AJ Styles has discussed Tama Tonga potentially joining WWE, previous roster cuts and his match with LA Knight.
Nowadays, the WWE roster is as stacked as it’s perhaps ever been. There are a myriad of legitimate main event stars around whom each brand can be build, and there are credible performers up and down the card to help to put together a strong show each week. Plus, there are always rumours and reports of possible new signings for the company.
When appearing on the Battleground Podcast, AJ first addressed a potential incoming to the WWE roster, discussing the possible recruitment of Tama Tonga.
“Well, I think that sky’s the limit (for Tama Tonga in WWE). This guy can get after it. I know how good Tama is so the fact that he may be coming over would be awesome. I was hoping he’d come over a long time ago but, he didn’t have any interest back then so if there’s interest now, he’s making the right decision.”
-AJ Styles
Speaking openly about the rotating door of talent, Styles said that he wished performers from the wider wrestling who may have been afraid of coming to WWE under Vince McMahon would understand how different it is under Triple H. The Phenomenal One talked about how he never understood why so many people were let go under Vince, stating that The Game is much more reluctant to release wrestlers, instead attempting to repackage roster members to get the best out of them.
“I wish more guys who I think would do well in WWE who may have been afraid as far as past things have happened with Vince (McMahon) being there, I wish that they would understand that WWE is in this for the long run. We’re talking about 10 years on Netflix, possibly 20 years, you know? That’s a long time. We’re not going anywhere and the fact that you could come here and you can have a job as long as you can produce for as long as you want it and depending where you’re from, you could reach out to other countries. So I just wish more guys would understand this. We are not just in the United States of America, we’re not just in England. We are global. We’re even bigger now than we’ve ever been. Places that we weren’t able to go, now we’re in. So, I just wish they could see that and know that, listen, this isn’t the same WWE that Vince was in charge of. I really believe Triple H looks at our talent and go, let’s get ’em better or let’s find ways to bring out the best in them rather than show off the worst because a lot of those guys and girls, when they got released from WWE, it crushes ‘em. I never understood why we’d wanna do something like that, rather than, okay, let’s just send ‘em back in NXT. They just need a little bit more work or something like that. But, being released, it’ll crush you and I don’t wanna see people, you know, their lives being ruined because of a job. At the end of the day, it’s just a job. But still, it’s something they’ve worked for their whole life and then when you’re told you’re not good enough, man, that sucks. But it’s not the way it is these days. Not with Triple H in charge. I think he’s doing a great job of making everyone feel important.”
-AJ Styles
Talking about the journey it takes to get to WWE, Styles actually gave respect to his WrestleMania opponent LA Knight, giving him credit for hanging in there and taking his chance when WWE called.
“You gotta respect what he’s (L.A. Knight) been through to get to where he’s at. I’ve been there, done that. I know exactly how it feels for someone not to believe (in) you and all you need is a chance and he got his chance and now, people don’t stop saying, ‘Yeah’. He could throw a punch or a kick. We’re gonna hear, ‘Yeah’. So, kudos to him for hanging in there and getting the job done when I know there’s frustration. So, listen, alright, that’s it, that’s it. I’m not saying anymore good things about him. That’s it.”
-AJ Styles
AJ is a veteran of the wrestling industry, and has been a champion everywhere he’s been. He is a grand slam champion in WWE, and, as aforementioned, his next stop will see him battle LA Knight in a one-on-one match on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on AJ Styles as soon as we hear more.
H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.
