AJ Styles: ‘I’d Love to Wrestle Shawn Michaels’

– AJ Styles recently spoke with Sports Illustrated, here are the highlights…

On Rumors That He’ll Face Shawn Michaels at The Royal Rumble: “I would love the opportunity to wrestle him. I’d love to learn from him, but who’s to say if that’s going to happen. Right now, it’s all speculation and rumors that I’m finding out like everyone else is, but man, what a match that would be.”

On Ryback’s Claims That Vince McMahon Wanted Him To Squash Styles at WrestleMania 32: “I think what Ryback said may have been true at that time. I don’t know that Vince knew exactly what he had in AJ Styles, and I think his opinion of me changed somewhat quickly. That’s OK, I’ve been doing that my whole life—changing people’s opinion of me and what I’m capable of. I’m not mad at Ryback. If it was said, it was said, and I’m not mad at Vince McMahon. Opinions vary, and they change.”

On His Move to WWE: “I did feel like the new guy in the locker room [at first], but I was pleasantly surprised how the roster had so much respect for everything I’ve done outside the WWE,” said Styles. “It was really great to be part of a roster like the WWE where guys didn’t hold it against me that I wasn’t in WWE. They welcomed me with open arms. I felt like the new guy at first, but now I just feel like part of the family. Everyone thinks the style changes, but mine never has. The one thing that I’ve accredited to AJ Styles’ being able to adapt wherever I go, whether it be here in the WWE or somewhere else, I’ve always been blessed to be with great guys in the ring. I would love to take credit for all these great, amazing matches I’ve had in the past seventeen years I’ve been doing this crazy sport, but I can’t do that. I’ve been a part of some great matches because of the opponents that I’ve had, and here in the WWE is no different.”