AJ talks about not going through NXT & the impact of going through WWE's Developmental

We sat down with AJ Styles right before the WWE Live event in Glasgow and asked him a bunch of different questions. Here he talks about not going through NXT when he got to WWE and the pros of the NXT system for the guys who come through it.
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[@joshuamellor1193]

He's too big of a star to go into NXT , he doesn't need developing he's the finished product

[@domhernandez5390]

CRAZYJONESY Xx exactly

[@umeercheema6895]

CRAZYJONESY Xx You can easily say that for people like Roode, Joe and Aries too. Yet, they were there. Had AJ gone there, it would've been fine because no one expected him to become the start he has become back then.

[@joshuamellor1193]

Umeer Cheema I agree but I think it's also got to do with the star power and age of AJ

[@zackrakesh6151]

It made AJ feel like an even bigger star. Like wwe trusts him so much they put him straight on the main show. Like wwe and even vince trusts AJ with the wwe title.

[@tisvelocity290]

AJ only went to the main roster because of the lack of talent and their top stars being injured.

[@omnidimensional]

Just to note, Shinsuke going thru developmental was the perfect start! Because it got him used to performing in the US and being on camera within the WWE formula. If he went straight to a main roster, you wouldn't have those "WHOAAA" chants or etc. because we all know on RAW live or SD live, the crowd judge em at the stage, and either like em or write em off by the second word of the promo...

[@ali965]

AJ'a already the complete package. He's been that way for 18 years. He didn't need to go through developmental and NXT even if he had to.

[@peterchisholm7321]

AJ Styles.... THE BEST IN THE WORLD. No other way to put it.

[@zackrakesh6151]

Okada is the best.

[@peterchisholm7321]

Agree to disagree on this... Everybody is entitled to like who they like. My opinion is AJ is the best in-ring performer in the world. There really isn't an argument against Okada either. This is why we are fans lol

[@zackrakesh6151]

I respectfully disagree. okada is the best in ring performer in the world. not aj.

[@peterchisholm7321]

Sophie Matthews Fair enough... Btw, is that you in that Ice Bucket Challenge? God that looks miserable what the hell possessed you to do that

[@shaun_idk8820]

Peter Chisholm no cm punk is THE BEST IN THE WORLD

[@OmegaMkVII]

AJ Styles is no doubt to be the whole package, he got so much experience and he's just fucking phenomenal in every level. That being said, I just can't help but be curious to see how AJ would actually be like in the NXT, over there you see so many damn good matches because they have a little more freedom in their move-set.

[@martinirving7223]

The best pro wrestler I've seen. Half the stuff he does is just mind-blowing. I wish he could of went toe-to-toe with 'Taker. I'm sure as hell he would of got a great match outta him. Much respect for your work and profesionalism, AJ.

[@justamaninentertainment9055]

Phenomenal

[@superchazney198]

Hey Kenny, can you do some longer videos? these are alot harder to get into cut into 1 minute slots? :) much love!

[@jenskrause6968]

superchazney198 do you mean the cleaner..... kennnnyyy omegaaaaaa 😃

[@blackadam7867]

AJ >> Daniel Bryan Come at me IWC.

[@hafizulazri5353]

Black Adam786 every iwc would agree anyway

[@superdrag65]

Black Adam786 Much as I love D-Bry, you're right, and I even think Bryan himself would agree.

[@KarleyQuinLopez8687]

Black Adam786 why compare Bryan to God?

[@DWOld]

Who doesn't like AJ Styles? The dude is a fucking amazing worker

[@countrylife04]

if AJ had go to NXT first, it will just be a waste of time, AJ is not young when he signed in the WWE, and also AJ Styles is a big name in wrestling, he's a legend before going to WWE, he's a multiple champion in the great TNA days and he's a 2x IWGP heavyweight champion which is a very big deal for a non-Japanese to win it not just 1 time but 2 time, and as i always says NXT is just for the young and unexperienced wrestler and for also the older guys with not much experience and name and for someone who's from other country who's practicing to develop their english like Nakamura, in the case of Shinsuke if he's already fluent in english before he signed w/ WWE, he should have gone straight to the main roster also, and in the case of Samoa Joe the NXT needs someone at that time to represent the company in NXT live events outside Orlando thats why Joe spends alot of time in NXT which is i somewhat doesnt agree also cuz it wasted alot of time of Joe

[@tisvelocity290]

NXT for the indy stars is to get them used to the WWE system and being infront of a camera and needing to project into that camera. Styles going to NXT would of been fine, he only went to the main roster due to most of the top stars being injured at the time.

[@countrylife04]

i really dont believe in that injured issue, cause the contract that AJ signed is for him to be first in the rumble and he made a package deal that he will sign if Gallows and Anderson are included, and AJ is considered the best wrestler in the world in 2015 up to now, and TNA and NJPW are not indies fyi, and NXT is not an assurance that if you go from there first that you will succeed in the main roster

[@akbar228891]

not to mention he was a former 3x nwa world heavyweight champion in tna

[@maztermonzter9764]

Brock won the iwgp heavyweight champion also.

[@pipo81907]

I guess WWE don't want none

[@stevencisneros9306]

#AjStylesForNXTChamp

[@MDPofficial69]

He's a legend I'm glad he didn't go to NXT. Jumping straight to the main roster was best for business

[@thefuturegoat5769]

Wow. I've heard from other NXT wrestlers that NXT is like a family. Glad to hear it from someone who wasn't in NXT about the friendship those people have.

[@Sanprano]

AJ Styles is the Man, love they are setting him and KO up gonna be good.

[@elihymes854]

They hyped AJ Styles as something bigger than WWE so you can't stick him in NXT first

[@patrickbell4562]

Eli Hymes wasnt hype tho. he's better than NXT

[@douglassnyder9206]

Probably should point out that the WWE will treat those who come to the Main Roster like "baby dolls" until they become useless to them. I've seen it happen to several former WWE wrestlers.

[@Dontknockmedown]

Some of the guys they send to NXT do seem to be a bit pointless, glad they didn't do it with him. Takes the surprise out of their main roster debut when they've already been on WWE programming too

[@faust9741]

well that decision was because at the main roster currently there are no people with such an amazing talent that's why they put him there

[@robertvisa7358]

Charles Huke Working with Vince mcmahon is poison for you re career so NXT can at least you offer something that main roster cant do and that is pro wrestling. Main roster is a joke and the fact that Aj joined the main roster without going to NXT proved that he didnt care about pro wrestling he cared only about money

[@johaan46]

Omg

[@zahr501st8]

The best in the world....IN DEVELOPMENTAL ??

[@lindahosey984]

But wouldn’t Aj look sick with the nxt title

[@elhajjmalikel6266]

Although I respect AJ's input, guys not being friends and buddy buddy is what made wrestling so good back in the day. Baby faces and heels rode on separate buses and had separate locker rooms. Yes, many of them did know and hang out with each other outside of wrestling, but now it's too "caring". That's why many people turn on the television and feel like they are just watching an "entertainment" show instead of wrestling. It's not edgy anymore.

[@doubleemcastillano464]

Welp, Steveweiser thinks that this has caused a lack of wrestlers that can accel to that too spot. Hmmmm

[@jrzez]

AJ didn't need NXT. He might be the greatest in ring wrestler ever. Shinsuke going through NXT is rather surprising though. Even more surprising is that he still hasn't wrestled LOL. WWE writers absolutely, suck.

[@crackcidi]

this video doesn't explain why he wasn't in NXT at his debut

[@nateputerbaugh5709]

crackcidi Short answer: Money. Long answer: AJ had enough name recognition and a big enough salary in New Japan that he wasnt going to sign for a typical NXT deal. That amount of cash and his age probably said get him right to the main roster

[@crackcidi]

I agree with you

[@ultimatestoryteller]

1:14 did he said fuckin ??

[@AllHailKingKurt]

Saibal Sandhir no, he did not

[@fzessex2969]

Lesson learnt: For veteran wrestlers, dont get to NXT, Look at AJ he went straight to the main roster and he's more successful than the rest like Balor, Nakamura, Joe, Roode who went to NXT first

[@wwechampikp]

1000th like :)

[@Noah-up3yf]

I'm glad he didn't go to nxt would have been a waist of time just like nxt is

[@Poncho5rc]

Noah Hesse Waist? WAIST? WAIST?! 😂

[@zackrakesh6151]

Lol your grammar sucks or should i say youre xD

[@peterchisholm7321]

clearly you don't watch NXT... It is a fantastic product, plus it is really cool to see people like Bayley or Snap and Cass, who nobody ever heard of before, come in and make their rise. It is equally cool to see the Nakamura's and Bobby Roode's of the world learn the ways of WWE before the main roster even though they are plenty experienced. AJ is simply THAT GOOD where he didn't need to do that

[@Noah-up3yf]

Peter Chisholm excalty put everyone on raw& SD live because they don't need to be on NXT because we they can wrestle anywhere thanks for agreeing & I do watch it

[@peterchisholm7321]

Noah Hesse We agree that AJ Styles did not need to go down that road, I think anybody would... However, we certainly don't agree on the concept of NXT.... Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Sami Zayn, Baron Corbin, Charlotte, Bayley, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss, Becky Lynch, Finn Balor (need I go on?)... All cut their teeth there for a reason... They are better superstars today because of it. When they get called up to the main roster they are already bona fide stars and their debuts are huge, often followed by a huge push instead of seeing them for the first time and wondering who the hell they are (except Finn Balor Valor and KO of course). Point is they are ready

[@HRDK-SKLETRMUMMR-MEGTRN]

Dude, just upload the whole video, or else you might not get anymore clicks out of me & a few others - brother!!!! 👎😬