AJ Styles Responds To Claims By Arik Cannon That Avery Styles Didn’t Help Out At GCW Show

Arik Cannon claimed that AJ Styles’ son Avery hid in the locker room rather than help out during hiw appearance at GCW Rude Awakening, drawing a response from Styles. Avery Styles competed at the August 1st show, where he lost to Marcus Mathers. Nattie said in an interview with The Wrestling Classic (per Fightful) that she met Avery at the show, and that Avery losing showed that he was willing to “pay [his] dues, that [he’s] not just gonna come into the industry as AJ Styles’ son that has to be pampered and coddled.”

Cannon, who is a regular for GCW, responded to Nattie’s comments on Twitter by posting:

“As someone who watched this kid skirt away from helping with a single thing at this very show…

I’d just like to say: L O F’ING L !”

AJ then saw the post and responded, retweeting it and writing:

“He was paid to wrestle at GCW, not help you put up and take down the ring. That sounds like your job. You just sound like a jealous douche.”

Cannon then replied:

“I have all of the respect in the world for you, AJ. I understand why you’d defend your son, and it is admirable.

But the fact remains… He can stay “AJ’s kid”, continue to skirt responsibility, & paying dues.

Or he can earn the respect of his peers, & stand on his own as Avery.”

That let go a couple more exchanges, which you can see below:

AJ Styles:

“You don’t ask someone to have dinner at your house and have them do the dishes. He was asked to wrestle at GCW. Although grateful for the opportunity, a vet would have talked to him professionally or at least face to face.”

Arik Cannon:

“A 20+ year vet & promoter asked him to help w/ the chairs. TWICE! Instead of helping, he hid in the locker room until everything was done.

My 2 cents isn’t going to affect his future… But with all due respect, you stating he doesn’t need to help is only doing him a disservice.”

For now, that is where the conversation has left off.

As someone who watched this kid skirt away from helping with a single thing at this very show…

I’d just like to say: L O F’ING L ! https://t.co/4I2xB9GvS6

— Arik Cannon (@arikcannon) August 8, 2026

He was paid to wrestle at GCW, not help you put up and take down the ring. That sounds like your job. You just sound like a jealous douche. https://t.co/da26y4HjPB

— AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) August 8, 2026

I have all of the respect in the world for you, AJ. I understand why you’d defend your son, and it is admirable.

But the fact remains… He can stay “AJ’s kid”, continue to skirt responsibility, & paying dues.

Or he can earn the respect of his peers, & stand on his own as Avery. https://t.co/cgwzA30F9a

— Arik Cannon (@arikcannon) August 8, 2026

A 20+ year vet & promoter asked him to help w/ the chairs. TWICE! Instead of helping, he hid in the locker room until everything was done.

My 2 cents isn’t going to affect his future… But with all due respect, you stating he doesn’t need to help is only doing him a disservice.

— Arik Cannon (@arikcannon) August 9, 2026