AJ STYLES
The Phenomenal AJ Styles completed two reigns as IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Japan’s biggest title, before making his WWE debut in the 2016 Royal Rumble Match, followed by a match vs. Chris Jericho on Raw the following night. Now the SmackDown Live Champion, he has been a professional wrestler since 1998.
What is the origin of “phenomenal?”
I was wrestling on a show ... and this commentator just blurted out “the phenomenal AJ Style” and it stuck from there. It was probably about 2001 when that happened.
You have a lot of experience with different companies. What is the biggest change working with the WWE?
Well, I don’t think there’s that much of a change for me. My style hasn’t changed. The biggest change for me is getting into a ring that has real rope. That was the biggest change for me. There’s been so many rings with elevator cables, and stuff like that. Other than that, I haven’t changed my style. I haven’t changed anything about who I am and what I do.
There is a lot of interesting wrestling lore in the sport. What does the role of story have in what you do?
First, you gotta know that stories are everything. Nothing in the ring matters if you don’t have a great story. People seem to not care about what happens in the ring unless you have the story to back it up. That’s the most important thing. A lot of people don’t figure that out.
If you can’t get a story before you get in the ring, tell a great story in the ring. There are all kinds of stories that need to be told and those are the most important.
More than ever, there are opportunities for fans to see behind the scenes. When do you think it makes the most sense for a young wrestling fan to be in the know about the inner workings of the sport?
I think it’s kinda like Santa Claus. When they start asking questions, usually they’re almost getting into their teen years. I think that’s when they enjoy the behind the scenes stuff.
And there’s some stuff I would never want to be shown. But there’s stuff like Total Divas ... that are out that people can see they’re different outside the wrestling ring. With that being said, I think the rating speak for themselves.
Do you follow any wrestling podcasts?
Every now and then I do listen to a couple of wrestling podcast. Jerico has a podcast. Stone Cold Steven Austin has a podcast. I enjoy those. I think they’re very entertaining in what they do.
There’s very rarely anything that I get to listen to or watch on a regular basis because of the driving, going from town to town. Hopefully you’re riding with someone so you don’t fall asleep in the car.
I’ve seen a few of your epic meltdown videos playing Madden. Who loses more gracefully at video games: you or your kids?
Oh, my kids. They’re a lot better at taking losses than I am. Well, they’ve been known to fight each other, so I’ll throw that out there. But that may be kids being kids. Yeah, I may be the sorest of losers when it comes to video games. I take it pretty serious, especially the Madden games.
Do you like this latest Madden game?
Yeah. I enjoy Madden ‘18. It’s fun. I do wish they were NCAA. I was always a bigger NCAA fan of video games than I was the Madden series, but now I don’t have that option. I just have to learn to love Madden.
Do you often play as your character in video games?
Never. My son will be AJ Styles, and I’ll usually be Sting. That’s usually the match up.
It looks like it’s your year to headline WrestleMania. What would that mean to you?
Everything changes. You never know what’s going to happen, but I’d love to go into Mania as the WWE Champion. It doesn’t matter who it’s against. I know fans have their idea of who’d they want me to be in the ring with when that happens but you never know. It’s Wrestlemania; whether you actually win or lose your match, you’ve won. It’s the biggest show in our business. There’s nothing bigger than Wrestlemania. Everybody watches it. Everybody compares it to the Super Bowl. That’s how big it is. It’s unbelievable and it’s fun to just be a part of it.
If time wasn’t an issue, who would you love to see yourself go up against?
If we’re talking about primes, I think Sean Michaels.
Do you see yourself wrestling into your 50s?
Not at all. That’s laughable. Listen, I’m 40 and I can tell you right now you will never see me wrestle in my 50s.
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CHARLOTTE FLAIR
Daughter of 16-time World Champion Ric Flair, Charlotte Flair quickly rose in the ranks of WWE’s developmental league, NXT. She made her “Raw” debut in 2015 and claimed the championship last year. Flair has been at the forefront of the Women’s Revolution at WWE.
Can you talk about the women’s Royal Rumble?
It is really exciting. But I think the excitement is who is going to enter. If you look at the men’s Royal Rumble, past superstars and even men who maybe haven’t been a part of the industry (have participated), and that’s kind of what you’ve got going on with the Rumble and the rumors of Ronda Rousey (and others). And with the first, you never know what to expect. I am a little disappointed I won’t be able to enter because the winner will face me at Wrestlemania, but I do still feel a part of it though. We’re having a Royal Rumble and I don’t get to be a part of it!?
What about the upcoming Mixed Match? Is that a one-time thing?
They don’t know, but my partner was announced (Jan. 3). It’s Bobby Roode. I’m excited. I think we’re a perfect pair, and I hope we win — or I know — we will win the Mixed Match Challenge.
Obviously you have control of your character, but do you have any influence in your storyline? Are there still things that need to be accomplished?
In terms of things that need to be accomplished, I think it’s the women continuing to stay hungry and wanting to make a difference. I know that’s what all of us want, and that’s what got us there today. In terms of storyline, no one has control but you do have control of your career – showing up to work every day, giving it 100 percent, continually working on your character, your appearance, your promos, and that’s what I do. I never think, oh I’ve learned it all. In terms of continuing to reinvent yourself or bettering yourself, I think that helps with storylines, because you’re also growing and showing you’re more dynamic, so it could push creative a certain way. I do believe your career is in your own hands, even if you aren’t writing the story lines. For instance, no one told me to get a robe for Wrestlemania 32. I think that’s one of the most memorable parts of my first Wrestlemania. It was ‘Charlotte and her robe, she looks like her dad.’ And that’s when I started wearing the robe and that turned into my signature outfit. What am I going to do this ‘Mania? You constantly have to work on yourself.
Is there a dream match for you at this point? Who do you hope to get to face post-Royal Rumble?
That’s really hard. I think there (are) a lot of talented women in the Rumble. But I do think my best friend Becky Lynch coming back and facing me at Wrestlemania 34 would be epic. But saying that, I hope a lot of women win. I hope Sasha Banks wins. I hope Asuka wins. Sasha and I go way back, and it feels like we will fight forever. I’d love to break her streak. Then you have Bayley. I’ve left out a lot of women, but I think anyone could win. It’d be hard to say I just want that one person to win. I mean, do I want to beat my best friend?
How does that work, having a close friendship in an environment that breeds competition?
I think we push each other but we both know when we’re across the ring from each other that she wants to win and I want to win so we put the friendship aside. Give it 100 percent. I see how talented she is and she makes me want to work that much harder. It’s very hard to find true friends when you’re all competing for one thing.
How do you maintain any normalcy in life? Is that difficult?
No. I love my job. I’m very passionate about it. I feel as if my family is on the road. I don’t know what else I’d be doing right now and I love it. Finding normalcy is just taking a minute to relax. So when you’re home, enjoy that time and get sleep and go to your favorite restaurant, and I do find that time.
Do you think it helped to prepare you for this life to watch your father do it?
I don’t think watching my father prepared me for it, but I do think all of my sports and being dedicated to them and having a schedule and coaches and the rigorous workout regimen … I think that prepared me more for today.
What does that regiment have any leeway and do you get to have fun … and what do you consider fun now, having to train so hard?
Training is part of my job. I find an hour to two hours every day to train. I do give myself off days. It just depends on if there’s a show and we get in late and I don’t have time to train, so that’s my off day. What I do for fun is see my family, go to movies, find different restaurants that I haven’t been to – pretty much being normal.
Do you have to eat carefully?
My cheat meals are very popular. (laughs)
What do you think about young people being fans of WWE?
I think live events — that’s what they’re for. They’re to bring your family. I don’t think our product shows violence. Yes, we are having a competitive match. But when you see kids in the front row cheering and booing, they’re engaging with us. They’re hoping that good guy overcomes the bad guy. I don’t think there’s ever a time where they’re questioning what’s happening. They’re enjoying the show. It’s like watching a movie.