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A. J. Styles talks about Ultimate X, Kurt Angle, Why He Doesn't Watch WWE Programming and more

Posted: Sep 23rd 2006 By: CMBurnham

Former multi-time NWA Heavyweight, NWA Tag Team, & TNA X Division Champion, ?The Phenomenal? A. J. Styles, was one of the special guests on this past week's live edition (09/18/06) of Monday Night Mayhem, which can be heard in streaming audio every week (and live from 9-11PM ET every Monday night) exclusively on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network (www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.ObsessedWithWrestling.com, www.Dory-Funk.com, & www.AudioWrestling.com - your official home of "The Spring Break Incident" Video-On-Demand, featuring former WWE Diva, Stacy Keibler).

The interview with ?The Phenomenal One? is now available to hear for FREE at MondayNightMayhem.com.

Here are some of the highlights from the interview, provided by The Mayhem's senior correspondent & of Mark Out Radio, Dan Kriegbaum.

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The Big Mosh & Blade welcomed A. J. Styles to the fall-premiere show, which he was honored to be aboard for. Mosh started off the interview getting AJ?s thoughts on a sign at this past Sunday night's WWE Unforgiven Pay-Per-View that read, ?If Cena wins, we watch TNA," which got a laugh out of Styles. AJ commented that it?s obvious that the product is getting out there, and that people are finally starting to realize that the TNA product is better than the WWE?s. Blade then added about once hearing about somebody getting kicked out of an event for wearing a TNA T-shirt, which AJ said he doesn?t think is legal if the person bought a ticket.

The Big Mosh mentioned the comments of former NWA World Heavyweight Champion & The Mayhem's National TNA PPV Correspondent, Dory Funk Jr., from earlier in the show about AJ?s match this Sunday at No Surrender -- which has himself & "The Fallen Angel" going up against The LAX in the first ever tag team Ultimate X match for the NWA World Tag Team Titles. Mosh then asked AJ what his thoughts will be as a participant in this match up, and just how he as prepared going on into this big contest. AJ said that he & Christopher Daniels definitely have the experience advantage going into the event this Sunday, in that they have both been in Ultimate X matches before...unlike Homicide & Hernandez. He added that he honestly doesn?t know the rules for how the match will go with it being tag team, or if tags are needed with a legal man. He then added a nice touch of humor, by simply saying that "he probably should have found that out ahead of time."

Mosh & Blade went on to ask AJ what his thoughts are on the current state of tag team wrestling both in TNA & in the WWE, which has seen a slightly elevated push in new teams (The Highlanders, Cade & Murdoch, Cryme Time, The Pitbulls, KC James & Idol Stevens, along with Paul London & Brian Kendrick). Styles believes that in TNA, tag team wrestling ?is on the up & up," but said that he honestly doesn?t watch World Wrestling Entertainment, because it doesn?t give him what he?s watching for -- that being wrestling.

Continuing with the WWE banter, Blade asked AJ his thoughts on Jim Ross? comments about TNA recently in his BBQ website blog. AJ admitted that this was the first he heard about the comments, but ?flatulence in the wind? must be important to J.R., because he?s the one who brought it up, which shows that ?[TNA is] obviously a threat to him.? He also added that J.R. must watch TNA to make a statement like that, which would consider him as a supporter of Total Nonstop Action. ?The fact that he even said anything makes it look like he watches the show, obviously."

AJ then briefly commented on the "issue" between himself & Batista, saying that it is all about the media trying to report rumors, and that as far as he knows, Batista never said anything like it, ?and we?ll leave it at that."

The Big Mosh mentioned the upcoming October 22nd?s Bound For Glory Pay-Per-View, coming in just a few short weeks to Plymouth, MI. He asked AJ his candid thoughts on this "next step" for TNA (the first outside of Orlando since the move "down south"), and also asked AJ where he?d like to see TNA hit next. Styles mentioned places such as Toronto, England, Pittsburgh, a return to Tennessee & Alabama, & more.

Mosh then ?switched gears? away from TNA for a moment, and asked AJ what his current status with Ring Of Honor is like. AJ said that he has a great relationship with Ring Of Honor, but they just can never seem to agree on a date that?s available to both parties.

Back to TNA again, Blade & Mosh plugged a few of the other matches at No Surrender -- including "The King Of The Mountain" Jeff Jarrett vs. "The Samoan Submission Machine" Samoa Joe in a Fan's Revenge Match, & Christian vs. "The War Machine" Rhino. Mosh asked which of those matches AJ might have an interest in, or if he sees himself teaming with Christopher Daniels for a while. AJ said that he?s ?definitely interested? in Joe vs. Jarrett, but also said that he doesn?t want to miss the Christian/Rhino either. He added that while he likes teaming with "The Fallen Angel," if & when they decide to pursue single?s action again, it would be a mutual agreement.

Cammi from Massachusetts then called into the all-new Mayhem Line, (866) Mayhem-7, and asked AJ his thoughts on a possible fantasy match between himself & the legendary "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. AJ seems surprised at the question, and then tells a story about when he & Jimmy Snuka were down in Hawaii and an intoxicated Superfly head butted him for no apparent reason.

The Big Mosh then asked AJ, who has expressed interest in reality TV in the past, his thoughts on the current reality TV scene. AJ then expressed more about his thoughts on reality TV, this time taking it out on NBC?s "Last Comic Standing?s" & VH-1?s "Celebrity Fit Club?s" own Ant. He admitted that he would probably be seen as a bad guy in the eyes of a lot of people, and possibly get in trouble for the comments that he said about Ant, because he annoys him to no end. To find out AJ's shocking take on the man called Ant, we strongly encourage you to listen in to the interview itself -- it's well worth the interview time along. Staying on the topic of reality programming & TNA's former talent, Johnny Fairplay, AJ said "that he never seems to be out of the spotlight."

AJ then went on to tell a story about a recent trip to his local barber shop, where the lady who cut his hair asked him when he thought he ?would make it to the big time." AJ answered he, by saying that "they are the big time, it?s just right there in the palm of their hand."

Another caller dialed into the show (Zack from NY), and asked AJ how it feels to be wrestling all this time, and if he ever thinks he?ll slow down from the rate he?s currently working at. Styles answered saying that he goes into everything 110% -- even if it isn?t a smart decision. He mentioned a recent softball game he was in, where he slid into a base wearing shorts, and then proceeded to call himself an idiot. Then to answer the question: he said that it?s a mindset of his that he can?t slow down, and does not plan on doing it any time soon.

As somewhat of a parting shot, The Big Mosh & Blade asked AJ his uncensored thoughts about the recent release of Kurt Angle from World Wrestling Entertainment, and if he thinks Kurt could ever be in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling in the upcoming months. Styles said that Kurt Angle would be a huge & important addition to the TNA roster, but it would all be up to Kurt and if TNA could snag him.

Other topics discussed in this 35-minute interview included: more on this Sunday?s first\-ever Tag Team Ultimate X Match, the soon-to-be-released "Best Of The X-Division Volume II" DVD, & more.

The September 18th edition of Monday Night Mayhem also featured an in-depth preview of tomorrow night's TNA No Surrender Pay-Per-View, as The Mayhem's National TNA PPV Correspondent, Dory Funk Jr., joined the program. Check out www.TNAWrestling.com for all of the latest news, notes, & rumors heading into this Sunday?s event. That big announcement is coming in just a few short hours!

Call into the show @ (866) Mayhem-7 (the all-new Mayhem Line), e-mail your questions/comments for Nora, Lisa, Mickey, or Murph to MondayNightMayhem@hotmail.com, post them on The Mayhem's official MySpace page (located at www.MySpace.com/MondayNightMayhem), or on the MNM Uberfun Message Board (located at www.MondayNightMayhem.com).

We'll see all of you fans LIVE this Monday night, starting at 9PM ET/8PM CT.

*The Mayhem also encourages all new & old listeners to check out some of the archived interviews now available on www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.ObsessedWithWrestling.com, & www.AudioWrestling.com -- including: Y2J himself...Chris Jericho, Tyson Tomko (in his first interview since leaving the World Wrestling Entertainment), Charlie Haas, WWE Hall Of Famers Bret "The Hitman" Hart, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan & "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, Christy Hemme, Lance Storm, The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers (Jacques "The Mountie" Rougeau & Raymond Rougeau), former NWA World Tag Team Champions America's Most Wanted, "The Fallen Angel" Christopher Daniels, Tito Santana, Jeff Jarrett, Paul Roma, & many more.

Remember, you can feel The Mayhem (live & worldwide) each & every Monday night on The Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network from 9-11PM ET.