This week on PWI Weekly, AJ STYLES stops by to talk about all things TNA Wrestling. Find out what Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s top ranked wrestler in the world (PWI 500) thinks about TNA and what it needs to do to beat WWE, who he wants to see join the company, and what he thinks about Ric Flair, Dixie Carter, Batista, Michelle McCool, and Christian.
On Losing the Title to RVD
“I definitely didn’t understand it. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand it. I was very surprised that I would lose that title after holding it for so long, and to somebody who has basically been out of wrestling for over a year, and was coming in from WWE. And he should have been tired from wrestling a match before that. It was like I’m not the star I thought I was. I guess I’m just a guy in TNA.”
On the Changes TNA has Made
“I think there are mistakes that have been done. Things where you have to look at it and realize you have to take a step back. There were some people brought in that I don’t know that we needed, but there are other guys I think deserved a shot.”
On Being the Face of TNA
“I don’t know. People tell me that I’m the face, but sometimes I don’t feel like that. Don’t get me wrong. My peers definitely treat me with respect. I guess sometimes I wish that the higher-ups would come to me sometimes and ask, “Hey AJ, what do you think about this?”
On Being Different
“I don’t want to be like anyone else. I want to be AJ Styles. I want people to look at me, and have me be separated from everybody else.”
On his Favorite Feuds
“Christopher Daniels, Joe, and myself had some great interactions. Kurt and myself, that was a great little program we worked. And even Abyss, we had some incredible matches. The list goes on. It actually seems like working with everybody in TNA has been a favorite.”
Moving to Monday nights
“We never should have switched to Monday nights. We know that now. I wish that we would have just gone live on Thursday nights. The first one we did on Monday nights was huge, but Thursday nights was our night. There’s no mistake about it; Monday night is WWE’s. It’s theirs. We need to own Thursday nights.”
TNA’s decision to release Christopher Daniels
“It was very disturbing at first. I was very upset and confused,” he said. “I hope it’s not a long time (before he comes back), or they’ll bring Chris back.”
The state of the X Division
“We have to have more X Division matches in there. We have to let people see it. If it were up to me, we would have a little more wrestling and less talking. But, I’ve said that since the beginning.”
All that, plus what could have been had AJ accepted a WWE developmental deal in 2002, who he would “steal” from the WWE roster, and if TNA will do ECW some justice. A must-listen for any TNA fan … or wrestling fan in general! And while you’re at www.thebradyhicks.com, be sure to check out archived interviews with Nick “U-Gene” Dinsmore, Madison Rayne, Justin Credible, and Austin Aries, among dozens of others. Thanks for the support!