WWE World Tag Team Champion AJ Styles recently reflected on his legendary career, stating that he believes his time in New Japan Pro-Wrestling was the most crucial factor in his eventual success with WWE. “The Phenomenal One” made his shocking WWE debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble and has been a main event star ever since. However, his run in WWE came after a hugely successful two-year stint in Japan, where he became a two-time IWGP World Heavyweight Champion as the leader of the Bullet Club. Styles, who had previously been the face of TNA Wrestling for over a decade, reinvented himself in NJPW, and he believes that version of his character is what finally caught the eye of Vince McMahon.
In a recent interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated’s “Undisputed,” Styles discussed the importance of his time in Japan and how it directly led to his WWE opportunity.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that I may not have made it to WWE without Japan. My tenure in Japan helped me figure out who I was and what I wanted to do. When I went to WWE, Vince wanted me to be who I was in Japan. That style from Japan did not change when I went to WWE. That’s the guy Vince wanted, so I didn’t have to change anything. Maybe that’s why it got over so well.”
Styles’s comments highlight the global influence of NJPW and the respect his work there garnered from WWE management. He is currently in the midst of his retirement tour, which will see him compete in his final match in 2026. He recently captured the World Tag Team Championships with Dragon Lee on Monday Night Raw and is set to face his long-time rival John Cena at the WWE Super Show-Down: Perth Premium Live Event on October 11.
H/T to Fightful for the transcription. Thanks for checking out this article. Make sure to follow Jeff Jarrett and all things GFE on Facebook.