ky-Ote) for the IWR Tag Team Champions
  • 05-21 2017 Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) def. The Arrow Club (Kyle Hawk & Ky-Ote) for the TCW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-22 1955 Mike Clancy def. Ricki Starr for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-22 1985 The Nightmare [1st]/The Masked Champion/The Champion def. Terry Taylor for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-22 2009 Texas Outlaws, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk & Bobby Burns & J. W. Hardin) became the TAP Tag Team Champions
  • 05-22 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-22 2021 Father Padge def. Revan for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
  • 05-22 2021 Paul Puertorico became the XDWF New GenX Champion
  • 05-23 1984 The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton) def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-23 2004 Se7en & Li'l Joe def. Bernie Donderwitz & Mr. Brown for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-23 2004 Li'l Joe def. Bernie Donderwitz for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-23 2009 Maniac Mike def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-23 2009 Sage def. Rage Logan for the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 05-23 2010 Damien Morte def. Crisstopher Crow for the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
  • 05-23 2015 Brad Michaels def. Jermaine Johnson for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-23 2020 Cody Burns def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-23 2021 Luke Savage def. Garcia for the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 05-23 2021 Malik Mayfield became the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 05-24 1954 Rocco Perez def. Frenchy Roy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-24 2020 Shawn Sanders became the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 05-25 1986 Terry Taylor def. Buzz Sawyer for the UWF Television Champion
  • 05-25 2013 Brock Landers became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 05-25 2013 The American Pitbulls (Craig Stevens & Jason Jaxon) def. The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Sinn) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-25 2019 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Apex Champion
  • 05-25 2019 Simply the Future (Alex Royal & J. D.) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 05-25 2019 Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) def. Simply the Future (Alex Royal & J. D.) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
05-19
  • Will Chambers May 19th Today!
  • Dick Slater May 19th Today!
  • Andre the Giant May 19th Today!
  • Bateman May 19th Today!
  • Buzz Markley May 19th Today!
  • Mongol May 19th Today!
  • Dale Veasey May 20th
  • Chuey Martinez May 21st
  • Ivan Kalmikoff May 21st
  • Donna Christanello May 23rd
  • Santana Jackson May 23rd
  • Babyface D'Amanti May 23rd
  • Slash May 23rd
  • Gemini [2nd] May 24th
  • Shane Rawls May 24th
  • Ricky Romero May 24th
  • Lucas May 24th
  • Dark Journey May 25th
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  • Reggie Lincoln May 26th
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  • Dean Lambert May 28th
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  • Fuel May 31st
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