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A milestone moment awaits AJ Styles at WrestleMania, AT&T Stadium: 'It's the biggest stage I'll ever be on'

A milestone moment awaits AJ Styles at WrestleMania, AT&T Stadium: 'It's the biggest stage I'll ever be on'

Posted: Mar 26th 2016 By: Joey Hayden

A seasoned veteran of the professional wrestling industry, 'The Phenomenal' AJ Styles is adjusting to life in the WWE and getting ready for his first WrestleMania. He shares some of his thoughts on wrestling's biggest show as the AT&T Stadium mega-event nears...

On finally getting the chance to perform at WrestleMania...

Styles: It's awesome. I can't say enough great things about the experience I've had here in the WWE, and to hopefully get the opportunity to wrestle at WrestleMania is unbelievable because I never thought this would happen. You know, I have the WWE Network, I've watched all these moments, and felt that I may never have it. But now, a couple weeks away, it's a big deal. It really is. I can't put into words how big a deal it is for me. It's a milestone in my career that I never thought I'd get the opportunity to cover.

Have you had any other big career moments in Dallas or is WrestleMania going to take the cake?

Styles: Literally going to take the cake - it's WrestleMania. There's nothing that compares to it. It's the biggest stage that I'll ever be on.

How 2016 Hall of Fame inductee Sting has influenced his career...

Styles: Well he definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. It's been a long time coming. Very proud to call him a friend, and to see him in the Hall of Fame. If you watch a lot of my stuff you'll know how much impact he's had on my career. I have the clothesline in the corner, but it's really the Stinger Splash. I do the Scorpion Death Drop - you know, I put a back flip into it, but it's still the Scorpion Death Drop. So, he had a lot of influence on my career. I really liked Sting a lot growing up. I always thought of him as like a superhero wearing the paint. Then, he switched over to this 'dark Sting' which is one of my favorites, the crow Sting, if you will. He was one of my favorites for a long time, and he still is. He's one of my favorite guys in this business.

On his path to choosing a career in pro wrestling...

Styles: As far as I was concerned, I was going to be a pro football player, basketball player, baseball player, something like that. It never really got in my head that I was going to be doing wrestling. It was kind of just one of those things - me and my little brother, we beat up the stuffed animals just like most boys do, jumping off the dresser giving them elbow drops - I did all that. But it wasn't something where I thought I'm going to be a pro wrestler when I grew up. It just kind of happened, as crazy as that sounds. When wrestling got so big back in '96, '98 I really started watching a lot, as did everyone. Told a couple guys who were very involved with watching pro wrestling that if they ever found a place to train - because they were looking - that I'd go with them. They found a place about 20 minutes from the house - I went. Lo and behold, 17 years later I'm talking to you.

Was working with Chris Jericho always the plan as you came into WWE?

Styles: Don't know. Wasn't really sure how it was going to work out - I knew nothing. I just wanted to come in, and have great matches and put on a great show. They never said who exactly I'd be working with. So, it was a pleasant surprise to know that I'd be working with Jericho.

If you had a choice, who else on the roster are you looking forward to work with?

Styles: I want that whole roster. I want to get in there with every one of them, and just have great matches with all of them because it'd be very easy to do. There's different wrestlers from the bigger guys to Kalisto, who's one of the smallest, but at the same time I know it'd be fun to get in there with him, as well. Then again, I want to get in there with the Big Show.

Which 'Mania matches are you looking forward to?

Styles: That's a tough one. You got the ladder match - that'll be crazy. You got Roman Reigns and Triple H, but you've also got Shane McMahon and The Undertaker. I think the reason why I'm so interested in that is I have no idea what might happen. The Undertaker, well...he's The Undertaker. Shane McMahon, a lot of people look past the fact that he's a great athlete. He's not just the promoter's son, Vince McMahon's son, he's an athlete, and from what I've seen here lately, the guy's pretty scary.

Will you get a chance to see the NXT TakeOver in Dallas?

Styles: I hope so. I hope I get the opportunity to drop by, and watch those guys. It's going to be a great event. Shinsuke Nakamura, it'll be his first opportunity to show what he can do, and against Sami Zayn, it'll be a great match - one you don't want to miss.

 

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  • 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
  • 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title

Week of Sun 04-19 to Sat: 04-25

  • 04-19 1987 Bubba Rogers def. One Man Gang for the UWF Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Luchadore & The Canadian Red Devil) def. La M (El Choppo & Jesus Rodriguez) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
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  • 04-19 2013 Bree Ann def. Barbi Hayden for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
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  • 04-19 2014 Randy Price def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 04-19 2014 Miss Diss Lexia def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
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  • 04-19 2014 Brandon Groom def. Warhammer for the BPPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2024 Killa Kate became the TexPro Rose Champion
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  • 04-19 2024 K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) def. Rock-N-Rugged (Rook Tyler & Gabe Welder for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
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  • 04-19 2026 Gideon Vane became the WTW Open Promotions Champion
  • 04-20 1980 Toru Tanaka def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-20 2013 The Canadian Red Devil became the OWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-20 2013 Daemon Storm def. Justin Dynamic for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-20 2018 Jack Swagger def. MVP for the IWR Heavyweight Title
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  • 04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
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  • 04-21 2018 The Untamed (Rex Andrews & Ryan Davidson) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
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  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 04-22 1940 Jesse James def. Danny McShain for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 1955 Ricki Starr def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 04-22 1985 The Great Kabuki became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-22 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-22 2017 Double D def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 04-22 2017 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the ComPro Ladies Title
  • 04-22 2018 Chaz Sharpe became the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Johnny Kove & Tristan Thorne became the ASP Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 04-22 2018 Damon Windsor def. Chandler Hopkins for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 04-22 2022 Drake Gallows & Fester Cluck def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 2022 Duncan Kincaid became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 04-22 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 2023 Devion Black def. Adrian Vega for the EPW All-American Title
  • 04-22 2023 Logan Knight def. Gemini [2nd] for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-23 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-23 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
  • 04-23 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 04-23 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title
  • 04-24 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
  • 04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
  • 04-24 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-24 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 04-25 1969 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treach Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
  • 04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
  • 04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 04-25 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Title
  • 04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions
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