AJ Styles Reveals Why He Doesn’t Want to Work for WWE, Talks Stiffness in the Ring, Recalls Low-Ki/Balor Story & More

December 22, 2014

Thanks to WZ contributor Jules Allen for sending in the following:

NJPW star AJ Styles (and his fellow Bullet Club members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson) were guests on MLW Radio’s Talk’n Shop Podcast (Episode #25). Styles spoke about breaking into wrestling and said “Benjamin Franklin” inspired him to become a pro wrestler, implying he was motivated by making a good living.

When asked about the worst “shoot” he’s ever seen, Styles said:

“I’ve seen Low-Ki chop a guy’s nipples off… Just beat him, man. Some guys you’ve got to fight back or they’ll just keep doing it. That’s probably the first thing you learn in wrestling; you’ve got to take it or you’ve got to give it back.”

One of the hosts said he’d seen Low-Ki work very stiff against Prince Devitt (NXT star Finn Balor) and explained that there wasn’t any malice involved, they were just working for a promotion that put on stiff matches.

When asked if he ever wants to join WWE, Styles replied:

“Why would I want to go to WWE? AJ SI mean honestly… They’re struggling right now with the Network… I’m in the hottest wrestling company in the world—New Japan—and I’m with the hottest wrestling group. We can say it over and over again. It’s absolutely true.”

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.