Multi-time WWE champion claims he panicked before dangerous spot with Brock Lesnar; says AJ Styles rejected it
Brock Lesnar's absence can be felt in WWE as The Beast Incarnate was a huge draw for the company. Recently, Austin Theory revealed that he panicked before doing a dangerous spot with the former UFC star. He said that even AJ Styles refused to take the move.
A few years ago, Austin Theory was in the main event scene under Vince McMahon's regime, and the rising star crossed paths with several notable names in the industry, including Brock Lesnar.
In an interview with Chris Van Vliet of Insight, the former WWE Tag Team and United States Champion stated that AJ Styles rejected to do the dangerous spot with The Beast Incarnate from the top of the chamber pod, and Vince McMahon asked him to take it instead. Theory further said that he panicked while climbing up the chamber before taking the move.
"So I remember the night before, we're at rehearsals, and everybody's there, AJ Styles is on Brock Lesnar's shoulders and there's a crash pad down on the floor. Vince steps up behind me and he goes ‘I want you to take that.’ I was just looking and as soon as he says Brock throws AJ to the pad. AJ lands on his side, and anybody who knows AJ, he doesn't cuss. If you catch him cussing, even on TV, that man is angry, but he goes, 'What the frick? That's stupid I'm not taking that.' Then Brock comes climbing down, and Vince goes, 'Brock, go back up, Theory is gonna take it.' I was like, 'oh man.' I'm just walking through the motions. I'm climbing up the cage. I'm just going up, and I'm just panicking," Theory said. [H/T - CVV]
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Three-time WWE champion explains why he agreed to do the spot with Brock Lesnar after AJ Styles refused
From 2021 to 2022, Vince McMahon's regime was heavily invested in Austin Theory, and the star received a notable push from the company. However, it all changed when Triple H took over WWE's creative department.
In the same interview, Theory detailed why he didn't refuse the spot with Brock Lesnar, similar to AJ Styles. The former WWE United States Champion said Vince McMahon would've done the spot, and he knew he could come out of it safely.
"So I was kind of like thinking about it, and I remember the whole day, rehearsal, the next day, Michael Hayes, everybody keeps messing with me, like, 'Hey, you sure you want to take that bump? You don't have to.' And then I'm knowing damn well Vince just told me he wants me to take it. I remember him saying, 'I wouldn't make you do anything I wouldn't do.' I was like, I know he would take it, and he'd probably kill himself," Theory said. [H/T - CVV]
It'll be interesting to see what Theory does next on Friday Night SmackDown.