WWE News: AJ Styles talks not going through NXT system

AJ Styles moved to WWE in 2016

What’s the story?

WWE superstar AJ Styles has spoken about how he feels regarding his passage into the company, including how he didn’t come through the NXT developmental system. Styles made his comments during a recent interview with Inside The Ropes before their Glasgow live event.

In case you didn’t know...

Styles has made quite the impression since arriving at the 2016 Royal Rumble, with the former TNA superstar having one of the best debut year in WWE history. This included top matches against the likes of Chris Jericho, John Cena and Roman Reigns, in addition to a stunning run as WWE Champion which began at last year’s Backlash.

The heart of the matter

As you can see in the above clip, Styles reveals that he is indeed jealous of the stars that have come through the NXT system. ‘The Phenomenal One’ talks about how there’s no instance of people stabbing each other in the back, with all of the guys and girls calling one another by their first names as opposed to their WWE names.

What’s next?

AJ is currently gearing up for a United States Championship bout against Kevin Owens at Backlash, with some fans feeling that is a step down for the former main eventer. Either way, he’s still well positioned to be a huge part of the company going forward – especially considering how well he’s been booked on the blue brand over the last few months.

Author’s Take

Styles may not have gone through NXT, but he’s still had a thoroughly impressive run in the business prior to going to WWE. With his tenure in TNA, ROH and NJPW proving his greatness to the world, he has nothing to be jealous of despite how popular NXT has been. Plus, he probably could’ve gone down there for a while if he wanted to.