AJ Styles 2014 Shoot Interview

When you hear the name AJ Styles you only think of one word and that is “Phenomenal”.  For the first time ever AJ Styles takes the RF VIDEO hot seal for this explosive 4 hour shoot interview that covers his entire wrestling career to date with some very revealing details never covered anywhere else until now.  AJ Styles talks about his early days in the business working the indy scene in GA and how he developed his in ring skills while working the circuit before eventually ending up in NWA Wildside which was some of his earliest TV exposure.  This exposure got him signed to WCW in 2001, but it was a short run, as WCW would quickly go out of business some time soon after.  AJ discusses what it was like to work in front of major crowds on TV and than be back on the indy scene once again. In 2002, AJ Styles was the indy darling and on top of the world as a free agent once again.  He was one of the most sought out guys on the indy scene and of course owning ROH at the time, we swept him up and made him a top star of the company.  It was not soon after that when Jerry Jarrett started another company in Nashville Tn called TNA where AJ Styles was signed to a contract and made the poster boy for the company.   AJ was on fire at this time and during this interview we cover all of his top matches in both companies and AJ discusses all of his matches with Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, Low Ki, Bryan Daniels AKA Daniel Bryan and everyone under the sun as there are just too many top names to list.  You will hear all about the X Division, headlining the top TNA PPV matches and of course al the politics that went with being the top guy in TNA. AJ has seen it all in TNA when it comes to bookers, writers, ex WWE talent coming into the company and miking it for a pay check, and a lot of other issues at hand which led to his fall out with the company in 2013 when he opted not to sign a new contract.  AJ is very, very outspoken when it comes with his issues with TNA and more specifically Dixie Carter.  There is a portion of this interview that gets AJ so fired up as he talks about his fall out with TNA and what led to the problems between both parties.  AJ is very outspoken on guys who were in TNA and phoning it from home.  The TNA portion of this interview is the most detailed interview ever on the inside workings on TNA and all of his major matches as AJ has worked with everyone that has stepped thru the TNA curtains. Do you want to hear about all the behind the scenes stories in TNA like what is was like to work with the Jarretts, fall out between Karen Angle and Jeff Jarrett, working with Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan, were there issues ever with Bruce Prichard or Vince Russo?  For this interview RF VIDEO came up with the most in depth questions of all time as you will see below we did not miss a beat and covered everything that AJ has done in his career including talking about his up coming deal with New Japan that we had the heads up on, PWG, TNA going live to compete with WWE, working the TNA gimmick matches, being with Ric Flair as his mouth piece, Hogan & Biscoff regime, Sting, and of course his return to ROH!!! If you’re a fan of AJ Styles this shoot interview covers it all and I can assure you that this is his best interview and is his most up to date interview out on the market right now from start to finish.  AJ Styles got so much off his chest during the final hour of the shoot, that he felt relieved that he finally got to tell his side of the story on why he did not remain with the company that he helped put on the map.  You get as always all the inside news as RF VIDEO gives this interview with AJ 5 stars!!!!! Were a fan growing up of the business? What are your earliest memories of it? In your TNA DVD Best of AJ Styles Volume 2, you discussed growing up in an abusive home and growing up very poor.  How do you think those experiences shaped you as an adult? What led to you training in collegiate wrestling? Do you think having that background makes you a better pro wrestling worker? What led to you wanting to break into the business? What are your earliest memories of training under Rick Michaels? Did you find picking up the business easy? What are your memories of working your first match for National Championship Wrestling in Georgia? Why did you work under a mask as Mr. Olympia? What was the Georgia independent scene like at the time? Who were the top local indy talents on the scene? Early memories of Ron Killings on that indy scene at the time? When did you meet Air Paris for the first time? Why do you think you had such a good chemistry in the ring? When did NWA Wildside start? First  memories of Bill Behrens?  Why do you think you and he formed such a strong bond? When does the feud with Paris get the attention of WCW? Who offered you your WCW deal? You came into WCW in early 2001 – the company was in its last days.  Did it feel that way to you at the time? How hard is it to go from working an  indy crowd to working international TV tapings? Who came up with the Air Raid tag team for you and Paris? What was your reaction when you found out you were going to be in a team? You worked a few Thunder tapings at the time – describe the backstage atmosphere because the consensus is that WCW was falling apart at the time. You get to work Nitro in March 2001 as part of the Cruiserweight Tag Team tournament.  Memories of working Elix Skipper and Kid Romeo at the time? Do you find yourself getting close with anyone in the locker room or is there not enough time for that? When do you find out that WCW is getting bought by WWE?  Does anyone in Turner reach out to you? You return to the independents and do some enhancement jobs on WWE TV at this time – memories of working the WWE TV vs. WCW in terms of organization and backstage atmosphere. When do you find out that your WCW deal will not be honored? WWE offers you a developmental deal and wants to send you to HWA in Ohio.  You turn the deal down – how close were you to considering going and did you ever worry that turning the deal down would close the door for you in WWE down the line? How do you get hooked up with the World Wrestling Alll Star tours? Favorite memories of working those PPVs? Did you think Andrew McManus had a good plan for the promotion or did it seem like a money pit to you? The early tours did well, but then WWE came into the same countries – how bad did the tours drop live at that point? You became the WWAS International Cruiserweght champion, beating Jerry Lynn and Nova.  What’s your memories of working with them? Where’s the belt today? You work a lot for NWA Wildside at that point as well.  What are your memories of feuding with Rick Michaels for the NWA Georgia title?   How had you grown as a worker at this point? You also worked a lot with Ron Killings in Wildside.  How has he changed as a worker over the years? What was the first rumblings you heard of The Jarretts launching a company? Who’s the person to reach out to you about coming on board? In wrestling, there’s so many huge pie in the sky stories, so what made you think it was legitimate? You debut for ROH in June 2002 at Night of Appreciation.  What are your first thoughts about the ROH experience? Memories of the atmosphere in the Murphy Rec Center? You face Low Ki in your first ROH match, losing.  Did you have any issues losing your first night in? You get to work with Low Ki a lot in the next few years.  Thoughts on him as a worker and person.  Do you think he’s prevented himself from making big money in the business? He’s claimed he’s retired.  Do you believe that? At Road to the Title, you face Jerry Lynn in a singles bout for the ROH title.  Thoughts on Jerry as a worker? How important was Jerry to the early days of TNA? Do you think he gets his just due in the business? TNA debuts in June 2002 in Huntstville, Alabama.  Memories of that first show? What did you think of the weekly PPV concept?  Did you think it could take off? First thoughts on Jerry and Jeff Jarrett? First thoughts on Vince Russo? Did you deal with him at all in WCW? Is the criticism he receives warranted? What’s your favorite Russo story? Who gives you your instructions that first night? The ring breaks before they go live on PPV.  How insane is the backstage scene as all this unfolds? Thoughts on TNA making Ken Shamrock their first champion? When did you learn you were going to be the first X-Division champion? Memories of the double elimination Gauntlet with Ki, Lynn and Psicosis? Psisosis had the reputation of not being as driven a worker at that point.  Do you think that’s fair? With the second taping, TNA moved into what was known as the Asylum.  Thoughts and favorite memories of the venue? On that taping, you and Jerry Lynn win the NWA Tag straps.  Did they ever explain why they had you win two titles so quickly? They began an angle with Lynn as the bitter veteran and you feuding with him while you were partners.  Thoughts on the angle? Once you signed with TNA, did they have any issues with you continuing to work the independents? Break down how the TNA office worked in the early days, in terms of who was in charge of what? How often would the company have meetings with the boys to explain what the goals and plans were? Does TNA have any problem with you taking their title to ROH and other promotions on the independents? The 8/14/02 PPV was headlined by you and Lynn vs.  Jeff Jarrett and Ron Killings.  Thoughts on getting in the ring with Jeff the first time?  How do you rate him as a worker?  How has he changed over the years? CM Punk starts popping up in TNA in September 2002 and also ROH.  What are your first thoughts on Punk and how he’s progressed as a talent. TNA almost shuts down about Labor Day and runs a pair of taped PPVs.  Are you having flashbacks to the end of WCW at this point? What was told to the boys during this time? You continue to feud with Low Ki and Jerry Lynn, culminating in a ladder match in late September with Lynn.  Do you think the trio were the ones pulling in the PPV buys at that point?  Were you appreciated by the company? Did you ever have a problem with all the run-ins and reverse finishes that TNA used to pull out?  Could you at this point try to get them fixed? TNA also started doing a lot of surprise appearances with talents at this point.  Did you think the surprises were a good idea or would you have preferred TNA spent the time and money on building up the regulars? You had a chance to work with Shawn Waltman over the X-Division title.  Were you able to get any advice working with him? What was the relationship like between the NWA and TNA? Is it true at one point, the plan was for TNA to buy out the NWA? This is when Dixie Carter and Panda come in.  What are your first memories of Dixie and of the meeting where she informed everyone Panda were the majority owners? How hands on is she with the business end of the company at first? What did the relationship between she and The Jarretts seem like? There was talk of friction between Jeff and Jerry?  Could you see any sign of that at the shows? Jerry has tried to claim that Jeff picked his friendship with Russo over his father – do you think that’s a fair description? Amazing Red challenged you for the X-Division title late in 2002.  Thoughts on Red as a talent? Vince Russo formed the SEX group towards the end of the year – thoughts on that faction and the gimmick? Should Russo have been in front of the camera for TNA? Back over to ROH, What did you think of Xavier as ROH champion?  Why do you think he never took off nationally? Thoughts on wrestling Bryan Danielson for the first time at All Star Extravaganza? What do you think of Danielson’s success in WWE as Daniel Bryan? TNA booked you to wrestle Larry Zbyszko early in 2003.  That is obviously a big styles clash, so what was the story there?  What did you think of the experience? You challenged for the NWA title in February 2003 against Jeff Jarrett for the first time.  Was there a difference headlining the PPVs in that division vs. the X-Division bouts? You had a chance to work with Sandman and Raven as well during this time period as they did SEX vs. some former ECW talents.  Thoughts on those bouts? Was Raven hard to work with when it came to putting matches together? At the first ROH Anniversary show, it was you vs. Paul London vs. Low Ki in NYC.  Memories of working that bout. Thoughts on Paul London as a person and as a worker? In March 2003, you and Red win the ROH Tag Team titles from The Prophecy.  Memories of that team? You had several bouts with The Briscoes.  Thoughts on them as workers and how they have changed over the years?  Would you want to work with them again in ROH? Your partner was supposed to be London but he was injured.  So, ROH did an angle where London was upset with you for teaming with Red that led to a big singles match at Night of Grudges in Boston.  Thoughts on that feud? Alexis Laree aka Mickie James worked as your valet in ROH a bit – thoughts on her, her career and how she’s changed over the years. In TNA, you had a short feud with Glen Gilberti.  Obviously some of these names we are mentioning don’t really jibe with your in-ring style, so are these experiences hindering you or helping you grow as a worker? What leads to the AJ Styles and D-Lo Brown tag team?  Did you like teaming with Brown?  Favorite memories of the team? TNA later booked you in a best of three series against each others – favorite memories of those matches? TNA books you to win the NWA title in June 2002 after Vince Russo interferes and you beat Jarrett and Raven.  When did you learn you were winning the belt?  Do you get to have more say in the locker room now that you are in that position?  What did you think of the idea of Russo as your manager? Sting comes in and you get to face him in a tag bout with yourself and Waltman against Jarrett and Sting.  First recollections of meeting Sting and how he was to work with?  Was it a big deal that Sting was coming in? In June 2003, you defend the NWA title in ROH against Chris Sabin.  Did TNA have any issue with you bringing the belt there?  Were there any agreements ROH had to make with TNA to feature you at that point?  What did you think of coming out to Ric Flair’s music that night? Kazarian comes in to face you for the NWA title in July 2003 on a TNA PPV.  What are your thoughts on him and how he’s changed over the years? Thoughts on some of the TNA personalities from this time period: Abyss, Shane Douglas, Don West, Jim Mitchell, Chris Sabin, Johnny Swinger, Simon Diamond. Chris Daniels begins appearing in TNA in 2003.  Why do you think you and Chris Daniels forged such a close bond?  Why is there that chemistry? What led to you naming your kids after each other? Do you think Daniels has ever been given his just due in TNA and if not, why not? What do you think of Bad Influence? There’s talk their deals are coming up soon with TNA.  What advice would you give him about negotiating a new deal? You get to wrestle Dusty Rhodes in October 2003.  Was that a big deal to you given you grew up in Georgia? Were you upset when they booked Jarrett to win the title back from you? Did you feel they had done enough with you as champion? Looking back on your first title reign, was there anything you would change in how you handled the run? Sting returned to TNA and this time, you teamed with him against Jarrett and Lex Luger.  Was it odd working with Luger after the passing of Elizabeth and everything he had been through on a personal level? You had your first PPV bouts with Abyss at this point.  Thoughts on working with him.  Thoughts on Abyss/Joe Park/Chris Parks as a person and as a worker?  Did you like the Joe Park comedy character?  Do you feel TNA takes advantage of him with the bumps? You teamed with Samoa Joe against the Briscoes in CT- thoughts on that bout? First memories of Samoa Joe and how he’s changed over the years?  How do you rate Joe as a worker? At Final Battle 2003, ROH ran a joint show with All Japan.  On that show, you wrestled Kaz Hayashi.  Memories of that day and the show. As 2003 ended, which promotion did you consider your home company – ROH or TNA? How had ROH changed since it was formed? How had TNA changed under Panda Energy? As 2004 kicked off. you had a chance to work with Homicide in ROH.  Thoughts on him in the ring? You also had a chance to team with Erik Watts in TNA.  Some say he was underrated – thoughts? You win a tournament to become the first ROH Pure champion, beating CM Punk in February 2004.  What did you think of the Pure Wrestling Rules and could something like that work today? You and Abyss become tag team champions while also feuding with each other in TNA.  Do you think storylines like this become too complicated for fans to follow? .  Did you at any point want to leave ROH?  TNA forced you and Daniels to leave but did you consider staying with ROH.  What could have changed to get you to stay?  Did you ever consider picking ROH over TNA? Even after picking TNA over ROH, you weren’t booked on every PPV taping – why was this? You win the belt back from Jeff Jarrett in April 2004.  Was the second time as big as the first? You drop the belt the following month to Ron Killings in a Deadly Draw match after Jeff Jarrett interfered.  Was the plan to alway go to Killings or was the company just booking week to week? Which is easier as a performer – when you know what’s planned or when it’s something fresh every week? TNA holds the first King of the Mountain bout in June 2004.  Thoughts on that stipulation bout? Leading to that match, Chris Harris begins to pick up steam as a singles competitor.  Thoughts on Harris? Thoughts on James Storm? Bobby Roode comes into TNA in May 2004 as part of Team Canada.  How has he grown as a worker? TNA puts the X-Division title back on you in a win over Kazarian in June of 2004.  Do you see that as a demotion since you’ve been fighting for the NWA title? In June 2004, TNA debuts at Universal Studios with Impact.  The show is on FOX Sports.  What was the general consensus within the locker room about the company going on the air with a TV show as opposed to just weekly PPVs? How important was the Impact Zone to keeping TNA alive over the years?  Do you think the fans there were too spoiled? You headlined the 100th PPV, beating Kazarian, Red, Sabin, Michael Shane and Elix Skipper.  Did the show feel like a big accomplishment? There was a lot of negative press about TNA’s issues financially and creatively.  How do you as a worker block all that out and put together the best matches that you can? In 2004, TNA creates the Ultimate X match.  How does that stipulation enhance and hinder you as a wrestler while you are performing?  What’s the worst part about working that match?  Thoughts on your UX bout against Michael Shane and Kazarian? One name we didn’t bring up yet was Kid Kash, who worked a lot for TNA over the years.  There were stories that his attitude hurt him wit