AJ Styles Recalls His Favorite Wrestling Styles Growing Up

AJ Styles says he was a big fan of the high flyers when he was watching wrestling as a kid, to the point that he loved some of the heels. Styles talked about his fandom as a kid on the latest episode of Phenomenally Retro and was asked by his co-host T.G. what styles of wrestlers he was drawn to as a kid.

Styles acknowledged that he was a fan of Japanese wrestling and named Bryan Pillman as an example of the styles he enjoyed. He also spoke about how he got caught up on a lot of wrestling when he started getting into the business and appreciates how older talent was able to sell in the ring. You can see highlights below:

On What Styles He Was Drawn To Growing Up:

“I definitely liked the guys that came off the top row. Like, I remember Flying Brian [Pillman]. I thought he was really cool. Anytime — I don’t know why, I was always intrigued with like anybody from Japan, they came out like with stuff oevr there like Great Muta. Like, he was so cool. It was hard to hate that guy, even though he was the bad guy because he was so cool. So yeah, I was drawn to that the guys who came off the top rope for sure.”

On Studying the Older Generation:

“Once I got back got into wrestling when I wanted to do this as a career, I went back and watched all the old stuff that I possibly could. And still do to this very day, I just enjoy it. And just looking back and seeing so many guys that — and you know, when we talk about the basic stuff. And I think in comparison it was definitely a little bit more basic compared to what we’re doing now. But their selling was far from basic. Their selling was unbelievable. Which, I think is the hardest part in wrestling is to sell, not necessarily the moves.

“So I still go back and watch that, and a lot of the little things I’m like, ‘Oh my god, that was awesome.’ And it wasn’t anything big off the top rope. It was the little things they did that I was like, ‘Man, I wish I would have thought of that.'”

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