AJ Styles Discusses Searching The Indies In New WWE Role

AJ Styles’ new role with WWE has him scouring the independent scene for talent.

Despite speculation that his future may lie elsewhere following his retirement at the Royal Rumble on January 31 at the hands of GUNTHER, AJ Styles remains firmly part of the WWE system and now finds himself in a new role as a talent scout.

During the latest episode of his Phenomenally Retro podcast, AJ Styles detailed his new role with the company and what he looks for in independent talent.

“I’m going to indie shows and checking those out, just seeing what they have to offer and stuff like that. And I’m scouring the internet. If something sticks out, if people see talent that they like, ‘Wow, they’re different, there’s something about them.’ I like that kind of stuff. If you want to send me that stuff, fine. Go ahead. I’d love to see it. So yeah, I’m just trying to check out and see how much talent is out there. I know what it’s like to be on the indies. Having a job and then traveling, sometimes it’s hard to get the things that you need. So if they’re as desperate as I am to make it in the wrestling business, I’d love to see them before anybody else snags them up because that’s the way it is. And hopefully, I’m able to see talent before it’s developed. There’s something about them that this drive and meeting them that, hopefully I want to see myself in them. Meaning not the same abilities, that’s not what I’m talking about, the same size. Just the same heart and passion that’s gonna go into this because we have no plan B. This is it. ‘I’m gonna put all my eggs into this basket and I’m gonna find a way to make it in this crazy wrestling business and hopefully one day get to the top.’”

-AJ Styles

With over fifteen years of experience working across the independent scene alongside his time with TNA Wrestling and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, AJ Styles would undoubtedly prove a valuable asset as WWE looks to attract the new generation of in-ring standouts.

While it now appears that fans hoping to see AJ Styles appear in All Elite Wrestling will not get their wish, Chris Jericho recently revealed that AEW once looked to sign ‘The Phenomenal One’ when his WWE deal had expired. You can read more about that here.

As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on AJ Styles’ new role with WWE as soon as we hear more.

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