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Styles ? Family Is Essential

Posted: Mar 11th 2014 By: CMBurnham

My final spring break has passed without a tattoo from Cancun or an arrest warrant from Punta Cana.

Instead of living those MTV-inspired fantasies of youth, I worked four days at KYW NewsRadio and interned two days at the Daily News. I spent the rest of my vacation debating my mother about which relatives to invite to graduation and estimating how much wiggle room should be allocated for my gown.

Plenty, if the Waffle Taco has its way.

It?s crunch time for seniors ? just a few weeks left to scramble for stray credits, summer internships and maybe, by the grace of President Theobald, a job. We can?t dayload all week because making connections, building our portfolios and sacrificing good times with family and friends will hopefully lead to that dream position in our respective careers.

But is it worth it?

I considered myself a proud workaholic until I spoke with AJ Styles, the hottest free agent in professional wrestling.

He earned that distinction by leaving Total Nonstop Action Wrestling due to failed contract negotiations. After 12 years of performing for the company in which he undoubtedly served as the cornerstone, Styles walked away from national primetime exposure on Spike TV to navigate the uncertainty of the independent scene.

Sure, he?s been welcomed back to Ring of Honor, an organization with Philly roots where he competed from 2002 to 2006, but it?s not like the ?Phenomenal One? will be receiving the mainstream attention associated with appearing for World Wrestling Entertainment.

Probably because he already turned down WWE.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Styles declined a WWE developmental contract for $500 a week to work for the Heartland Wrestling Association, a farm system in Cincinnati, in 2002.

As a college student salivating over minimum wage just to get my name in the Daily News, I can?t understand why a young grappler would pass up the chance to work for the No. 1 pro wrestling company in the world.

?My wife was in college and I couldn?t go to Ohio and make her move back in with her mother,? Styles said. ?That would have been terrible. She even told me to take the deal and run with the opportunity, but I couldn?t do that to her. It?s God first and family second.?

Certainly not a disciple of McMahonism, perhaps Styles? decision was influenced by never being consumed by sports entertainment, even as a kid.

?I was a wrestling fan, but I wasn?t a fanatic like some of these guys,? Styles said. ?I was poor, so I only watched if the antenna picked it up. I remember watching Georgia Championship Wrestling and the Road Warriors, but when I got older, I really jumped on New Japan, All Japan and any matches involving the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title.?

In a profession where simulated violence is the product, it must be challenging at times for Styles to place God first.

?I think it?s a challenge no matter where you are,? Styles said. ?We?re always being attacked by some type of evil. I do try to be a follower of Christ and be a good example for others, but I?m not perfect.?

Praying for guidance in his decisions to reject WWE and depart TNA, Styles said he believes ?2014 will be a wonderful year? with his new opportunities.

?There?s something unnerving about being a free agent and not being tied down,? Styles said. ?You got to sell your own T-shirts at shows and put all that money in your pocket, when before in TNA, it didn?t seem like I made enough merchandise money. But the most important thing for me is making all of the fans? dream matches finally come true.?

He is an amazing athlete and always friendly to his fans, but the most phenomenal thing about Styles is his love for his family.

Even though we seniors are focused on doing whatever it takes to make us successful, we need to be reminded that the world doesn?t revolve around our post-graduation plans.

Take time to inquire about your significant other?s classes or play ?Super Smash Bros.? with your roommate, or even let mom invite Aunt Jeannie to graduation.

These are the people who shared your college experience, and in some way, shaped who you have become.

And more than likely, they?ll be there for you whether you land that cherished gig or end up bawling over the keyboard during your daily Craigslist search.

Now that I?m a recovering workaholic, you can find me at the Draught Horse hoping to bump into a fellow wrasslin? fan.

Let?s savor the last few weeks of the ?best four years of our lives.?

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title

Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19

09-13 1967 Brute Bernard def. Bull Curry for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
09-13 2020 Dimitri Alexandrov def. O’Brien for the ASP Heavyweight Title
09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-13 2025 Jupiter Jones def. Frankie Lee for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-13 2025 Sgt. Hartman def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Sgt. Hartman for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2026 Tuff Love (Cade Lovee & Cole Lung) def. GBA (Drake Gallows & Colton Kinnamon) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
09-13 2026 Nate Bourne def. Ricky Wingrave for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-13 2026 Malik Mayfield def. Will Chambers for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-13 2026 Lunchador def. Max Leon for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-14 2007 Dane Griffin def. Montego Seeka for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Title
09-14 2007 Dane Griffin became the UWF06 Texhoma Champion
09-14 2013 Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-14 2013 The Oakhurst Fire Mafia (Chief Mike & Keebler) def. The P. I. N. K. Nation (Ray Martinez & Tommy Toops) for the SRPW Tag Team Titles
09-14 2019 MVP def. Chavo Guerrero, Jr. for the WCR Heavyweight Title
09-14 2024 Original Renegade became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-14 2024 Umbra def. Trench Blythe for the WAH Spotlight Title
09-14 2024 Pastor Brent def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
09-14 2024 Jean-Claude def. Eddie LeVaughn for the WAH Heavyweight Title
09-14 2024 Manico def. Billie the Kiid for the NAW Indigenous Land Title
09-14 2024 Jeb Bingham def. Jastin Taylor for the BCW Heavyweight Title
09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Title
09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Title
09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title

09-19

Adam Asher Sep 19th Today!
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th Today!
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th Today!
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Harley D Sep 22nd
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Satine Sep 22nd
Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
O'Malley Sep 23rd
Jason Bruce Sep 24th
Kai Fayden Sep 24th
Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
Connor Crunk Sep 24th
John J. Bishop Sep 24th
Len Rossi Sep 24th
Joe Jones Sep 24th
Chief Mike Sep 25th
Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
Toots Estes Sep 25th
Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
Chris Matthews Sep 26th
Jhamil O$Neal Sep 26th
Ka$haNova Sep 26th
BB Sep 26th
Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
Lone Eagle Sep 26th
Ben Miller Sep 27th
Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
Angel Camacho Sep 27th
Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
Trey Count Sep 28th
Kamille Sep 28th
Tommy Prince Sep 28th
Rip Tyler Sep 28th
Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
Scott Lee Sep 28th
David Sammartino Sep 29th
Bang Bang Bennett Sep 29th
Ann Casey Sep 29th
Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
Lady Starwind Sep 30th
Kidd Riggs Sep 30th
Raymon Downey Sep 30th
Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
Seth Coburn Sep 30th
Fred Urban Sep 30th
Hector Guerrero Oct 1st
Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
Funnybone Oct 2nd
Cold Blooded Chris Oct 2nd
Mike Foxx Oct 2nd
Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
James Southard Oct 2nd
Waldo Von Erich Oct 2nd

1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title

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Styles ? Family Is Essential

Posted: Mar 11th 2014 By: CMBurnham

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