AJ Styles went to WWE NXT 2.0 to teach the next generation how things work.
As a former WWE Champion, Styles is one of the top stars on the WWE roster, so it was a little surprising to see him have a multi-week crossover storyline on WWE NXT. His rival, Grayson Waller, even showed up to the red brand to build toward their match. “The Phenomenal One” eventually defeated the cocky heel, but simply working with a talent of Styles’ caliber surely paid dividends for Waller.
During an appearance on “Out of Character with Ryan Satin, Styles discussed his experience working with NXT. He stated that it was his idea because he wanted to work with the younger superstars in order to show them the ropes. The fan-favorite explained that he aimed to teach the stars of NXT what they can expect from being on the main roster in order to set them for success.
“It wasn’t a surprise because it was kinda my call,” said Styles. ” I thought it’d be a good idea to, you know, guys like myself to go down to NXT and really say, ‘Okay this is what we do on RAW and SmackDown. So when you come up, there’s no surprises, there’s no nothing. This is what we expect. These are the rules, by the way. They’re a little bit different than NXT, but this is what they are up here.’
“I mean we’re talking about guys who have dreamt about doing something and when you say, ‘Nah, we don’t want you’, you’re crushing their dreams and who knows what else, their confidence. I don’t want that to happen. I know how bad that hurts.”
As someone who has experienced the crushing blow of failure, when WCW folded shortly after he arrived and he subsequently didn’t land a long-term home in WWE, Styles doesn’t want to see anyone crash and burn. When it comes to WWE’s developmental system, he believes talent should stay there as long as they need, and their future is in their hands at that point.
“I don’t want that to happen, I don’t want to see that happen to anyone,” said Styles. “And if they’re not ready, then we’ll keep them down there so they can be. And it’s up to them, whether or not they progress.”
During his time on NXT, Styles feuded with Grayson Waller, one of the brand’s top heels. Given Styles’ status as a former WWE Champion, it was fair to assume that he personally chose to work with Waller. Instead, the veteran made it clear that his rivalry with Waller was not his idea, but he’s happy with how it turned out. Styles specifically spoke highly of their match and noted that he likes to work “snug”, and Waller brought it to him, just as he asked.
“I did not hand-pick him,” said Styles. “He was hand-picked by someone else, but it was great. I mean it was good. I’m a very hard-hitting kind of guy, like I like to get snug, yes, and I told him what I wanted, and he brought it. And I was like yes, because it takes me to a different level. When I get hit, I’m like yeah, let’s go. I like that, and he brought it, and it was great.”
Styles remains a prominent member of the WWE RAW roster; he’ll compete for the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber at the premium live event on February 19.
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