AJ Styles is one of the best in-ring performers in WWE history, with his high-flying, exciting and unorthodox wrestling style wowing fans all over the world.
After a brief stint with WWE, Styles made his name with TNA, Ring of Honor and later New Japan-Pro Wrestling, in which time he cemented himself as arguably the best wrestler in the world and certainly the best not to be with the industry giant.
Upon returning to WWE and making his main roster debut at the Royal Rumble in 2016, Styles quickly won over Vince McMahon and was moved up the card, winning the WWE Title before the end of the year.
Since then, he has won a second WWE Championship, three US Titles, the Intercontinental Title, as well as Tag Team Gold.
Styles is currently part of an ongoing storyline with Judgement Day and fellow ex-Bullet Club member Finn Balor, that should feature prominently on WWE television moving forward.
With all of this in mind, there still may be a few things about “The Phenomenal One” that fans remain unaware of, so GiveMeSport runs you through 10 things you didn’t know about AJ Styles…
He was an amateur wrestling Champion
The real-life Allen Jones attended Johnson High School in Gainesville, Georgia. Graduating in 1996, he was a two-time Georgia State wrestling champion. He then attended University on a wrestling and physical education scholarship.
AJ Styles is a two-time WWE Champion
He wrestled in WCW
In the final months of WCW, Styles wrestled for the ailing promotion in a tag team called Air Raid. The team competed in four matches before the doors were shut on the company in March 2001.
He turned down a WWE contract
Following WWE’s purchase of WWE (as well as ECW’s demise), they were the only big show in town. Styles made a series of appearances in dark matches, even wrestling The Hurricane. After these matches, Styles was offered a developmental contract but turned it down as the move to Cincinnati, Ohio would interfere with his wife’s college plans.
He won a prestigious award in 2010
Styles eventually signed with TNA, appearing on their very first show. His time with the promotion would see him catapult to the top of the industry, and lead to him topping Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s prestigious 500 wrestlers of the year in 2010.
AJ Styles was the leader of Bullet Club
He won wrestler of the 2010s
The same publication voted Styles as the wrestler of the decade for 2010-2020, a testament to his greatness across multiple promotions.
He won a World Title in his Bullet Club debut match
Upon signing with New Japan Pro Wrestling in April 2014, Styles debuted as the newest member of the villainous Bullet Club. He had wrestled for New Japan before but in first match as a Bullet Club member, he defeated Kazuchika Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship.
He is the only man to win all three of these World Titles
Styles’ excellence across multiple promotions has seen him win the TNA World Championship and the WWE title, as well as the IWGP Heavyweight belt. A unique feat in professional wrestling.
AJ Styles was a cornerstone of TNA
He is the only TNA and WWE Grand Slam Champion
Styles won the World, TV, X Division and Tag Titles while in TNA. He followed that up in WWE by holding the WWE, US, Intercontinental and Tag Titles at different times. This makes him the only man to do so in both companies.
He was once the “New Nature Boy”
In 2010, Styles turned heel in a TNA World title against Kurt Angle, retaining the belt with help from Ric Flair. The two then aligned, with Styles being christened “The New Nature Boy” and later leading Fortune, a stable modelled in the shape of the Four Horsemen.
His tattoo tribute to his children
Styles hugely prominent “AJ” tattoo on his ribs is joined by the birth dates of his three daughters and son.