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AJ Styles says ‘it’s important’ for talents like Naraku to start WWE run with NXT

Posted: May 18th 2026 By: Roseanne Raphael

AJ Styles addressed Naraku debuting on NXT over the main roster. Before signing with WWE, there it was reported that he was keen to start with NXT to acquaint himself with the workaround in the company.

On the latest episode of The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles cited that Shinsuke Nakamura also competed on NXT. He had an extensive career on NJPW for nearly 14 years before his WWE transition, that too on their developmental brand.

“Shinsuke Nakamura was also in NXT. I’m just throwing that out there. Listen, I think there’s certain things that we all need to learn in NXT, that will prepare us for the main roster. Even I had to learn quick ‘Holy crap, this they don’t do this, they do this, this. It was a learning process and I had to learn quick because I was on there. I couldn’t afford to screw up or mess up or whatever it is you want to call it. I wanted to stay on the main roster and I had to impress the guy in charge.”

“So, we don’t want anybody to go up to the main roster and have to learn like that. I don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s better to go (to NXT). It’s just a smooth transition.”

Styles emphasized the imperativeness of talents familiarizing themselves with WWE’s structure of camera angles and production which is not a common concept in Japan.

“Because you don’t do that in Japan. There’s no producers in Japan. Because it doesn’t matter where the cameras are, they just shoot. They don’t know. At least when I was there, they didn’t know that it was entertainment. It was a sport. So the camera guys were not involved in the booking meetings, whatever, the meetings in general. We need to know where all this stuff is. It’s important. At least I had TNA. Before I had New Japan, I was in TNA. I knew where the cameras were, and I knew to play to the cameras. But still, there’s certain things that we want to have in place before you go to the main roster.”

On the April 28 edition of NXT, Naraku made his debut on the promotion and confronted Tony D’Angelo. His identity was referenced as a ‘former IWGP champion’. Shortly after his WWE ring name was confirmed.

Last weekend, Naraku and IYO SKY announced their wedding on social media.