AJ Styles (real name Allen Jones) is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed professional wrestlers of the last 15 years, so it is surprising that he only made his WWE debut this year. Styles has been in the wrestling business since 1998, and has competed in every promotion imaginable.
To start off his in-ring career, Styles has a brief stint in WCW in 2001. This was poor timing, however, as WCW would be bought out shortly thereafter by WWE Chairman Vince McMahon. Styles would compete on the international circuit (including Ring of Honor) for a short while before he signed with the promotion that combined the NWA with a new promotion, Total Nonstop Action (now this is just TNA).
TNA would be where AJ Styles would find his claim to fame, wrestling in the promotion for 12 years before finally going elsewhere. Styles would win several championships in his tenure, where he would become the first-ever X Division Champion. Styles was exactly the face TNA needed, being “phenomenal” in the ring, and going over legends like Sting, Kevin Nash, and Kurt Angle.
During his time in TNA, Styles competed in one of the highest critically acclaimed triple threat matches of all time, when he faced Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels at TNA’s Unbreakable event. He was also in one of the worst feuds ever with Daniels, which revolved around Styles having an affair with Claire Lynch.
After leaving TNA in 2013, Styles would return to Ring of Honor as a free agent, which allowed him to also work in other promotions (mainly New Japan Pro Wrestling). In his return, Styles would win several matches against the likes of Chris Hero, Roderick Strong, and Adam Cole, and would earn himself a #1 Contender spot for the Ring of Honor World Championship. He would end up losing the title match against Jay Lethal, and in January 2016, Styles would end up saying “goodbye” to Ring of Honor before going to WWE.
After his short championship pursuit in Ring of Honor, Styles would sign with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). Styles would enter as a heel, joining the Bullet Club in the process. Styles would eventually become the third leader of the Bullet Club. Styles would capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship twice during his run, and would find formidable allies in Doc (Luke) Gallows and “Machine Gun” Karl Anderson. Styles’s last match would be another shot for the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 10 against current NXT Superstar Shinsuke Nakamura. One day after his match, his final appearance in NJPW would end by Styles would be attacked by the Bullet Club. This would establish Kenny Omega as the new leader.
On the same day as Wrestle Kingdom 10, rumors starting floating around that Styles had signed with WWE. Being the biggest name American wrestler outside of WWE, this was a huge deal. Styles would make his “debut” (he wrestled one match for WWE in 2002) as a surprise entrant in the 2016 Royal Rumble. Styles would eliminate two competitors before being eliminated by Kevin Owens.
After the Royal Rumble, Styles started feuding with WWE veteran Chris Jericho. Since Jericho has had experience in WWE, WCW, and in Japan, he was the perfect opponent to get Styles used to the WWE wrestling style. They would have a series of matches at multiple Pay-Per-Views from Fastlane through WrestleMania. In the middle of their feud, they would become allies and partners in the team “Y2AJ,” which was short lived after Jericho turned on Styles for losing a Tag Team Championship match. The feud would end when Jericho defeated Styles at WrestleMania 32.
On the Monday Night Raw episode after WrestleMania 32, Styles became the #1 Contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. In his pursuit for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson would debut in WWE and would align themselves with their former Bullet Club partner. Styles is still pursuing the title after failing to capture it from Roman Reigns at WWE Payback 2016, and will have a championship rematch at WWE Extreme Rules 2016.
Championships (Number of Reigns)
TNA
- NWA World Heavyweight Championship (3)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (4)
- Partners: Jerry Lynn, Abyss, and Christopher Daniels
- TNA World Heavyweight Championship (2)
- TNA Television Championship (2)
- TNA World Tag Team Championship (2)
- Partners: Tomko and Kurt Angle
- TNA X Division Championship (6)
- Note: Styles was the inaugural X Division Champion.
Ring of Honor
- ROH Pure Wrestling Championship (1)
- ROH World Tag Team Championship (1)
- Partner: Amazing Red
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- IWGP Heavyweight Championship (2)
