Reactions to Nikki Bella's heel turn, John Cena defeating Dirty Dom and more, plus an exclusive interview with "The Phenomenal One" AJ Styles

Oh, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages. Welcome. to a Wednesday like the good old days. Wednesday episode of the No Contest Wrestling Podcast. I am the heel that you love to hate.

O'Shea Jackson Jr., aka Petty Guerrero. Hey, yo, it's me. It's me. It's the T-W-O, the J-I-G-G2, TJ Jefferson. What up, though?

Man, I love Wednesdays. Man, Wednesdays. It just feels so much fun. You know what that means, man. You know what I mean?

A little hump day. Hump there. Got a great, great, great show today, man. Normally we tease it a little bit and then we, but let's just tell them we got, we got the phenomenal AJ Styles coming at you today, baby. Yeah.

Can't wait. We're going to talk about everything. Yeah. I mean, he's done everything. Yeah.

So like you, you have to bring it up. We're going to talk about the start time and other promotions. We're going to. Talk about gaming. I know.

I know you got about 12 pages of gaming notes ready for AJ.

So, yeah, it'll be good. We'll talk about, man, as much time as he wants to give us. Yeah, man.

So he'll be here for it. But yeah, I mean, he's got a catalog of matches that are second to none. He's got a resume that's second to none. You know, his name is not the okay AJ Styles. His name's not the AJ Styles.

His name's not pretty good. No, no, no. His name is The Phenomenal. The Phenomenal. Hey.

Jay. The sky.

So we'll be having him very shortly. But man, let's talk about the last few days, I guess, since we were on the mic last week. Man, some wild stuff got on. We had a few new champions in the WWE. We got new tag team champions.

That's the thing. Yeah. I was like, and I got to deal with this dude on his there. Because Asuka, the goat, Kyrie Sane, they won for the 1-2. Turn time!

The WWA Women's Tag Team Championships on Friday as they defeated Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss with help. Yeah. from Lash Legend. And Nia Jax. Last legend.

Last legend got the call. Finally. Finally, bro. I hit up. Oh man, Trick Williams.

I said, Oh, got the got that uh that call up, huh? All he said was, God is good. All I said was all the time. And uh, yeah, man, Lash Legend. I was like, Lash and Naya?

Working together, this is dangerous. Yeah, like that ain't gonna be good for some folks, yeah. And you know, I'm really saying that you remember when you know Bianca and Jay were tag team champions. We were like, who's gonna beat them? Team and I and last that could have been pretty good.

That could have been pretty good. Last legend, she's Fit right in, got a nice little backstage promo with Naya, was seamless. Looking real, real nice. Real nice. And that is going to be a problem.

Dangerous, yeah, man. And then, you know, said they came in. We had to do like Metallica at one point and fade to black because Naya had like, you know, there were things going on. Stuffs. There was stuff happening.

Stuffs. It was glorious, like Bobby Roo. Glorious. And, but I just had to throw that out there. Yeah, so, and that.

Well, that was the one championship that changed hands. We also, you know, we got a new world champion with Punk. That was a few days ago. Of course. Amazing.

Amazing. You know, Jade got her hardware finally. Yes. But.

Okay. There also is a new champion who's an amazing person. Yeah, we don't mean to bury the league. Chelsea. Chelsea Green is, you know, she took the title off Junior.

I got a little prop. Here's the deal, right? My issue with when you have wrestlers that you are basically using as. Comedic relief, yeah. We all know Chelsea can wrestle, we've seen her luch on the ground, other places, but when you're using someone as comedic relief, and then you, as a fan, you're asking me to like now take them serious.

It just, I feel just by you know, reading comments and stories, a lot of people aren't with it, yeah, you know, but you know, she's doing great work. You can't be too mad at Chelsea Green. Oh, no, she's not Chelsea, it's not Chelsea, it's just sometimes the way, and here's the deal: I guess as I'm saying this, I'm thinking about it. You can't tell Chelsea Green to turn it off because she has so much charisma and she is so funny that it'll be like. You know, be like, hey, Steph Curry, we're going to put you on the court, but you can't shoot threes.

It's like, what's the point? We're working on a want you inside out. You know, inside out.

So, but yeah, man, her and Ethan Page got something kind of good going on, right? Hilarious.

So I'm down for it. You know, you know, Chelsea's put in the work, Paige's put in the work. But the Julia thing is what's got a lot of people scratching their heads. You know, like hurts a little bit. Because she didn't really get a chance to shine the way she didn't.

No, and I really thought she would have when they put the hardware on her. Because we know, like. We know what y'all with, like all the hype and everything around her when she signed. And I mean, she didn't even expect to get. The ovation that she got at Stand and Deliver when they see the shock look on her face.

Yeah, so like they, we want Julia. We want Julia. Who knows what this means for her? They might have plans. I always go back to that conversation.

We had with Godfather when he was a guest on here. And he said, I was Intercontinental Champion. And, you know, they. When it was time for me to drop the belt. Their reasoning behind it was that my character was, you know, the I didn't need it.

I didn't need the belt to be successful. And so when I look at what's going on with Julia, I'm like, you know, maybe there's a sliver of hope there. And I know anybody who knows me knows that hope is the pathway to disappointment. But it is a. You gotta have a little faith.

Faith is the better one. That they have some new direction for Julia because it's too much talent right there. Yeah. Maybe it's even. Maybe SmackDown isn't the fit.

Maybe you need to be on Raw with Viceroy. You know me? Like, because it's... They really came in together, Stephanie Vaquera and Julia. I mean, and not to interrupt, but Julia, I think, was.

She was probably the bigger signing. She was prompt to be, yeah. And. I mean, she was an XT champion, you know?

So. And they've put on great matches together within the WWE already. And so you separate them and, you know, they're going on different paths. And Vicarre has reached the mountaintop. And it just really didn't feel like there was a good enough grasp around Julia.

And what's been happening lately is Raw has been crushing. SmackDown has kind of gotten back to the B show. You know, like it has the A belts, but it's been feeling like the B show.

So, you know, maybe there's a world where Julia ends up on Raw. I think it'll be a better fit to put her over there with Vicare. It kind of makes me feel like how I feel about. Pinta and his brother. You know, them being separate.

And like, you're seeing Pinta get this stardom. And then Ray Phoenix hinting. Yeah, which is crazy. Ray Phoenix is one of the greatest in the world. Yeah, but Pinta will tell you he's the one.

So it's. It's a shakeup that's needed. It's a shake-up that's needed because those are two gems that need to shine. Yeah, you can't. And you know, I'm going to give a little shout out here.

I sometimes see people on social media trash-talking Booker T and his announcing style, which I love because you two, we're both Booker T fans. But I can promise you this: there are two people in particular. Who Are stars and who would have made it regardless? But the fact that Booker T was Trick Willie's hype man during his intro, oh, yeah, man, and the fact that Booker T, as the kids say, gooned out so much for what we now know as the devil's kiss, you cannot tell me. That he did not help advance both of them and put them on a different plane.

Like, there's just no way you can say what you want, like, you don't like Booker T, this, that, and the third, which is crazy, but you can't sit here and tell me that him. Doing what he did for those two in particular did not help elevate them. Just, I can't believe it. And it wasn't nothing forced. It was something that happened organic.

And Booker knows what he see when he sees it. And we're not sitting here. Uh Oh. Giving credit to the whole meal. No.

You know, but like you could taste when some need a little salt. And Booker, he did that, and you know, he did it with Roxanne because that was his student, you know. And I don't know. Like I said, would Trick have gotten to where he is without it? Yeah, probably.

Did it help him get a little more exposure? Sure, on top. Did it help people sing that song a little bit more? For sure. And then Stephanie, I think it goes without saying, she the talent was there, but you know, but.

It helped, is what I'm saying. That was nice. Thank you. I've been told my timing's real. Nice, bro.

Told you, our energy is different on Wednesdays. Rich Eisen.

Well, yeah, man.

So, shout out to those. Oh, wait a minute. And there was one more new champion. Kind of oh yeah, that's right. Completing.

The Grand Salami, completing the, you know, there was an empty spot on the trophy case, and now that spot is filled. That is the never before seen 17 John Cena finally became the intercontinental champion. Yes, this title that's eluded him. His entire career because he didn't want it. But I kind of, you know, and I don't know how I feel about this, man.

Cause you know, we're big Dom stands here, right? Yeah, we love Dom. And it's like you can look at this like he's only got four appearances left. Was this forced? Like, Did this happen to happen?

Would John Cena's career really be lacking if he didn't? Have this title, but what it does tell me. is this All of the, you know, this tournament's going on. Who's going to face him last? And all these words are getting thrown out.

All these, is this guy coming? This guy coming. You got Aldis and Pierce, like, oh, reading the name, not going to tell you who it is, type.

So everyone's clamoring, like, who could it be? Right. I gotta say this. A few months ago, I put this out there, and I'd say, Half of the people were down for it. The other half weren't down for it.

And not only were they not down for it, I was called every name in the book. I was told I was stupid and didn't know what I was talking about, blah, blah, blah. But I'm going to say this again. John Cena When he made his debut against Kurt Angle back in 2002, right? It was Kurt Angle putting over the prototype.

Exactly a new talent.

Now you got John Cena, he's on his way out the door. And people are saying, oh, you know, it should be Gunther, it should be Seamus.

Some people say that they're. No disrespect to Joe Hendry. But, like, you can't tell me that that is your dream match. I got to kind of question. Is it really?

That's all the matches. That's your dream? Like I said, but whatever. People like what they like. But the bottom line to me is, and you tell me and you let me know how you feel.

John Cena Is here to leave the business better than when he found it. We've heard that statement all the time.

So therefore, in my opinion, I don't see John Cena going out without elevating, without putting somebody over. Gunther's already a main event guy, multiple-time world champion.

So in my opinion, And I'm going to hold firm to this until I'm proven wrong, or if I'm proven right, there's three people. That should get this rub.

Okay. Pause. Pause. That was crazy. One of them we mentioned is Trick Williams.

He's a guy who I think is ready, especially after that, you know, the street fight against Ricky Saints last night in NXT. He took an L. The amount of magnitude he brought the partnership of TNA and NXT. Trick has done something no one else has ever done, including our guest who's coming up, AJ Styles. Um And then the other two Is one is Dominic.

Yeah. Because Dom's a star. We've been saying this. He's a superstar. He takes me through our showers, as a once great on the mic, still great on the mic.

Wrestler once said. Maybe Dom winning that belt back and seeing his last match to kind of solidify himself as the future main event star that we know him to be. But I'm going to say it again and. I'm gonna hold to this and if I had the pen. This would be it.

Like, you know, there's all, people always say, oh, WWE, and they're allegations, right? We know what those allegations are. Oba Femi In basketball terms, folks, look at me when I'm telling you this. He's a three-on-one layup.

Okay. Obafemi is a five-foot chip-shot putt on the golf course. He is a fast ball coming straight down the middle on the baseball field. You put any. Situation, any metaphor, any simile.

I know simile sounds, you know what I'm saying? You put anything in there that will resonate that this is easy. and something you don't have to think about. Oba Femi is the guy. That I said months ago should be the one, and I'm going to keep saying it.

John Cena needs to elevate someone, he needs to make someone a star. I'm not saying Ebu Femi is going to be the face of WWE because let's be honest, he probably is going to be tough, but you can still be a main event. wrestler. You can still be a superstar. And I feel like that's what John has to do.

He has to take someone and put them up on that pedestal and go, this is the person who I'm going to I'm going to leave better this spot than when I got here.

So, those are my three. picks. I think either one of the three could be it. Love trick, love dom. But dang, man, Oba Femi, he's right there, and he is the most un F-uppable horse that there is.

You can, you simply cannot F this guy up. You can't. He's. You can't miss. No.

This is Steph. This is Steph Curry shoot. A wide open three, baby. Like, it's right there. Six, four, six, five, whatever it is, tank.

That that is, or there's the whole. The whole thing about pro wrestling is Do you believe? I believe it. Everything that he says when he comes out, the presentation. Everything about him is Big and bad.

And, you know, everybody there in Washington, D.C. on John's last night is going to be there boo-hooing with their cameras out and all of that. What better villain to start? And why is it? He doesn't even have to be a villain.

Like, the fact of the matter is you. Let me tell you something.

Well, they're going to make him a villain. But if John at the end shakes his hand, raises it. That's a different story because now you know he's the dude or whoever the person is, right, that does. face him at the end and I'm assuming should get the dub. Assuming.

Has to be the person who now you're making a main event player. Those are three people that I think are right there. And all three of them, I know I mentioned specifically Oba, but all three of them to me. That that's money right there. Yeah, and you bro, you y'all can look up the tape.

All right, TJ has said this. Thank you. Give me this because I need to talk to them. TJ said this a long time ago. Let me tell y'all right now.

You think We're setting up Oba to be a villain. I'm gonna tell you right now. If TJ's take from all that time ago turns out to be right, Boy, you haters better pray to whatever God you got that TJ is wrong. Because my God, the storm that is gonna flood y'all of I Told You So's, the world has never seen before. How dare you?

Don't you ever in your life. Question a big tuna like that. Get a shot of it. Get a shot of it. Don't ever in your life question the big tuna.

Hashtag big tuna. I'll tell you what, you keep big fire out of somebody. You keep that big tuna up. You're going to feel the wrath of this Kendo's thing. Big tuna.

I know that. But yeah, man, how do you feel about it? I think we're kind of, maybe, I know you like the three people I mentioned, but I think we're under the same thought, right?

Someone said, Let Sheamus beat him and win the IC title. How's who's that helping? Sheamus is a world champion already. It's not, it's not, it doesn't move nobody's needle. We already know how dope Sheamus is.

These might be matches that you just want to see. Yeah. But do you know how many matches that we just wanted to see that never got to happen? It's just, these are the way things are right now. My man said, December, I am out of here.

It's not a lot of time. They got this tournament going on. We're getting some pretty good matches out of the tournament as well. We got these two mystery guests, and we're trying to see who they are. I think this is the right way to do things.

And if you see in the promo package that they keep showing of John saying, You know, I've always thought that my next match, somebody should get the opportunity that I got. That doesn't sound like an established superstar.

So the writing is on the wall. We fantasy book. Creative Liberties is like the culture. We always do this as wrestling fans. And then just nerd culture in general.

You know how many people are mad that Star Wars didn't follow their fan fiction that they made in their head? Dog. This is their thing. And we as consumers are just going to sit there and we're going to go in what direction we think the company should do. But guess what?

You don't work for them. They have their plan already set in stone. They give you your hints, and you can't get mad and pissy when it don't go that way. It's hard to do because we're wrestling fans, but it should be somebody. Up and coming, the same way John says in the promo, the opportunity that he got.

So. That tells me, if I'm reading these tea leaves, that it is going to be somebody from an NXT. He even mentioned NXT, like they're going to do. What did he say? Like, we're going to bring people up from NXT and some people that don't even work here.

Which can only be like TNA. But, like, yeah, man.

So it's a. I think the writing's on the wall there. I think the writing's on the wall there. As far as people that make sense, I just can't get past Oba. I cannot get past Ober making the most sense.

But, like you said, Trick, the amount of work that Trick Williams has done. It It can't be ignored. And it's not. I mean, Ricky kind of put it on him. I don't know if Trick is getting that NXT title anytime soon.

It might be time for that, you know, for that call up. What else does he need to do? You're calling up my woman. I'm lonely at the house now. I got to stay in Orlando.

Come on, bro. You know, she needs a traveling partner. Yeah, man.

But, you know, you're right by me. And I know what you're thinking. Of course, these two black guys. Oh, yeah, because not only are you saying that in the comment section of that video that we made all those months ago, there were literally at least three that were like, yeah, of course, the black guy's going to. First of all, whoever said that I need you to go find a mirror, right?

Look at it, and then slap what you see. That would be yourself. Yeah. If you don't know how mirrors work, dumbass. But yeah, man, I don't know.

It's just like if you look at Oba Femi and you don't see dollar signs, then maybe you don't like money. That's all I can think of. There's a lot of people that don't like money. I mean, it could never be me. It could never be me, dog.

Come on, now. I ain't got no money with my money. But yeah, so. That is our two cents on the John Cena. But there's more, though.

We had a hillturn that, of course, we saw coming. And you know what? And you know what? Shout out to my sister Karima because. Oh So what we like to do.

Is me My sister Karima and my mother. We talk wrestling. This has now become our wrestling little circle right here. Whenever I'm not with them, I'll get a text from my sister. You should see mom's face right now.

Like, you know, like, my mom is locked in. And shout out to Miss Kim. Yeah, my mom, she might have been watching the match. And we get word that she might have said, Why does Stephanie keeps wrestling these same girls over and over, and my sister. Said, well, we're just waiting for uh Nikki Duterte.

Yeah. I mean, we said that two weeks ago, I think. But, like, on the money, as soon as it goes through the text. Bam cross the face Vicky I mean, we knew this was coming. I told you.

I'm such an Eagles fan. Nikki's a natural heel. Yeah. She really is. Like, so yeah, we saw this coming.

Everyone yesterday on Twitter. They were hugging and wrestling. They was hugging ways. Way way too much. Way too much.

Way too much. Girl power. I love you. I like last week. Nikki wrote a tweet about some girl saying Stephanie saved her, and Nikki was like, Oh, I love her so much.

And on Twitter, it's on Twitter. I tweeted, I think it was an Elmo gift going, I said, Oh, he'll turn incoming because it was kind of obvious. I didn't know it was going to be the very next week. Bro, no crying in baseball, and ain't no hugging in wrestling. Nah, come on now.

Doing too much hugging. It's coming. And next thing you know, your ass is going through a barbershop window. But so, you know, Nikki said that, you know. She had a comment on social media, but I don't know, Dawn, I don't know if we have, yeah, Stephanie's response and it was like, I trusted you.

I gave you my honest friendship without truly knowing you. but you don't know me either. I don't forgive. I don't forget. And I've never shown mercy.

Nikki, you play with fire and I'm the fire one. Hey man, you hey. Listen, yeah, you read that. You ain't stumbled or nothing, bro. Them classes is working.

Well, you know, I read that like 18 times over a couple of days. You know what I'm saying? I stared at that picture. Listen, yeah, I mean, it was. I can't even take that.

Look, I'll give. Pat myself on the back for the Seth and the Paul Heyman thing coming, which I called weeks before it happened. This one is, you should have seen it. Especially when you would see some of the response, like people online were, you know, trash talking Vicki and like, she, what does she, what has she done? What has she done?

Yeah. Like, come on. Really? Like, if you're going to ask that question, you weren't paying attention all this time. But it kind of seemed like: all right, this was.

If that's how you feel, then this is where we're going to go.

So, yeah, my whole thing now is: what does this mean for the hard R's? A hard artist who had a who had a match, you know, by the way. Raquel got some new gear. Yes. Oh, baby.

Absolutely. We had a sighting, and that was a Mr. William Regal sighting, and he just screamed out two words, and we know what it meant. And those two words were. War games!

Dude. He did the thing. He did the thing, right? Like, that is what, like, in such a good way to bring him out, too.

So, we mentioned that Kabuki Warriors are now the new tag team champions. They got help from Last Legend and Nia Jax. We got to work on the tag team name for them, too, at some point. And then, of course, Charlotte. Alexa came out.

Friend of his, or whatever they are. Yeah, they came out.

So now. And then we had the return of everyone's favorite Rhea Ripley, where EO came out. Eo came out. Eo! Yup.

Eo came out. And I was like, oh man, is Rhea about to come back? And then she's about to come back as an ass woman. We know that Meet Rhea broke her nose in Australia a few weeks ago.

So I don't think you can have war games without Rhea in a mask, it seems like. EO for that matter. Right. She is Miss Wargames. Yeah, that's true because you know what's going to happen.

You know, EO's climbing to the top of the cage with a trash can on her head and moonsaulting on somebody. You know what's going to happen. But right now we have EO, Rhea, Charlotte, Alexa. Taking on Asuka, Kyrie, Lash, Naya.

Now, do we add five? I swear it was five, right? Like, I know traditional.

So we'll see if each team gets someone else, do they go with four? Because they put them in those cages. Yeah. I swear it's five on five. That's what I always thought.

But I mean, I guess they can run a four on five. You can do whatever you want. Because I know, first of all, Let's also go to the men's because When CM Pawn came out there and uh Jey Uso spawned out of nowhere. That's the first time I've seen Jey Uso come out without the music in forever. He was just in the ring.

Like, Jay. Did it Tell me what you're sleeping here? Weren't you expecting Jay to like clock pump and something? Because it felt like we were getting teased the hill turn for Jay, and then. The next week, it's like, no, we're good.

Yeah, yeah. And there's still room. There's still room after War Games, what we decide to do with that. But then, whilst. That was happening because you got the vision and Logan Paul, who honestly would have fit great in the original vision as well.

But you got that happening and Then Cody was like. I mean, I'm here. And then ran out. I am in the building. Yeah, so.

And runs out to help Jay because they got history. And, you know, him and CM Punk over there. Yeah. You know, A E W. And then, so they're locked in against the vision.

And it's three on three. Yeah. So we're going to need.

So I know for sure they got to get more, right? At least one. Man.

So I don't know how many numbers War Games is anymore. Up is down. Left is black. Everything is all topsy-turvy.

So we'll see where they go. Yeah, we got two. We got two more days. They need one more side. Absolutely.

It might be a phenomenal choice. Ooh. But he's a tag team champion.

So, I mean, you're not going to be here for long, AJ. Get your eyes open. He's here for a good time, not a long time. And then there's one other thing.

So, yeah, Survivor Series, War Games. We've got a few days. We'll talk about that probably as we get some more information. But before we bring out our guests, there's one other thing that was, I'm going. Complete Frank Costanza from Seinfeld here.

And I feel like I about to. Did you manage the Yankees?

Well, no, no, but I would definitely. Wouldn't manage the Yankees. I'd manage the Mets. You know that. But yeah, I'm going to air some grievances.

You know, I got a lot of problems with you people, and I'm going to tell you about it. One of them is after Jay Cargill wins the WWE Women's Championship, I start seeing a lot of stories and comment sections and like on Facebook, different. You know, different sites I go to that keep up with wrestling news. And one day it was almost like everybody was a sheep and decided to use the same three words. And when I tell you, I saw at least six comments that said copy and paste.

If I didn't see six, and I didn't see one, but people complain that Jade Cargill, they're like, oh, she's just a copy and paste from what she was at AEW. What is wrong with you people, man? Like, what do you complain? Do you think that she's going to come to WWE and get what a whole new look, a whole new wardrobe? A whole new share now.

Yeah, she's going to start doing Topay Suicidas. Like, you know what I mean? Like, come on. Hey, by the way, folks, you know who also came from another company and had the same gear and the same music and the same moveset? Yeah, that would be Cody Rhodes.

Yeah. I didn't hear one, not one person, not one person complain that Cody Raheem was the same person he was from the spot that he came in before. But all of a sudden, now it's a problem with Jade. Here's the deal. Jade Cargill's not going to put on Matt Classics.

Okay. She's not going to put on six-star matches because that's not who she is, and that's not what she needs to do. It's also a reason why she should be a hill because you always say like A hill should be someone who you can't really relate to. When I told Tiffany Stratton, you're not a babyface. People don't look like you.

Like, no. Jade Cargill. Jade Cargill. Yeah, how can a normal person relate to Jade Cargill? Yeah.

Six foot tall with eight abs, you know, face card that don't decline, even with a scar. They had to like scar up to try to make her ugly. And guess what? It still didn't work. Yeah.

Like, the woman is built. Like a comic book character, yeah. What do you want? Like, so what do you want her to look like that and then become a matt-based wrestler? Also, how much copy and paste can it be when she has the top title in the company?

Also, that didn't happen anywhere else. Copy and paste, how many women look like that? You can't like, come on, dog.

So, anyway, that was really frustrating me for the few days I was watching that. And I was like, I feel like I should say something to somebody. Then I remembered, oh, yeah, I got a microphone in front of me every week, so I'm going to say it.

So, I did. And if you don't like it, you're going to let us know. Guess what? I don't care because that's how it is. Just make sure that you share, like, and subscribe and quit your bitching.

Because, like, what you gonna do, man? Nothing. Bro, she is a powerhouse. I am here to be a powerhouse. And now I am the one with the title.

I got the big girl belt, and there ain't nothing that nobody can do about it. You better hope, you better pray, because this is what you want. She is running things and she is running through everybody.

Now, I want to see Jade Cargill do that, whether it's WWE, whether it's AEW, whether it's your mama's house, whether it's anywhere in the world. There's no way that you don't want to see Jade Cargill being a dominant powerhouse.

Sorry that you, yeah, I don't know what you thought was going to happen. She did the tag team thing for a little bit. That was successful. Very much. Had a great storyline.

And now she's running things and she should be dominant. Because look at the lady. The lady is a Mortal Kombat character.

So. Get mad, get glad, heavyweight trash bags, and just watch T V. And also, you want more copy and paste, and wait till she gets her own group of baddies again. Because I can already see that coming. Who'd she have in AEW as a baddie?

It was someone named Red Velvet, and she had red hair. And who's she wrestling first? There's B Fab, and she's got red hair. And there's Mee Chin. And so, oh man.

Guess what? It's coming. Real. All right. Y'all can copy and paste his foot in y'all's ass.

But you know what? Enough of that, man. Let's get to it. A little too negative around here. It's Wednesday.

I feel like talking to a legend, dawg. Yeah, let's do it. Let's do it. If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify. You know that purple Shop Pay button you see at checkout?

The one that makes buying so incredibly easy? That's Shopify. And there's a reason so many businesses sell with it, because Shopify makes it incredibly easy to start and run your business. Shopify is the commerce platform behind 10% of all e-commerce in the US. From household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands just getting started, Shopify gives you a leg up with hundreds of beautiful ready-to-go templates to express your brand style and forget about the code.

Tackle all those important tasks in one place, from inventory to payments to analytics and more. Spread your brand's word with built-in marketing and email tools to find and keep new customers. And did I mention that iconic purple shop pay button that's used by millions of businesses around the world? It's why Shopify has the best converting checkout on the planet. Your customers already love it.

If you want to see less carts being abandoned, it's time for you to head over to Shopify. Sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com slash network. Go to shopify.com slash network. Shopify.com/slash network. As you know, managing maintenance, repair, and operations is never easy.

But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back. From professional grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery. They're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities.

Call 1-800-GRANGER, clickgranger.com, or just stop by. It is an absolute honor. For TJ and I to bring on our next guest. It's always a good feeling around here when we get to be with wrestling royalty, you know. And this man has touched gold in all corners of the world.

Every continent almost. Yeah, whether you know him from the bullet club or being the king of the six-sided ring, or you know him as the face that runs the place. He is a. In a in the arcade world. He is a dollar in a world of quarters.

All right, there's no other way to describe this, dude. Ladies and gentlemen, the phenomenal one, AJ Styles, a dollar in the world of quarters. If I had room, I was going to throw my hood up and then do it, but I realized I would have knocked the microphone out the way. But what's up, AJ? Pleasure to have you.

What's up, guys? Man, glad to be here. I had to dig into the crates, the t-shirt crates today, and I broke out an old Biz Kliz t-shirt. Yeah, I appreciate you using Biz Kliz on there. All right, that's a cool shirt, too, man.

And you see, I like the way you popped out in this because everyone else is in black and white, and you got your blue glove on and You know, it just you can see styles on there.

So, yeah, that's pretty cool, man. I never thought about that, but yeah, it's pretty cool that thank God for gloves, I guess, and that I was wearing them. No, I mean, there's a, man, we got a lot to get to, but we like to start off usually. With these interviews, with asking you, you know, just from the beginning. What was it?

What was the moment? That Made you get bit by the wrestling bug? What started all of this wonderful journey you've been on?

Well, I can tell you, as soon as I took my first bump, first ball in a rink, in an actual rink. Like they were trying to beat the crap out of me so that I'd quit. You know, one of those kind of, hey, let's see if he can do it before we even start training this kid. Yeah. I knew right then and there that I could do this.

And nobody could tell me different. Nobody.

Now, can you remember that? First, welcome to wrestling moment. A bump that might have You know, took the soul out you a little bit. Made you though. That's the thing, is I was young back then, so things didn't affect me the way they do now, right?

So I was happy to take the highest backdrop you could possibly give me. You know, I wanted to take the chair shots, I wanted to go through these tables, I wanted to do all these things.

So I was invincible at that time. Not now, my child. You know, when you're young, man, you're invincible. At least you think you are. Absolutely.

So you, you know, back in high school, you were two-time state wrestling champion, then went on to college. And you, apparently, you got invited by some friends to go watch a match. And is that the moment that you were like, yeah, this is for me?

So they were big wrestling fans, and they asked me if I wanted to come with them to train. And that's when I got in there and took that first bump.

So they ended up moving on to something else, and I. Stuck with wrestling.

So I wonder how they feel about the whole situation. I'm sure they're happy for me, but I'm like, you know, it's just the craziest thing. A guy from Gainesville, Georgia, was able to make it in the WWE and TNA and New Japan and all these different places.

Now, what was uh I mean, I guess What were you watching? You know, what were some of your inspirations back then, the guys that helped build the mind of AJ?

So, you know, I didn't have the opportunity to watch a lot of wrestling when I was younger because I didn't have cable.

So we had to go out and turn the antenna and hopefully it'd pick up. And so I was a big fan of the Rogue Warriors. That's who I loved as a kid. But as far as inspiration goes, it wasn't one guy, you know, that I really, you know, thought that's who I want to be like. But, you know, the Billy Kidman, Lance Storm, these athletes, that's what I was drawn to as the athletes of the time.

Not necessarily the biggest names, although I was a big fan of Sting because, I mean, he looks so freaking cool. How could you not love him? But it wasn't just one thing. I wanted to, I guess. I started picking from a lot of different people.

Uh thank God because It allowed me to be different and not like everybody else.

Now, you are just the same way that you had your bunch of people that you picked from, dude. You have inspired a generation of wrestlers now. And you see so many people are influenced by you. What does that feel like? You know, what is that to know that you left such a mark?

On something that, you know, you just went with your buddies to go train one day. It's crazy, right? But that's cool. I mean, if guys are doing my moves, if girls are doing my moves, that's. That's awesome.

I want them to. That just means that I've, you know, I've made an impact in the business that people have watched AJ Styles and go, freaked out, I'd like to try that. I'd like to see if I could do that. Because I did the same thing. I was trying shooting star presses and 450s and all kinds of stuff like that because I saw other guys do it.

So the fact that if someone does the Styles clash, I don't care. Like, Thank you for doing it, man. I mean, it's like you. It's impacted the wrestling world and that's okay. I like that.

I was going to save this for later, but you brought it up now.

So, how did you come up with the Styles Clash? This is the dumbest.

So. My little brother-in-law, I'm sitting on the porch at my girlfriend's house. I wasn't married to a sister yet, and they were trying to power bomb each other, but they couldn't get each other up, you know.

So they. just kind of dangle upside down and they're talking to each other. Yeah. I go, huh.

So I walked over there and I gave my little brother-in-law the first ever styles class on the trampoline. Wow. Hey. Like, how did it. Like, what made you just hook the arm?

Like, what made you do that? It just popped in there. It just popped in there when I was sitting on the porch. And walked over there, and I just kind of hooked his little arms. I mean, he's five years old, you know, and he's five.

He hooked his little arms and gave him the style slash, and he took it perfectly, you know. Mm-hmm.

So you mentioned your wife, Wendy. Uh, and you guys have been together, you were high school sweethearts. And what I understand is she wanted to go on a date, and she wanted you to take her to a movie. And you were like, I got a better idea. What where'd you take her on one of your first dates?

Uh you know actually here's the thing. I didn't have a car.

Okay. So she picked me up and I also didn't have money. And she paid for us to have two junior whoppers at Burger Kink.

Well Man, I don't know. A good woman, right? Exactly. You feel me? Let me tell you, that's one you hold on to right there, brother.

I'm still holding on. I knew I had a good woman right from the get-go. I just tried not to screw it up. And so, but did you take her to a wrestling match one of the first times you...

So once I started wrestling, there were no dates because I had to wrestle every weekend, and I would take her with me. And God bless her. She sat through all that painful wrestling that she had to see. I mean, because what kind of boyfriend does that to the girlfriend? It's not, it's not.

I mean you've if you've ever been to an indie show Yeah, we have. They're not the most glamorous places you've ever seen. Yeah, you know. I mean, it is what it is. Yeah, I mean, it is what it is, exactly.

But, you know, we did get to spend time together, and there were moments where I said, listen. One day this is going to pay off. And it just so happens for once in my life, I was right. And it has paid off. Shout out to Wendy for holding you down, man.

Yeah, yeah, that's right. I gotta ask about this first styles clash on a five-year-old. My thought was, you're like, it's what girlfriend's brother. I'm thinking, oh, he's probably 16, 17, 18. You're like, he was five.

Come here, little buddy.

Well, which is great because that's the most fun you can have with kids. You can choke slam them, powerbomb them, do anything. Oh, yeah. He was one of those happy accidents, you know, so he was a little younger than his brothers and sisters. But, you know, hey, it it we got in the styles clash out of it.

How how old were you hitting this uh hitting this style definitely? I had to be, maybe, maybe he was a little bit older. I'm just guessing because I just remember him being little. Because I started when I was 20, 21.

So it wasn't too long after that, maybe 22. Maybe twenty-three when I came up with that move out of the blue.

So Now Something that we like to ask. But Nasi, you weren't necessarily watching, though. Is there a time where either, you know, you. Having the knowledge behind the curtain, just any. Any point in time as a fan.

Can you rem remember a time when wrestling broke your heart? What I like to say on the show is watching as a kid, When I saw Hulk Hogan. Crash through the Rocks ambulance and almost kill him. My whole day was ruined. You know, a lot of people bring up the Undertaker streak being taken out by Brock.

Is there a moment where you either saw a finish or something? You're like, wow, you know, like that, that stung a little bit. Yeah, I think we all were kind of wondering why Brock was able to beat. Undertaker, everybody wanted him to keep the streak as long as he could. Uh, I think that was the only thing I was like, and I mean, if you're talking about real life breaking your heart, I was watching the pay-per-view when Owen passed away, you know, like that was some crazy stuff because you had no idea what was going on, you just heard rumors and stories, and it was just like, wow, one of the best to ever do it.

If you ever go back and you look at Japanese wrestling, there's a lot of Owen Hart in there, you know, really good stuff.

So, um, you know, I'm just kind of I remember going, wow, that... This is This is tragic. Like, this is crazy that Owen Hart, one of the best to ever do it. We're not going to be able to see him in the ring anymore.

So that was a heartbreaker for me. Absolutely. So you started training in 98 under Rick Michaels? Can you explain, all of our NCW fans, who was Mr. Olympia?

Ha B. Uh, there was a chance to get in the ring, and I was like, Yes, I want to get in the ring, I want to try this thing out. Uh, and he said, Mr. Olympia, I said, I don't care. Uh, put a mask on me, and I'll do it.

Uh, so yeah, I had a singlet that I'd taken from college because I never gave it back, so I guess I stole it, turned it, turned it inside out. Or had my wrestling shoes? And yeah, mister Olympia uh was uh reborn that night. 'Cause I'm pretty sure he exists somewhere. Of course.

Absolutely. There's nothing too new under the sun, especially when it comes to wrestling.

Now, You know, you've been able to have this long-standing career. You've seen All corners of the world, I like to say you've been around the world and aye, aye, aye. Is there anything that you feel is missing A little bit in this new age of wrestling? And also, is there anything that you're glad that it's gone?

Well, I can tell you the one thing that's missing and I wa I still to this day I will go over at my buddy's house before we work out and we will watch old school wrestling, which is what we do. That's kind of our thing. And the one thing that I think is missing the most is selling. The way they used to sell back in the day, man, they really made you believe that this hurt. You know, that this guy's in pain, and I just feel like we've gotten away from that, and I'm.

just as guilty as anybody but if we could take it back and make less is more kind of thing. happen I think that would be best for everybody. And what was the other? What was the one thing that you're glad is gone, right? Is that the one thing it was?

What was it? You know what? After taking them. For so many years. I'm glad Cheershot's a gone.

Yeah, I mean that's a good reply. I mean, you tried to find ways of making him hurt less by like jumping into it when he's throwing it. You're kind of putting your head into it so he doesn't get a full swing. But at the end of the day, it never feels good. And I'd love to tell you that chairs in the back feel good, but they don't.

Kurt Angle almost knocked my soul out of my body. I mean, there's been some.

Some hints from a A chair shot that they're pretty strong, guys.

Some guys swing them, and you got to. You got to. Yeah, and we have Mick Foley. You know, Mick Foley is taking. Quite a few, you know, quite a few chair shots, but something that you said that Mick also spoke on, because when we had Mick Foley on, he.

He talked about how he's, you know, not the most athletic. He's not going to outperform people in that aspect, but he was always going for the moment, you know, stealing the show moments. And I heard you recently say that a lot of people won't remember matches and all the things that you put into it, but those moments. Uh what are some of the the Ones that you remember getting off where you were like, yeah, you know, like that, that was the one. That was a highlight real.

Well, there like as far as moments go, I mean That's what it's all about. If you can create moments, people will remember those forever. There was a good moment between John Cena and I at SummerSlam the first time we got in the ring together, and people were excited to see it. That was a really, really cool moment. Um, but uh and then and you know, I can throw back to the the the match John and I just had we created a lot of different moments in that match, and it wasn't just moves, it was like I was trying to create a moment based on what I was wearing.

Because if a lot of people don't know But there was a magazine out and it had John Cena and AJ Styles. I was in TNA, he was in WWE, of course.

Well, I was wearing the gear that I had. uh on in that magazine.

So, for those who put it together, it was cool for them, I guess. For those who aren't old enough to remember it, they're like, well, he's wearing shorts, I guess, you know. But there was, then you have the moments where the sister Abigail hits me with that. You can see that moment. Yeah.

And There were just a lot of throwbacks in that match if you knew The history of AJ Styles and John Cena. I think most people knew John's. Uh, maybe half knew what AJ Styles did because we did, uh, for guys that we wrestled, it was kind of like.

Well, you know what? It was exactly the way Triple H say it. It was like a love. like a love uh note to pro wrestling you know like That's what we want to create out there. All the people that we wrestled, all the things that we've done, we're just gonna bash it all together.

and uh just kind of make history. with that match. That's what we were trying to do, anyway. I think a lot of people enjoyed it. I did.

So, absolutely. Yeah, I had this question to say for later in the interview, but since we brought it up now, and it's literally what I wrote, it was like you and John's love letter, the pro wrestling, and to all your former opponents with all the moves that you guys were using. It was just. It was one of those matches, AJ, where, like, as a wrestling fan, I personally sat back and I've been watching since the early 80s. I just sat back and had a smile on my face, man.

And it was so, it was just fun. It was just a fun match to watch you guys seem like you were having a blast.

Something really cool happened there. Right as Alicia Taylor is about to introduce you. John hands her a a slip of paper. And he wrote your introduction.

Now, my question is, did you know that was going on? Did you know he had written something? Or were you just as shocked and hearing this for the first time like the rest of us? When I heard the definition of total non-stop action, I was like, wait. Were they talking about me?

And so I was like, oh, okay, this is. And then when I realized, I was like, this John, like, you could see me look at him. What did you do? You know, kind of thing. And it was.

It was pretty freaking cool, man. That was an introduction I had no idea that I was getting, but he found a way to make me feel just as important as he was in that ring. And it's very much appreciative.

Well, AJ, I don't know if you know this, you are just as important in the world of wrestling, my brother. Don't ever let anyone tell you. I appreciate you saying that. I appreciate you saying that because when I look in the mirror, I'm just this. old beat up man who uh you know it Old beat up man who is in the best.

I don't know internally how you feel, but just from the bird's eye and looking at you physically, you look like a freaking superhero right now, bro.

So it's hard to say. I broke it well. Um But you know, I'm just, I'm blessed, man. There's no doubt about that. To be able to I've been hurt, you know for like two years in a row I got hurt broke my foot and then I freaking At a Liz Frank injury, which almost ended my career.

I thought it was over. Uh But I was able to fight back and be able to get back in the ring and finish on my feet. That's important to me. It's just like I'm the one who gets to decide. When I finish, not an injury, not someone else.

I get to decide that. Yeah, and you know, with John on the farewell tour, it was you know announced. that uh you're gonna be Riding off into the sunset on your own time, which is something that not a lot of guys get to do. Choose when they go out and choose the way that they do it.

Well I do I do gotta say um I I've I've heard you say that You and CM Punk. You guys haven't had that 101 in the WWE yet. I would love to see that. And first, let me get your statement on that one first, on you and CM Paul. I would love to work punk.

I think it'd be great. Our style is very much the same. We've wrestled each other 20 years ago, and to throw it back, to be able to do it again, one-on-one match. I think it'd be a lot of fun. I don't know if it's going to happen because we don't write the stuff, you know.

But.

You know, if it's there, it's there. If it isn't, it isn't. And it's just like you said, I could ride off into the sunset and be okay with it. I don't have to have an AJ Styles tour, retirement tour. I don't have to have that.

I don't need that. I just want to be able to. Do it my own way and and literally you don't have to know that I even left. I could just be gone. I I just It's just one of those things that it was eating me up inside.

and I was acting weird. And then I was like, what am I doing? I get to retire. Yeah. That's the thing is a lot of people don't get to retire.

They have to retire. And I get to. And so I'm just going to enjoy. you know what time i have left and if i have to you know you'll never have to know i'm gone i'll just be like oh yeah by the way i've retired you know i'm okay with that Well My man CM Punk. He's a friend of mine.

And let me tell you something about he was our very first guest. He was the guy that helped kick it. He put us on the mat with this. Yeah, with our podcast, No Contest Wrestling.

So let me let you know right now: I am all for pushing propaganda to get this done.

Now, somebody else who I've also spoke about, pushing the propaganda, our last guest. was the TNA world champion, my man Mike Santana. And Mike Santana had this to say about you. If we could play the clip. I've been very blessed in my career to have worked.

With so many different people, especially people that I grew up watching, guys that I played with their action figures, guys that I've eyed a lot. You know what I mean? Like, I've been very, very blessed. Um But there's only one dream match that I'm chasing. There's one left for me.

And that is AJ Styles. AJ Styles for me. Is truly like There's no one like him. And I think When he's gone, there ain't gonna be no one like him, you know? And the fact that, like, See hasn't been in TNA what since twenty sixteen twenty fifteen The fact that He still recognizes, still to this day, after every amazing thing that he's done.

Since leaving, the fact that he's still synonymous with TNA. And still consider the face and the original homegrown talent of TNA. Just speaks. volumes well And Again, the fact that I'm also like in this position as the face of the company and another homegrown talent. Uh of TNA.

Like I think the story is there. The story writes itself and to be able to get in there with him and learn from him. And just say that I went toe to toe with one of the absolute best. in professional wrestling ever. Is it.

And if I could do it for the TNA World title in a TNA ring. That's it right there. Awesome. Just a messenger, huh? Yeah.

Just a messenger, man. We're just here to help. Move things along. Honestly, the way he's talking, he sounds like me with some of the legends that I've gotten to wrestle. You know, I just want to be able to learn from them and be in the ring with them and just...

Say that I had the opportunity to be, you know, to wrestle them. I get it, man. I really do. I was hoping that this would happen. I really was, but then I realized.

It probably never could as far as WWE letting me do that. And I'll tell you why. It's because as soon as I open those gates for the main roster talent.

Now everybody's going to want to do it.

So, I don't know if it's gonna happen, if I'm being honest, but I would like to. Don't get me wrong. What a moment it was when I was able to go back. But.

Yeah, I just don't see that match uh I don't see a match happening as of right now. Even with the the seemingly partnership. And it's because It's an in exactly though, it's a n it's NXT has got the partnership, not the main roster talent. Um so and listen I wish I wish I could do it and I think I should Be the only guy to do it, but that's being very selfish.

So. We'll see what happens in the future. I don't know necessarily. But We'll find out together. Listen.

All right, TJ, I want you to hear. There was, there's, as of right now, There was, I'd like to. There's hope. All right, you gotta have faith.

So you're saying that's a chance. Yes, you gotta have faith. And this is the first seed of propaganda. I'm gonna know a contest wrestling. Hey, AJ, I'll say this.

Literally, as I'm talking to you guys, I'm coming up with ideas in my head to how to make that happen.

So. There you go, AJ. Listen, you know, a Chia Pet grows in three days, man. You know, you got to plant the seed, you know, you got to put some good soil on it. You got this.

Is the seed getting planted with Mike? Yeah, I don't want to hear that it can't happen because there's no way that's the next guest, too. We're like, that's wrestling fans. We need to see this. And by the way, just real quick, you said something earlier that really made me mad, AJ.

You said that you could just leave and no one would care. How dare you, sir? How dare you say that no one would care that the phenomenal one is gone? You got to stop that, man. Because, you know, when I heard that next year was the last year, I was kind of like, is he short?

Like, does it happen? You heard Mike say that, man, when he's gone, there'll never be another one like it. There truly won't be, man. But well, there are sometimes, and some, and this is my own mind getting in the way, my own bad thoughts getting in the way of, you know, sometimes I'm at work, I'm like. I don't think I matter there.

And it's just there's a lot going on, and trying to deal with that reality and making new stars all at the same time. And John seen us having his, you know. his retirement toward like I get it man there's a lot going on and And that's why I say it was in my head, it was messing with me so. I gotta get that out of my head and be okay with just walking away and doing my own thing. You know, speaking of you saying you didn't matter, I don't know if this is something you want to get into, if this was a storyline, but a few months ago, I guess on a.

Raw, you had said that there are people that didn't want you. There was that something that was, you know, was that a work? Was that a shoot? Was that building up to something? Is that something you just want to not talk about?

It was something I was trying to set up. that I don't think is going to happen.

So and it's not necessarily not true. But I'm not talking about Triple H.

So listen if I wanted to clear that, that But uh Yeah. That's about all I can say about it. Got it. Copy that.

Now I mean, you did. A lot of people didn't think they'd ever see you in the WWE ring. And so I would love to kind of get. That feeling that you had that Royal Rumble, first of all, coming in at what number three? That was wild.

That's not usually the spot for you know a surprise of that magnitude.

So, what was that like? That first Royal Rumble in hearing the pop, yeah. Because you know, in the documentary you did, you said that, and we brought this up to, I can remember one of our previous guests, and I brought this up to them. You said that you didn't think that people would know you. Which is, as you like to say, is crazy.

But yeah, what was what was that day like?

Well, and you gotta think, uh there's the WWE bubble, and some some wrestling fans don't watch anything other than WWE, but the fact that it was in Orlando was a good thing for me because, of course, TNA ran out of Orlando the whole time. And so I was like, well, there's got to be a couple that might know who I am. And I've been gone for. Two years in Japan, and I've been coming back to the States to do indies, but that's way different. I basically haven't been on mainstream TV.

in two years.

So that was a real thing. I didn't know what to expect. And it it I mean, coming up number three, oh my gosh. Uh Thank God. Thank God people wanted to see AJ Styles, or I would have been doomed.

By the way, Vince didn't know who I was at all. No. So. So I'm just throwing that at you. He thought it was like ah, it's just a fluke at the end of.

Flash of the pan this Yeah, it's just all I know.

So I wasn't even on the show. Ah. on Raw the next day. I think it was the next day, yeah. Oh, so really?

Bro, they put me on it after that, and I went and had this match. And he literally told me, he was like, I gotta... A hundred guys that can do what you do. And I understand why he was saying that because I was trying to be what I thought WWE wanted me to be rather than be AJ Styles. And once he told me what he needed, and I know you've heard the story before, he was like, I need a pit bull.

And I was like, I was like, ugh. I know that guy. Yeah, for sure. You know, AJ, you are, speaking of a pit bull, you know, we're jumping forward and backward and side to side, but you're somebody when I watch you in the ring, I feel like everything you do hurts the person that you're doing it to, man. It just, you make it.

Seem as though you were really putting 150% in every punch and every kick. Was that part of your style that? you kind of brought out a little bit more once you got there. Because he made that pit bull comment? No, that's kind of who I was.

That's what I'd like to do. I like to make everything I do Look painful as realistic as I possibly can. I want them to think that AJ Styles is one pissed-off son of a God. And I want it to show in my face and how deliberate I am with what I do.

So that's kind of my thing, that's what I want to do. Easier said than done. It's not like I just got to wrestling. I was that guy. I had to figure out who I was.

And I understand that. I'm not six foot. I'm under six foot, so I have to look meaner than everybody else.

So a lot of times that's what I'm doing. There's no wasted movement. At least I try not to have any wasted movement. A kick's just not a kick, and a chop's just not a chop. I want to make every one of them count.

Makes sense. I know that there has to be some sort of balance You go out and you go out to these crowds and these arenas and You never know who's seeing you for the first time while you're there. Can you talk about, you know, because there's a lot of new age wrestlers who try to do the whole move set in every match. Can you talk about what that finding that balance is of like when to save things for bigger moments or even bigger events and like not to burn out your moveset? Yeah, there's a time and a place for everything.

And I have... Move sets for the beginning and the middle and the ending part of a match, and so I've got. a plethora of them. And so I don't have to use every one of them. And I'm only going to use the big ones when it matters the most, when I think we're going to get the biggest reaction.

That's when we use them. When you're young, man, you just wanna Do everything you got. Yeah. And uh I get it you're trying to make uh you're trying to hope that people see you and go, wow, this kid's amazing. But when you once you learn the psychology, Of everything.

It doesn't work that way. And once you get to where you have time limits on your match, there's no time for that. Again, we don't want any wasted movement within that match. We want to make everything count.

So sometimes you have to be unselfish and make sure the other guy's getting his stuff in because. I don't want to squash anybody. I want us both to look good because if we both look good. That means either I lost to a guy who was really good, where I beat a guy who was really good.

So, I want to do my best to make sure everybody gets over the match. I want to sell the match, not just myself. Is there anybody that comes to mind when you think When you Are you face to face with him, or when you have been face to face with him, where you know, like, this guy's gonna take care of me? Like, is there any like gold star standard where you're like, Yeah, we're gonna put on something good and he's gonna make sure I'm all right? The first name that pops up is Finn Balor.

Like when I get in the ring with him, and I've been in the ring with him several times, but here recently as a tag team, and it's just like, man, this is going to be so easy. Being in the ring with this guy, I don't have to worry about anything. And it's just like that. This is just one of the guys, and there's several, several of those guys. Jimmy and Jay Uso, you don't have to worry about those guys.

Like, we know we're gonna have a banger. You know, like there's a couple guys, like, I don't know why John and I have so many great matches. I really don't. I'm being honest because we're nothing to like. Yeah.

But we have this timing together in in the ring that's I've I've had for with very few gots. You know? You know, when you get in there with your best friends now, they're allowed to hit you harder. Like when I'm in there with Joe. Man, just come, just come at me, dude.

I'm gonna let my body do whatever it's gonna do when you hit me. You know, I love working because he looks more violent than he is. Christopher Daniels is another one of those guys, just amazing. And I can go on and on about so many guys that you're just like, oh my god, dude, did we just have a five-star match on accident? You know, because it was just timing.

Let's talk about that since you I love how you like you're bringing these people up and it's leading to questions that we have in October 2017. You did the P TLC P-L-E now, the P-P-V back in the day. But you wrestled the demon, and this was right after you came off a tour, a match in Chile, then you flew in. Yeah, I don't know if you guys have heard that story, but it was crazy. Talk to me.

I think it was in either one of or close to the last match of the show when we were in Chile. And they go, Hey, we've got to put you on first because we're going to have you go and wrestle Finn Balor, Bray Wyatt's sick.

So I'm like, oh, all right.

So literally, wrestled the first match, took a shower, got on a plane. Flew me to Florida, got on a private. Plane, one of Vince's private planes, and flew to wherever we were. I don't even know at this point. I slept on the plane on the little couch they had.

And got to the show and and had an amazing match with Finn Balor. It was a crazy night, but you know what, man? I was... I was stoked that they asked me to do it, that they knew that I was going to be able to pull it off and have a great match with him. You know, and it was.

It was a great match. Come to DSW for the shoes, stay for the fun. Because let's be honest. If shoe shopping isn't fun, are you even doing it right?

So go ahead, try something new, try something different. Good difference. Try something that feels like you. You know, the real you. and then definitely brag about it later.

Because at DSW, you've got unlimited freedom to play. Buy the shoes that get you at prices that get your budget at DSW stores or at dsw.com. Let us surprise you. You know, sometimes I I I I'm of the thought process, right, that like Sometimes you can just have a wrestling match. And story is necessary most of the time.

But I feel like sometimes you could just put two people in the ring and let them go. And that's kind of what it seemed like. And I remember the fans, the crowd seemed so hot. You know, the two Bullet Club leaders going at it. And you guys just, man, it was beautiful to watch.

And then at the end, throwing up the too sweet to each other, man, that was like, it was just one of those moments as a wrestling fan. You just, especially if you're someone, right, who, like you said, if you only watch one organization, then you probably felt a certain, you got a certain way. But if you watch a little bit of everything like we like to do and we kind of knew the backstory and understood it, man, that was, that was too sweet. It was, it was a cool moment. It was a cool moment.

But you know, I'm pretty sure I think I heard, or maybe it was in an interview or something like this. I was like, what are they doing? You know, we're too sweet in each other. But I don't think he cared as much once it got the pop too.

So it was. little things that again that's a moment right yeah that we had together Now, I want to talk about A personal moment because you, you know, like I said, there's a lot of people that didn't think you would ever be in the WWE ring. I don't know about your own thoughts, but you made it and you made an impact. And he made an impact. Ah, I see what you did there.

Not in the movie too. It's happened. But you, you. They won the big one. You know, you were WWE champion.

So I want to know. The the journey that you went through. Going around the world, all the locker rooms you had been to get to what they what is the world knows as the top of the top and have the hardware. That first night. as champion of the world, what did it feel like?

laying your head on the pillow as WWE champion.

Well, I can tell you this, man. I had dealt with the fact that I was never going to have a. Like a WrestleMania moment. I've never been. WWE, I just, man, I'm at the time I'm 37, 36 around there, and I and I just, I mean, I'm an older guy, and if they haven't come to me at this point, they never will.

And I was okay with that. I dealt with that. Uh but Then going on, and as quickly as it happened, even. Being told I'm going to be in the Royal Rumble match was pretty quick. I'm like, oh my God, you know, and then not knowing whether I can wear my logo on my gear.

That's the reason why I didn't throw it up. Yeah. At the Royal Rumble, it was because I didn't know if I could use it. They had to make sure it was because I was like, I own it. You know, well, we gotta.

So that's why my gear looked different. Um but then going on uh to wrestle Dean Ambrose and Having a cool, freaking, really cool match with him, man. Had a lot of great matches with him. He's another one of those guys that's just unbelievable to be in the ring with. Um It was surreal.

I was like, wow, I am the WWE champion. And I'll tell you what was cooler than that. Because we had to take the championships home with us at that time. And my wife was like, hey, some of our friends, you know, they want you to bring the bell up, they want to see it. I'm like, okay.

So I go over there and they have film a party for me. For being the WWE champion. And I thought that was really cool. Like, they totally got me. I was like, why is my brother over here?

So it was a really neat, a nice surprise. It just. It showed me how proud they are of me, you know, for doing this crazy wrestling thing. And it was a really cool moment. No, we definitely want to continue talking about your journey and everywhere you went.

But back in, I take it back again, back in 2002, you had a tryout with WWE. And you. They were going to sign you and you turned down the chance to. to work for them. Can you tell us, our fans, you know, why, what went to that thought process?

Listen, this was hard for me because, of course, I wanted to make it in the WWE. I wanted to. to at least train to be better and And I went up there and I ha had a decent Training, I guess you'd say, and you know, they just kind of go out there and they offered me the deal, and mind you. I had to move to Cincinnati. For $500 a week.

And I know this is a couple years ago, so it's not terrible money. But I was also making that at my regular job. Right. And they took out taxes. What was your regular job, AJ?

What? Add a little bottle of water.

Okay. People need water. You know? It is what it is. More importantly, they need to eat.

So that's why the job's important. Actually, I think at that my first job when I went to WCW, I was delivering bottled water. By the time I got to the tryout with WWE, I was a non-emergency ambulance driver, which means I have a van. And I go pick up people from the nursing home mostly. and I take them to the doctor for the doctor's appointments and as it's crazy it's one of my favorite jobs.

Because of the older folk that I got to talk to and interact with and say hello to.

So I really actually enjoyed that job. Um But again. The my wife was in. college to be a school teacher and I just didn't think it was right. For me to go off and leave her and her moving to her parents' house, back into her parents' house.

Like, that is not how a husband. does things and so I made sure that we you know, put her. priorities her dream first and then let's just See what happens. Um And you know what? It turned out to be the best thing I could have done.

Absolutely. Now, what's up? We're going to get back to wrestling. Yeah, yeah. Let's go.

You know, he was chomping at the bit. And I know that you probably want this too.

So have at it. Listen, I respect you as a gamer so much because I've seen your collection. I've seen how much pride you put. I am one of the most unorganized people on earth. But the way that you got your stuff.

You know, put together and the arcade machines and everything. What does gaming mean to you? And when did your love of gaming? Start.

So I can tell you before my love of gaming it started with the Atari. The first game I ever flipped, I don't know how old you guys are, you look pretty young. That you didn't beat. video the art uh like uh atari games you didn't beat them you had to flip them You know, where the points flip and you're back to zero. That's how you beat a game.

The first game I beat, I remember I was, I think it was in second or third grade, I beat Asteroids and I was stoked. I loved to be able to do that. And I just love video games. And. You know, years later, the Nintendo came out, and I was like, Oh my god, this is the most amazing system I've ever seen.

The graphics are incredible. And and uh Asked my parents for one, even put on a show. I don't know if you guys remember Weird Al Yankovic. Yeah. And the.

The fat You know, I'm fat. Instead of bad, Michael Jackson fat, he was fat. He was fat. And I had to like. I love that freaking video, so I went and performed it for my mom and dad to get a Nintendo thing.

So, wait a minute, you did a little song and dance, and they were. Oh, man, I put the pillow under my shirt and everything. Because I was a big Michael Jackson fan anyway, so I had the moves. I could do the moves. You know, you get on the kitchen floor with your socks, I don't start doing the moon walk.

Everybody does that. But, um,. Yeah, it I didn't think it worked and they surprised me. Uh add At a department store, and I literally, and I'm not joking with you guys, I almost passed out. Yeah, like I turned white, and I was like, I was like, Oh, who's that?

And like, joking around because I knew it wasn't mine. And my mom said, Yours. I was like, Oh my gosh, yeah, and so it changed everything, dude. I just love being able to, you know, whatever's bothering me, whatever I'm going through. If I can get into a video game and get lost in that video game for a little bit, I don't have to think about everything else, it's just my time for me to.

You know, have fun and not hurt anybody. You know, I've gotten in trouble many a times. By playing games that Uncharted, for example, I don't know if you've ever had Sample Plays, it's ridiculously awesome. That's right. You're playing a movie.

I. I piss my wife off so much because I would just be hours on this game playing. It's so much fun. But my rebuttal to her would be like, well, you know what? I guess I'll just get dressed and go to the bar and get drunk.

Like, you know, like, meaning there's worse things that I could be doing. Bro, this is my argument because there's a bunch of people out there that try to say that, you know, the guys that the gamers, that we're not good people. Would you prefer me to be out in these streets? All right. Because it's real easy.

You, as a woman, you know where I'm at. I'm just at my game. You're like, man, thank you, dude. That's the. You're speaking my language, man.

I'm not saying it's right. I'm just saying it could be worse. I've spent this much time on the video game. Exactly. And it takes me, I wanted to ask you about this moment because.

TJ, I saw what can only be described. as one of the most rigged fights I've ever seen in my life. Involving AJ. They had him play against this dude in the gold jacket. You played 2K against that guy, and he just cheesed Brock Lesnar's German suplex on you a thousand times, and then he wins.

And it was the most frustrating thing to watch as a gamer. I was like, why'd y'all bring AJ out here to lose? Yeah, well, you know what? If they would have put on no mercy on the Nintendo 64, I would have smoked that kid. Exactly, dude.

You know, but I haven't played the game. Oh no! I didn't know what I was doing at all and still don't. Rigged. Rigged.

So I don't know why I was picked. Oh, he's a gamer. That's like, listen. I enjoy my friends who I've met in NASCAR. They're really great people.

I don't watch NASCAR. You know? You know, like I love them and they're great, but you know, that's not one of the things I have been able to do. And it's amazing, everything they do in NASCAR. I'm just, my dad watched it.

I'm not, just because I have this southern accent doesn't mean I'm a NASCAR fan. Hence the reason why they assume that, right? Exactly. Every time, mind you, they're great people, and I've enjoyed every moment that I've had to spend with those guys. It's just.

Not something I'm into. All right, now if I put you in a, you know, I won I won't. We're going to get back into the wrestling, I promise everybody, but I got to get this off because I don't know if you guys can. I personally really enjoyed it. I don't know, man.

So, about video games. But if you, all right, you're on a desert island, man. I can only give you five games for you to take. Can you list five of them for me? Uh Listen, mine is going to go back older than Than most people, a lot of people don't like Super Mario Bros.

2. I do. Nostalgia is a big part of that. And it's a really fun game. In fact, at At the time that I'm talking to you, I'm going through Doki Doki Panic because I have it and I'm playing it.

If you don't know Doki Doki Panic, it was the reason, like, Doki Doki Panic. turned into super mario brothers too there's a uh dokie dope panic is a game in Japan And then like uh Nintendo of America turned it into Super Mario Bros. 2. So, I love that game. It's so different.

It makes sense. Mario wakes up from a dream. That's why nothing made sense. That's why there's all new characters. I get it.

Um, and but then Super Mario Bros. 3 comes out and it's freaking amazing, dude. It blows. Two out of the water. It's just so good.

The uncharted. series if I can just name all of those. are amazing games. They're not open world, but they are a little bit. The sandbox isn't that big, so I like that.

Mike Tyson's punch-out is a classic. Yeah. I have that on my Play Choice 10. If you don't know what that is, look it up. It's an amazing arcade with two screens.

Two screens on there. Two screens. I got two. Yeah, that's right. And last.

I mean There was a time where This is a toss-up for me because, as much as I love Madden and NCAA, the last great games. For The systems were in 14. The reason why I say that is because I could spend Every second playing Madden and then NCAA finish the season, finish the season, and I'd upload my guys from NCAA into Madden. Into Madden.

Now you can't do that.

So, guess what? I'm not playing your stupid game. Like, I would spend hours doing this, and they ruined it for me. I was so excited about this coming back. Why is that so hard to upload guys into Madden into the draft?

And it's just. I played 30 years of Madden, I think it was 14. Or maybe it was 50. I don't know, but the last time you could upload guys, I played 30 years, 30 seasons, every one of them, every one of the games, where you could not play anymore. That's all you can play is 30 seasons.

Yeah. That's how much I love that game. Dude, you would be able to have your college players, you know, you go through your full four years, and then it would let you. Like export it, and then when you put Madden in, you import your player into Madden, and so it's like you continue his life. I never knew yeah, they go to the draft, dude, and you can draft them because you know these guys.

I mean, it was man, it was so awesome. I love doing that, and that's what I did for every one of the NCAAs and Madden games. I bought In CLA. For Madden, and as much as I love Madden or NCAA, I then turned to loving Madden just as much because it had my NCAA guys in it. It was so good.

How do they not? Because they brought NCAA back, and I don't understand why you wouldn't. They gotta, there's no way you can't do it now. Either way, I digress, bro. Last thing I'm gonna ask you.

Last thing I'm gonna ask you, because I know you're a big, you know, the. Neo Geo's Sega Dreamcast, you know, all the all even brought up Sega Saturn. He's got a Jaguar. Do you got an emulator at all? You got a handheld emulator?

Yeah, dude. You got to have that. No, no.

So, a lot of the guys that I buy, like, I'll go and find games because I'm a game collector, a console collector, and they'll get pissed off at me. They're like, are you going to play it? I'm like, of course not. It's going to sit in this bag that I have sealed off. I'm never going to play this game.

It's going to be in my collection, but I will go on an emulator and I'll play it. I like to go on my emulators and just find the games that I have. Oh, that's cool. Let me try this one out. Right.

See, okay. We could have a whole episode. I am such a fan right now. TJ, please. Look, man, if there's any more gaming stuff he wants to talk about, I say, keep it rolling.

Keep it moving. Bro, I'm thinking about it. Let me tell you this. The most underrated system ever made Is the Sega Dreamcast. It was the first system that you could get online and play.

And if you were playing, Well, they didn't have Madden. I think they had 2K at the time because, and it was really a great game. You could. Look on your controller and pick your plays so nobody can see your plays on the screen. A lot of people don't know that.

You just look on your controller, like why they haven't brought something like that back is man, it's so freaking cool, dude. There were so many things about the Dreamcast that were so good, but because they put out the Saturn and the 32X and the Sega CD before that, they ruined everybody's expectations for what the Saturn. was they just shot themselves in the foot. Because everybody because they put them out so close together and we nobody needed them.

So, yeah, it's it's sad, man. It's sad when you see Sega on like the Switch. You know, yeah, it's still sad for me, bro. Yeah, dude, because Sega Sega, first of all, I brought up Sega once before on this show with a WWE superstar by the name of Javon Evans. Do we have that Javon Evans clip?

All right, let me just look at this. My older brother Daryl, this is how he introduced me to wrestling, period. We, uh. Are you ready for my old moment? Yes, sir.

All right, so yeah, we played WWF Raw on Second Genesis. And he would always pick Shawn Michaels. I'm like, you like, you don't want to be nobody else? Like, who is this dude? He always picks Shawn Michaels.

I got a question, and this is really going to show my age. Y'all probably already know. What's second Genesis? Mm-hmm.

I don't know what that is, bro. Ladies and gentlemen, give it up for Javon Evans, bro. Hey, hold on, wait, wait, hold on. Wait. Sega Genesis, bro.

This is gonna get clipped. Bro, I could tell by the look on his face he had no idea. And that's what people gotta realize. Like, I've been wrestling for 25 years. There were people that weren't even alive when I started wrestling.

So, yeah, I just man I Yeah. Here in the Lawa.

So, the gaming historian, I don't know if you've ever saw this guy or watch this stuff on YouTube. It's he's unbelievable, yeah. Unbelievable. He's got so much good stuff, uh, but. you know, the the Genesis man at the time Now I'm a Nintendo guy.

I am a Nintendo fanboy. But, you know, it took a little bit longer for the Super Nintendo to come out, and Genesis was killing it. Sports games are like, it was just crushing. I was like, man. I'm about to see if I can get one of those for Christmas.

And then finally, the Super Nintendo comes out, and I was like, oh, we're good. And Super Nintendo started coming back and made some really cool games. But.

Man, Genesis was killing it. All he had to do. was Sega Saturn. Yeah. Like I said, hands are drunk over.

The tree passed, and there'll be five. Yeah, that was me. PlayStation, obviously, PlayStation all day, but that Xbox 360, bro, that did some numbers in my house. And then, obviously, you know, shout out to PlayStation. I'm back.

But yeah, that 360, it had its moments, bro. But yeah, I just had to let you see that because it broke my heart. You know, he's such a good kid, too. Talking about PlayStation, I think everybody at one point was a PlayStation guy. PS2.

And I got to tell you. The reason why I switched to Xbox, because with the original Xbox, was the first to really get online and made that a big part of Of what they were selling within the Xbox, and that's why I switched to Xbox at that time because you could get online and play immediately. It was free. And so that's how Xbox won me over. And I loved Xbox because, like, when you play wrestling games on the Xbox, TJ, I could do custom soundtrack.

So I can really play my music and have my creative wrestler come out to my music. I did not know that. Yeah, it was crazy times. But.

Back to wrestling. Thank you for that time. Thank you, bro. Don't get me started on video games. We'll be here all the time.

I know, man. I love it. We're going to clip that, and it's going to do very well online. I can promise you that. 2002, you debuted in its third show, A Night of Appreciation.

Yeah. I mean, it was unbelievable, right? I think Eddie Guerrero was there on the third show.

So I wasn't there for the first one, but I was there for the third one, and Eddie was there. I'm like, holy cow! And I'm starstruck, right? It's Eddie Guerrero. Yeah.

So uh yeah, I don't need uh Did I wrestle low-key that first time? I don't even know. Uh but I wish I would have known that people watched uh I think it was Wildside back then because it came on at like three o'clock. I wish I would have known because I didn't think they knew who AJ Styles was or what he did. I could have hit the Styles Clash back then.

They would have had. They would have known what it was. Because those were unbelievable fans up there in the Northeast. They were. on top of everything.

Dude, you've been to so many places. I need to know what that feeling was, and what was it, that backlash? Fr in France when the the camera was shaking recently. Dude, that was unreal. I'm the I'm the bad guy.

I'm like, I don't know what to do here. Uh, I don't want to smile 'cause I'm trying to be uh the bad guy here, but lot Like, you guys are making this amazing noise for me and showing so much appreciation. I was like, Oof, that was a tough one. That was a tough to be the bad guy. I could imagine going to sleep that night hearing la da da da la.

It was, it was, and again, we moved forward on this because, you know, but. Watching that, because I did like three hours of research yesterday, AJ, just re-watching some old stuff and You know You come out, you get announced, and the crowd's popping for you. You know, like they're popping. And then you actually get the announcement from Samantha inside of the ring. And that chant for real.

Hey, no, no. And it's like you've got this look on your face. And I always like to ask performers this, right, man? You said you're the hills, so you can't really look like you're enjoying it too much, but your face betrayed you because you had a look of just shock and wonder and awe. And then Michael Cole gave that, he said that line, the camera's shaking.

And it was like, what does. A normal person like Shay's in movies, right?

So he's a movie star. But, you know, you get your feedback after the movie's already out. Like, I work on a daily sports show.

So every day, you know, this is a little different. We don't get people cheering for us necessarily, only like. Trash talk is when I give a bad take. But for a performer, a wrestler, a rapper, a rock star. To like a normal being like myself, brother, can you just explain internally what that feels like to have that many people chanting your name in a language that is foreign to you?

What was that like? You know, phenomenal, though. I mean It's hard to put into words. I mean, how do you explain something like that other than like, wow. Um, I can't believe they like AJ Styles this much.

I can't believe that, you know, I'm sure some.

Song that they sing in soccer that applies to AJ Styles, that they would sing that and be so loud and jumping around that they're shaking the camera. It's pretty amazing. And uh The last time we went to France, we had a pretty good idea they may do the same thing.

So when I was wrestling, I wrestled Dominic Mysterio. Dominic Mysterio was supposed to come out during break. Mm. He d he did not. Because they wanted to see how long they could go with them chanting that song.

It went all the way through break until we came back live.

So it's a pretty freaking cool moment that they would do. That for AJ Styles, and man, I'll never forget that. It was an unbelievable moment. Both times were just like. I can't put it into words.

You know, like Wow, wow. I can't believe they like this character that I'm playing. I can't believe it. It was pretty cool. And you definitely, you seem much more at ease the second time with Dom.

You were getting into it. You know, you were. Oh, yeah. I was going to enjoy it this time. But that first time is like you were, you're just out.

Like I said, you're standing with your arms out and you're just like, wait a second. And you're literally like this. This is what we saw on TV. Don't get me wrong. I've watched it back a couple of times.

As you should, as you should. That is sick. TNA, the six-sided ring. Let's talk about it, man. What was it like when you first saw it?

Well, I thought even more so AJ when you first got into it. How awkward was it?

Well, that's what I thought. I thought it was going to be real awkward. But then I realized if I hit the ropes, I'm still going to go. To the ropes in front of me, like it's not going to change. The worst thing about it was.

Is that you could not get to the top turnbuckle because the way that your feet were, because it's not at a 90-degree angle. in a six-sided ring.

So it was very hard to get on the top rope and get your balance.

So that's why I just started springboarding everything. Makes sense. Oh, wow. Yeah, like if I was trying to set my feet. Yeah, because you know, there's a lot of people that that that's iconic, you know, that that I've seen you in interviews talk about how different it was.

I've had I've seen you and Sting talk about your differences with the six-sided rave. But yeah, that that uh is such an iconic piece, but I never really thought about getting my feet on the top rope. And I can tell you this. I didn't realize how bad it hurt. But man, it was brutal.

You know, a squared ring usually has like a spring in the middle. Ah mm-hmm. where a A six-sided ring has pillars. that that you would move back and forth. And if they're too close together, oh my god, it's going to kill you.

But if they're too far apart, the ring is too bouncy.

So you got to find that happy medium. And there's been many a times I know I've landed on that pillar. Yeah. And you just got to eat it, man. It is what it is.

But.

I will say this. I don't know if we're going to this, but I'm just going to go. No, yeah, we can. When Hulk Hogan came in, I was like, no way they were going to get rid of the six-sided ring. That's who we are, that's how we're known.

And sure enough, it was gone. And there was a time where Kurt and I were wrestling, and he gave me the belly-to-belly off the top rope. And I was just like, I'm never taking that again, I'm done. It's killing me. And we got into the squared ring, and Kurt was like, Hey, do you mind taking the belly belly?

Because I love Kurt so much. I was like, Yes.

So he gives me the belly belly off the top rope in a squared ring, and it was like landing on a pillow compared to what it was in the six-sided ring. And I was like, oh. And it rotted in there. I was like, I'm kind of glad we switched to it, you know, Square Brand. You know, it's gonna be good for us, guys.

Yeah, as someone who was a TNA fan back then and watched the product a lot, you know, people always like to say, you know, when WCW went away, they stopped watching. I was like, you guys not know that TNA was there? Do you not know ROH? There were a lot of places as a wrestling fan that you could have gotten your fix. Like, what were we?

Do you understand what you were missing out on by not being a TNA fan? Watching what was going on there all those years, it's amazing to me. You know, from you to Joe, the Daniels, the Kazarian, to, I mean, AJ, I watched watch the beautiful people ring entrance on YouTube for about an hour. Completely different reasons, but you know what it is. Oh, yeah.

But speaking of. Speaking of Kurt Angle, uh January 2010, you wrestled Kirk for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship, and it was the most watched episode of Impact of all time. Do you have memories of that match? We've wrestled so many times, I don't remember which one it was. Uh I think it's a good idea.

I can tell you this, we never had a bad one. I believe that. That's a flex. That doesn't surprise me. And Kurt was so good, and he was a machine.

I know you've heard this before. He didn't get tired, which is very intimidating. But thank God I was young enough to hang with him. You know, had some lung capacity to be able to hang. with Kurt Angle because he did not slow down and he was so freaking Intimidating w in that that time that I swear He would blow, he had to blow people up in WWE.

He had to. He was just too good, man. Uh so Kurt Angle is a different thing, man. Mouthpiece. Kurt Angle.

Peak Angle. And think about Kurt Angle. You know, he's from Pittsburgh, you know, close to where I was. He didn't start wrestling until I think he was a junior or senior in high school. Like you would assume Kurt Angle would have been wrestling from like third grade.

That was not the case. And also a little known fact, Kurt Angle has, I think, four brothers. And the word on the streets, AJ, is he may have been the least tough of the fourth. I've heard that too. I've heard that too.

I've heard many stories about his older brother, and he's a bad man. Mm. Okay, AJ, bro, you've given us so many gems. We have our number one question that we ask everybody their first time on the No Contest Wrestling Podcast.

So I gotta ask you. You're in a bar, you're out. Having a good time. There's 50 dudes in the bar. They don't Like AJ Styles.

They heard you didn't like NASCAR and it made him mad.

So I need to pick a team of you and four other wrestlers to make sure the phenomenal one is getting to the car.

Well, I can tell you this I'm going to pick the most intimidating man I've ever seen in my life. And it's just based on his size, he's a sweetheart of a guy, but They don't know it. And I've never seen any fight. Or anything like that, but I'm pretty sure he could break somebody in half. And I'm gonna get Omos.

Come and help me, bro. I just called that. Just called it. He's a scary human being if you've never seen him before. Yeah, he's just unbelievably huge.

He's not skinny tall, he's scary tall.

So. But I may have to call up on the Usos. I'll get both of them to jump in there because I know that they'd be there. Joe, Samo Joe. Yeah, Samo Joe.

I got Joe coming. And uh, see, like I said, leaves me one more. Who would be that? Wow, sky. Um Hmm.

Are we going from anytime or anything? Oh my god. Give me Rick Rude. Freaking, I know I'm gonna be finally Rick Rude. Like, that guy's coming and he's gonna clear in the house.

Yeah, Rick Rude, for sure. All right, AJ, so before we let you go, I want to let you know that we are inducting you into the No Contest Wrestling Hall of Fame. Congratulations.

Now, in the Hall of Fame, we're going to have your AJ Styles bus there, and we're going to have a monitor. And it's going to play on the loop three of your favorite matches, three quintessential AJ Style matches, three matches where if people didn't know you, they're going to know you after watching those three. Do you have three that you'd like to live forever? Oh man, it got to give me the match at Unbreakable, right? With BJO and Christopher Daniels.

Obviously, yeah. That's a good one. Um. The match with Cena, probably. I don't know if I'll know which one I'd pick: SummerSlam or Oil Rumble, or freaking the one we just had.

You know, we'll go ahead and put all three. We make three. And so now I got one more that I want in there for people to remember. And that's a tough one. That's a tough one.

Because now I gotta think back. to who I wrestled. Man, it's tough. But that match with me and Dean Ambrose That TLC match where my gear gets ripped. Yeah.

I'm showing half my butt cheek. That was a really, really good one, man. It was really, really good. That 450 through the table. was crazy, man.

Like I was like, man, I can't believe that. That's one of my And freak, and now another one just hit me. Uh Can I tell you one that I'll put in on my own for you?

Alright, go ahead. You, Nakamura, Wrestle Kingdom 10. Of course. I watched that this morning. I woke up at 6 in the morning just to re-watch that match because that was one of my all-time favorites.

You know, the thing is that people go, you know, we're excited about me and Nakamura at WrestleMania. And I'm like, you understand the fans are different. Like They will make you enjoy a match and you won't even know it. That's how good the fans are in Japan. But I was also, that's another match I would definitely throw in there.

I had one with Suzuki, just a regular match. Him and I were like, hey, did you get a lot of tweets or something about that match? He goes, yeah, I guess people liked it. I don't know. We didn't think anything of it.

We just like, ah, great match, man. Thank you. That's all. That's it. And apparently everybody loved it.

But there's also... the match with Abyss in the cage. That I had in TNA. And I don't know if you guys have a chance to see that. It is unbelievable.

really, really cool match. This is one of my favorites. There was it was a lockdown, so every match was in a cage, and we had to think of a way to be different than everybody else because we were the main event. And so we spent the first ten minutes outside of the cage fighting That finally led to the inside the cage, and it was just, I think it was one of just a great match between a big guy and a smaller guy. That's one of my favorite matches too, but There are so many out there that I've forgotten about that I go, oh my God, that was amazing.

So I'm sure after we're done talking. I'll go, oh man, I should say. You could come back anytime. We need you back, AJ, because there's so much more we'd like to talk about. This was sick, man.

I hope you had a good time. I hope you enjoyed our interview. Did we do all right? Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, man.

You guys did great. This is a fun one, dude. I would do this anytime. Yeah, hey, well, we're gonna hold you to that. Yeah, man.

Hey, I'm good. Hey, as long as we get to talk about some video games, too, I can listen. Hey, this is your guy. Listen, why don't you just have a... A video game podcast is like a break off or something because we could talk about Xavier Woods could do the same.

He's my go-to guy when I was like, hey, man. Dude, the the Phantom Arcades that I that I that has all my stuff on it. Um I got with Xavier Woods. I was like, hey, man, he had a case that opened up and had controllers and stuff. And I said, where can I get one of those?

And he sent me the. The um uh Instagram of Phantom Arcades, and I got in touch with this guy and ended up buying an arcade. I was like, hold on a second. I wasn't even supposed to be buying an arcade. But like.

I could talk about video games all day, man. I love getting lost in it. I love playing these different games. You know, it's just... I don't know, it's part of our culture now, man.

And I know I'm a little bit old to still be in this culture. I don't know if I'm just going to be in my 60s playing. Absolutely. I'll flap my glasses on. Never put it down, bro.

And Wendy will always know where you're at, right? That's right. Exactly right. AJ Styles, man. Thank you, bro.

He really is. He really is. He really is. Phenomenal. Phenomenal.

I appreciate you guys. They don't want nothing. They don't want none. Don't do it. Don't do it.

Don't do it. Look, it's camping. AJ Styles. For all of our listeners, I'm sorry you had to hear that. We just did the A.J.

Styles intro. But watch the YouTube video to see what we did. What a good dude, man. That was fun, man. And you know what?

He was a nerd out with A.J. Styles. And I knew it. I knew when I was. Prepping for the interview, I was like, There's going to be about a solid 10 minutes where I ain't going to have nothing to add to this conversation.

And it held to be true, but it's fine with me because, like I said, I learned a little something every time you get someone and you guys get to geek out over video games. And I think it's pretty cool. He knows his stuff. Yeah, you know his stuff for real, for real. I think you two are better best friends now.

Dude, if I want to go to his because you got to see, it's on up, up, down, down. When uh um Xavier took a tour of his gaming little setup in his house. Dude, it's so much history in there. And it's he's right. There's a bunch of stuff.

He's just not playing. He's got like Japanese versions of games and like, oh, it's just a nerd's dream trip to Gainesville, Georgia. He even got an old-ass TV that his wife be trying to make him get rid of. I should have asked him about that if he got rid of it. But he uses it because it gives him the nostalgic feel.

I've heard that. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, bro. Shout out to AJ Styles. Shout out to the wife.

You know, we always like to, when we do these interviews, whenever possible, you know, get a touch and a little sense of who they are as real human beings. You know, someone once said in a comment, like, wow, you guys really use the government names a lot. And I'm like, do we? And I thought about it. I was like, yeah, we kind of do with AJ.

But like. For me, as a fan and me as an interviewer, like, I'd like to kind of get to know the person. As a human being, and what we've done is with a lot of guests, we get to know like their spouses a little bit, and they get to tell us how, you know, the wives or the husbands have held them down and helped them in their career.

So that was cool to be able to talk to him, maybe give her a little shine because, you know, the wives, what you realize when you watch stuff like Dark Side of the Ring and stuff, and I don't know if we've talked about this before, but. You know, we as fans, we have our favorites and we love them and we watch them. But on the tail end, we forget that they have families at home, kids at home, wives at home, husbands at home, and they got to hold it down. They got to keep the household running. They got to keep the kids, you know, on track.

And so I don't know. I think it's cool. And I think most people we ask about their family really enjoy the fact that we are asking and we're going to. uh a lot. He showed up to every He could.

You know, everything, every little winter program that I had to sing in choir as a kid. He was my basketball coach for many a season.

So I know what it's like to have a parent who has a life on the road. But Who was holding it down that whole time? Oh man, that's Mama Kim. That's what I'm saying.

So I understand that family aspect because if you want my dad's face to light up, Just talk about us. And so, yeah, that's a nice little thing that I like that we do on our show. And shout out to Wendy for buying AJ the Burger King when he ain't having no. Burkin goes a long way, ladies. You did the right thing, though, Wendy.

You made a good pick and you stuck with him. And I'm hoping life seems great. And also, him being a gamer, you know where to find him.

Now, TJ, will you tell these people where to find us? Oh, where you can find us. Oh, yeah. Well, let's see. When you go on social media, you know, you got that little Twitter/slash X spot.

Sometimes that's, you know, banks. But anyway, we're there's no contest there. And then when you go to Instagram, you can find us at no contest wrestling podcast. On TikTok, you can find us at no contest wrestling pod. Then, of course, you'll find all of our videos on the Rich Eyes and Show YouTube page.

Just right in, type in no contest wrestling. ESPN app, of course, we are the first and only wrestling. Podcast on the ESPN app. Just go there and you find us. And you know, you find him at O'Shea Jackson Jr.

on social. You'll find me at TJ Jefferson and 2 Jiggy. And yeah, man, wherever you watch or listen, we're there.

So you ain't got no excuse. Come find us. Come find the phenomenal AJ Styles and then come back when I'm right about Oba Femi. You feel me? Yeah, you filthy animals.

On behalf of my co-host, best in the world, TJ Jefferson, I am. The heel that you love, hey, O'Shea Jackson Jr. Make sure y'all have a good day, but not too good, because who the hell do you think you are? Private Sparker.