AJ Styles on NJPW: ‘The creative has changed everything for me.’ in todays Wrestling news
Styles spoke to Sports Illustrated in recent times.
AJ Styles reflected upon his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling in a recent Sports Illustrated interview.
Styles defeated Kazuchika OKada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in Wrestling Dontaku 2014 Styles had wrestled for NJPW a few times in 2008, but 2014 marked the beginning of his full time run with the company.
Styles, flanked by his Bullet Club stablemates and Hiroshi Takahashi, traded the title back-and-forth with Tanahashi until he finally handed it back to Okada during Dominion 2015. Styles told SI.com he believes that winning the IWGP championship the way he won it put him on the map.
He said:
The creative changed my life. If I was bringing someone over to work for me, the last thing I’d do is have him win the heavyweight title as soon as he got there. But that’s exactly what they did. It worked. It immediately put me on the map.
Styles was with TNA Wrestling 12 years before joining NJPW. He helped create the X-Division with names such as Jerry Lynn and Low Ki. Styles would go on to become five-times world champion with the company, but after contract negotiations failed at the end 2013, he left the company and became a key member of Bullet Club’s growing popularity.
Styles continued:
New Japan was really hot when I arrived. I was able to compete with such incredible talent as Shinsuke Okada and Tanahashi. They’re all big-time. There were no handcuffs. I was free to say and do whatever I wanted.
Styles dropped the Intercontinental title to Nakamura after losing a rematch to Okada at King of Pro Wrestling 2015. He then lost a title match against Nakamura in Wrestle Kingdom 10, and was then written out of the Bullet Club tale at New Year’s Dash.
In 2016, several key players from NJPW signed up with WWE. Styles, Nakamura and Karl Anderson left and were joined later by Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson.
Shinsuke didn’t know that I knew when I heard he was leaving. Nobody knew-I’ll say it that way. I then spoke to Gallows and Anderson about it, and we decided to all leave.
Tama Tonga is another key member of Bullet Club’s past who has recently joined WWE. Tonga is aligned with Solo Sikoa and will face Kevin Owens and Randy Orton in Backlash.
Styles said that the only original member of Bullet Club who has not signed with WWE, Bad Luck False, is a NJPW lifetime member.
Fale will be a New Japan fan until the very end. Tama’s WWE career is a result of timing.
Styles will headline WWE’s PLE, which takes place in Lyon, France this Saturday. He will face Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship. Styles says the match will be an opportunity to show that he is still “the guy” within WWE.
This is my chance to show that I’m still the guy. Make sure everyone looks great and make it fun. This is not an added pressure. It’s exciting. I know that the fans will go nuts. I’m going get butterflies. Just thinking about that energy makes me excited.
Styles said during the recent contract signing on SmackDown that he and Cody’s dad, Dusty Rhodes, were very close. Styles wrestled Dusty 3 times in the fall 2003, successfully defending his NWA World Heavyweight Championship at NWA-TNA #166.
I was wrestling with a legend. I was thrilled to be able do that. We spent more time outside of the ring. We would talk a lot when Dusty was in charge. He would tell about his son, who wrestled at high school. I wrestled too in high school. Cody was there. I almost went to his match. Imagine that!
AJ Styles on NJPW: ‘The creative has changed everything for me.’ in todays Wrestling news, Chatalong Chatbox, Results will be Hidden inside a spoiler Button so you will not bet spoiled about direct results.
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