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AJ Styles addresses backlash to his WWE in Japan comments

Posted: Jul 20th 2026 By: Jake Jeremy

AJ Styles recently spoke about WWE potentially making in-roads in Japan, saying on his Phenomenally Retro podcast that he was open to the idea of WWE acquiring a promotion in Japan, similar to last year when WWE purchased AAA in Mexico.

There was a lot of negativity and backlash to Styles’ comments online, with many fans pointing to what happened in regions like the UK with NXT UK. The British independent scene has encountered a fair few issues during the 2020s (which are well documented elsewhere, like the #SpeakingOut movement, which you should read about yourself if you have not yet), and a lot of fans have claimed NXT UK is a big piece of that jigsaw.

AJ Styles on WWE in Japan

Speaking again on his podcast, Styles would react to the backlash, saying that he was not trying to disrespect New Japan or Hiroshi Tanahashi with his comments:

“We hit a freaking bees nest with that one to some guys. Holy cow. I was excited. Did I ever say New Japan Pro Wrestling, I can’t remember… Just a Japanese company, that’s more what I was alluding to. People [are] like, ‘Oh, Tanahashi.’ There ain’t but one Tanahashi. The fact that Japan came out and supported him the way that I did says a lot about that country because [he’s] definitely one of my favorite guys in the wrestling business. Just a heart of gold. So just so you know, I’m not disrespecting my friend, by the way, Tanahashi. You don’t know him like I do. I promise you. I would never disrespect that guy. But hey, people are going to say what they say because they think they know everything about wrestling.”