AJ Styles Says Fans Wouldn’t Let Him Be Heel Toward End Of His Career

AJ Styles says that even when he tried to be a heel at the end of his career, it was difficult because of the fans’ response to him. Styles had a number of memorable heel runs during his WWE career, though in the final couple of years he would still get babyface reactions even when he was leaning on a darker side.

Styles was asked during the latest episode of Phenomenally Retro whether he preferred playing babyface or heel. He noted that it’s a matter of just switching when you get tired of one or the other, and that it was harder for him to be a heel at the end because the fans refused to allow him to. He noted that he was supposed to be the heel against Cody Rhodes at WWE Backlash in France in 2024, but that was not the reaction he got.

Styles also weighed in on Logan Paul’s heel work as well; you can see highlights below:

On Whether He Prefers To Be Babyface Or Heel:

“I think everyone gets tired of being the babyface, then you play the heel for a while and then you get tired of that, you can switch over to the babyface. I think definitely later on in my career, it was harder for me to be a heel. Not because I couldn’t be mean [but] because you guys refused to make me the bad guy. I mean in Paris, I’m wrestling Cody — I’m the bad guy. I’m a piece of trash, you know? And that was the response.

“So, sometimes they just wouldn’t let me be the bad guy. They just would prefer me be AJ Styles in whatever role that is, but they’re going to love me regardless and know that I’m going to go out there and have a great match. I hope that’s what it was, anyway.”

On Logan Paul’s Work In WWE:

“I’ve never seen somebody so dedicated to doing a job and doing it well, and at the same time being very busy with everything else. It’s pretty pretty inspiring, actually. And if you hate him, then it’s just because he does his job really well.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Phenomenally Retro with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.