AJ Styles Talks Backstage Reaction To His ROH Return, 12th Anniversary Show, Helping & More

– “The Phenomenal One” AJ Styles spoke to Philly.com to promote tonight’s 12th Anniversary Show from the National Guard Armory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Some of the topics include wanting to help elevate the company, how the timing was right for his return, the backstage reaction to his return and how he was worried they’d resent him, how he doesn’t want to continue in the business past his prime and more.

Here are some excerpts from the interview.

On wanting to elevate Ring of Honor: I want to be that guy to help them get to another level. Ring of Honor is doing great. I want to be able to get them another level. I want to be able to help. It’s not just going to be me. It’s got to be everybody working together, obviously. I would love to see Ring of Honor get bigger.

On the backstage reaction to his return: I know what it’s like for a guy to come in with a little bit of a name and thinking he’s someone. It’s almost like, ‘Oh great, this guy is here just to make a paycheck,’ but when I walked through there they knew that’s not what I was there to do, so they did welcome me with open arms. That was very appreciated.

On helping younger guys in the business: My job as an experienced wrestler is to help these younger guys and make sure that they put on good matches and if they have questions be able to be there to answer them. If I can help them out in any way and make the product better, that’s my job.

That’s just shows the passion they have to get better and make the company better as a whole. You can’t beat that, man. That’s exactly the way I was. I think that’s exactly how you grow as not only as a professional wrestler, but as a person.