AJ Styles has revealed that the decision to work a programme in NXT earlier this year was totally his call as he looks to help the next generation of WWE Superstars.

Back in January, AJ Styles had a brief run on NXT 2.0, feuding with one of the new stars of Tuesday nights Grayson Waller.

Culminating in Styles competing on the brand against Waller and giving the young Superstar the rub against one of the WWE’s seasoned best. 

Speaking about the decision to spotlight NXT, AJ spoke exclusively to WWE Kids Magazine for GiveMeSport about the feud with Waller being totally his idea and that he wants to help the talent on the brand be ready for if and when they make it to the main roster. 

It was totally my idea. I want to make sure that the guys and gals are totally prepared for what we expect on Raw and SmackDown. For me to go down there and show what we do, it’s a little different but I want you to get used to it.

The Phenomenal One, who could be set to work another former NXT talent in the returning Dexter Lumis, went on to say that he wants to see these guys succeed and see them do in WWE rather than with another promotion. 

I don’t want to see anyone bought up and then taken out or go somewhere else. It’s an investment we’re losing out on it we do that. So, let’s prepare them for what we need on Raw and SmackDown. It was something for me, as someone who cares about this company, wanted to see people do well. It was totally my choice to go down there (to NXT), and I think we should do more it, I think more Raw and SmackDown guys should go down there and compete.

AJ hasn’t been the only Raw and SmackDown guy to help guide the stars of tomorrow on NXT. Dolph Ziggler had a memorable run on the brand around WrestleMania, when he captured the NXT Championship before dropping it back to Bron Breakker in a programme designed to get Breakker more established. 

We’ve also seen Riddle and Bobby Roode get involved with NXT talent in recent months, while Nikkita Lyons and Zoey Stark are set to work against Natalya and Sonia Deville on SmackDown in the opening round of Women’s Tag Team Title tournament. 

AJ Styles was talking ahead of us ahead of Clash At The Castle, the UK’s first major WWE stadium event in over 30 years, taking place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday 3rd September. For tickets visit: https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wweclash.