AJ Styles Reveals When He Caught The Wrestling Bug & His Inspirations While Growing Up

Former WWE Champion AJ Styles is in the final stages of his pro wrestling career. Last month, ahead of Crown Jewel: Perth, The Phenomenal One revealed that he would step away from in-ring duties in 2026.

Recently, Styles appeared on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast, where he opened up about a wide range of things, including the moment when he realized that he was born to wrestle and his inspirations while growing up.

The TNA legend said that the moment he took his first bump in a wrestling ring, he knew right then that he was born to be a professional wrestler.

“Well, I can tell you, as soon as I took my first bump in an actual ring, I knew right then and there that I can do this, and nobody can tell me different.” [34:12-34:35]

When asked about his inspirations in his formative years, AJ Styles named The Road Warriors, Sting, Billy Kidman, and Lance Storm, while adding that he picked up a lot of different things from different athletes, and he is grateful for that, as it allowed him to carve out his own identity.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to watch a lot of wrestling when I was younger because I didn’t have cable. So, we had to go out and turn the antenna, and hopefully it picked up, and so, I was a big fan of the Road Warriors. That’s who I loved as a kid. But as far as inspiration goes, it wasn’t one guy, you know, that I really thought, ‘That’s who I want to be like.’ But, you know, Billy Kidman, Lance Storm, these athletes—that’s what I was drawn to, is the athletes of the time. Not necessarily the biggest names, although I was a big fan of Sting because, I mean, he looks so freaking cool. How could you not love him? But it wasn’t just one thing. I wanted to, I guess. I started picking from a lot of different people. Thank God, because it allowed me to be different and not like everybody else.” [36:08-36:54]

Check out the video below:

Please credit the No-Contest Wrestling podcast and give an H/T to 411Mania for the transcription if you take quotes fron this article.