AJ Styles: “I Didn’t Shed One Tear When I Left TNA”, Talks His Decision to Leave TNA Wrestling, How He Felt About Leaving NJPW and More

April 7, 2016

WWE star AJ Styles appeared on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast during WrestleMania 32 weekend, and during the interview Styles spoke more about his relationship with TNA Wrestling when he decided to leave the company and sign with WWE. Styles revealed he had a chip on his shoulder when he left TNA, and added there was a big difference in how he felt when he left TNA compared to how he felt when he left New Japan Pro Wrestling:

“I didn’t shed one tear when I left TNA. I was very emotional when I left New Japan,” Styles said. He added he had nothing but respect for NJPW, and that the opportunity to work for them helped him decided to leave TNA Wrestling.

Styles also spoke in the interview about being offered a WWE deal back in 2002, but he said the offer conflicted with his family life at the time so he decided to turn it down. He also said he felt that back in 2002 he was not ready for WWE.

Nick was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and lived there until the age of 18, when he decided to pack his flack jacket and move to New York City.

Nick attended New York University and graduated in 2001 with a degree in Drama.

Nick first entered the internet wrestling community back in 2004 when he became the co-host of The Voice of Wrestling Radio Show. From there, Nick made the transition from radio personality to editor when he began working with WrestleZone in 2008.

Nick is a member of two Off-Broadway theatre companies, Another Urban Riff, and the Drama Desk Award winning Godlight Theatre Company. Nick has appeared in over a dozen Off-Broadway plays since he moved to New York City, and has shot several short and feature length films. In 2010, he completed principle photography on a film titled "How to Score Your Life," which also features TNA Knockout ODB.

Inspiration in his life has come from many people including his family, Woody Allen, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson, The Beatles, and of course, Lassie.