AJ Styles Just Named the Only AEW Star He Wants in WWE, And It’s a Game Changer
AJ Styles isn’t holding back. The Phenomenal One recently opened up about the current wrestling landscape, and he has his eyes set on one specific AEW superstar he believes belongs in a WWE ring.
During a candid chat on the “Phenomenally Retro” podcast, Styles didn’t dance around the subject. When asked which talent from the rival promotion he would love to see signed by the Triple H regime, the former World Champion immediately pointed to Will Ospreay.
Styles had nothing but praise for the Aerial Assassin, calling him the complete package.
“Will’s the man, dude. I would love to have him in WWE,” Styles admitted. He went on to explain that Ospreay has finally figured out who he is as a performer, understanding what looks good and what makes logical sense inside the squared circle.
However, AJ did share a small concern that a lot of fans have. He worries about Ospreay’s high-risk style. “Sometimes we worry about him hurting himself because he’s balls to the walls,” Styles said. But he quickly added that he completely understands the mindset, relating it to his own legendary career. “You’ve got one gear—you’ve got to go one gear until you retire, like myself.”
Why NXT is the Only Smart Move for New Stars
In a separate part of the interview, Styles also weighed in on the recent debut of former NJPW star EVIL, now known as Naraku, on the WWE NXT brand. And let’s just say, he made a very strong case for why the developmental system is non-negotiable.
Styles argued that rushing anyone to the main roster is a huge mistake. He stressed that NXT provides a “smooth transition” that Japan simply doesn’t offer. According to AJ, the difference is night and day.
“In Japan, they don’t know that it’s entertainment. They treat it as a sport,” Styles explained. He noted that Japanese camera crews don’t sit in on booking meetings, which leads to major differences in presentation.
He used a simple but crucial example: knowing not to turn your back to the hard camera. “It sounds silly, but I get it, it’s important,” he said. Styles recalled how a cameraman named Stu had to teach him these “little things” when he arrived. For Naraku to succeed, Styles insists he must learn where every camera is before even thinking about a main roster call-up.
