AJ Styles has been one of the most beloved professional wrestlers of the current generation. Almost every other WWE Superstar has some wholesome stories or something inspiring to share about The Phenomenal One, and Xavier Woods is not an exception in this case.
This week on RAW, Styles left his gloves in the middle of the ring as a goodbye to fans. As fans and wrestlers shared tributes, one of the most touching messages came from Xavier Woods. He said he wouldn’t have the life he has today if Styles hadn’t helped him early in his career.
Xavier Woods Reflects on How AJ Styles Helped Launch His Career
Speaking on No Contest Wrestling, Xavier Woods explained how one opportunity changed everything for him. Before WWE, and even before wrestling as Consequences Creed, he was just another independent wrestler trying to get noticed.
“So, for people who don’t know, AJ, actually AJ’s wife, said that I should get the shot at Bound for Glory to wrestle him and Tomko, because I had trained with AJ, he needed people to help get some sweat going because he was coming off a run with Daniels as Tag Champions, going back into singles. This is before (Consequences Creed),” Woods said.
At the time, Styles needed training partners. A mutual friend told Woods that Styles needed people to train with. Woods was working at a daycare that summer, but he asked for time off so he could train with his favorite wrestler.
“So my buddy Sal Rinauro calls me and he says ‘hey, AJ needs some bodies to bump around’. I was working at a daycare that Summer, and I called my boss, she was my teacher when I was little, so she knew I wanted to be a wrestler. She knew I was on the independents. I said, ‘I have a chance to wrestle with this guy, he’s like my favorite wrestler, I need a week off’. She’s like, ‘Go. Use that week and train with AJ,'” Woods said.
That choice ended up changing his career.
A few months later, a big chance came up at TNA’s Bound for Glory. Styles and Tomko were set to face Ron Killings and Pac-Man Jones. But because of NFL rules, Pac-Man Jones couldn’t fully compete. TNA suddenly needed someone to step in. That’s when Styles’ wife suggested Woods.
“So AJ’s wife, as she’s thinking about people, she’s like, ‘Oh, that guy was really nice, why don’t you give him a shot?’ And they gave me a shot, sight unseen, to wrestle at their WrestleMania, against AJ,” Woods revealed.
The opportunity led to a contract, which eventually led him to WWE. And in WWE, he became a founding member of The New Day.
“And from that, I got a contract. From that, I got into WWE. From that made New Day. From that, I’m sitting here talking to you. So, without AJ sticking his neck out for me, I don’t know if I have the life that I have now,” Woods said.
He joked that, on TV, Styles hasn’t always treated him and Kofi Kingston kindly. But in real life, his respect for Styles is clear.
“Now, on the show, the things that he has done that I can’t really condone, he’s not a super great guy in that aspect, clearly being rude to New Day, being rude to Kofi and myself,” Woods said.
Woods called Styles the “greatest ever to do it” and his personal favorite of all time. He also said it was emotional to watch Styles’ final match, but he is thankful he got to be there for it.
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