AJ Styles: I Learned a Lot From John Cena

– AJ Styles recently spoke with the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast (transcript via wrestlinginc.com), here are the highlights…

On Wanting to Face Shawn Michaels at The Rumble: “I’m just glad someone asked him because I actually pitched it, ‘can we… has anyone asked Shawn? No? Can we? Can someone just ask him? All he can say is ‘no’.’ And truthfully, I respect him so much as a man because when he said he retired he actually did it. He didn’t come back. And even I said, ‘well, money talks, doesn’t it?’ Not to Shawn Michaels. He’s a man of his word and at the end of the day all you have is your word.”

On What He Learned From John cena: “I learned a lot from him. It’s just the little things that he does.” Styles continued, “people aren’t going to like this, but I’m telling you, I’d say 90% of the things I’ve learned that I felt helped me tremendously is John Cena. The guy… there’s a reason he was able to stay on for more than 10 years and done what he has done in his career.”

On When Vince McMahon Bought Into Him: “Well, I think it was the MizTV where I beat him up. I think that’s when he goes, ‘whoa, okay…’ It’s one of those things where you’ve just got to… I don’t know… I think Vince kind of likes a tough guy to some degree. And I’m not saying I’m Brock Lesnar, but I fought all my life.”