AJ STYLES CALLS GETTING IN THE RING WITH CENA “A BLESSING,” EXPLAINS WHY HE TURNED
DOWN WWE DEAL IN 2002

March 6, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LOS ANGELES, CA – WWE Superstar AJ Styles is the special guest on a brand new
episode of Lilian Garcia: Making Their Way to the Ring, in an intimate discussion
about family, religion, and of course, pro wrestling. AJ reveals why he turned down
a developmental deal with WWE in 2002, and when he first knew pro wrestling was for
him, in this exclusive interview.

Highlights from AJ’s interview are below:

AJ commends John Cena: When you’ve got a guy who has been in the business just as
long as you have, but he’s been in the ring with so many amazing performers in the
WWE, and I’m talking about John Cena. You can learn a thing or three from this guy,
and a half. It was such a blessing to get in the ring with someone like him; to
learn from him, because the WWE is completely different than the independents, or
this place or that place, or Japan. It’s different.

When AJ knew pro wrestling was for him: I didn’t watch wrestling as much when I was
growing up because we didn’t have the opportunity. I always liked it. So when it got
really hot and everybody’s watching, well sure, why not? Why not try it, see if I
can do it? I think I can do something like that. Literally as soon as I took that
first bump in that ring, when he was just showing me what to do , it’s like, I can
do this. You couldn’t have told me any different. First bump.

Why he turned down 2002 developmental deal with WWE: At the time I was married and I
didn’t think it was right to move to Cincinnati, even though my wife said, go. It
wasn’t right to leave her, have her move back in with her mother. My job is to take
care of her. So I turned down, respectfully, the developmental deal with WWE. Then
within a few months TNA started up, which I thought was just another independent
thing that was probably happening. It wasn’t a big deal to me. But within six months
it’s like, OK this might be something. As it grew on, I grew to love that place,
because I felt that it was something I and other guys were building.

AJ reveals whether he had a hand in Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson joining him in
WWE: [WWE] were like, well we’re just interested in you right now. I’m like, um OK.
That same week they go, no, we want all of you. So it was like, yes! I didn’t want
to pull them away and then get their hopes up and then oh, sorry guys, just kidding.
So I’m so glad that they got to come with me and it made a huge difference.

ABOUT THE SHOW:
For 15 years, Lilian Garcia worked with some of the best athletes in the world, the
WWE Superstars. They put their bodies on the line 300+ days a year to entertain us.
She loves and respects them so much, yet… she realized she didn’t know anything
about them, their lives and the obstacles they broke through to get into
professional wrestling! Lilian Garcia: Making Their Way To The Ring is a platform
for Superstars, past, present and future, to share their story and the journey of
what it takes to be a Superstar in this business. The conversations will be Real,
Raw and Inspiring; offering the viewer a genuine connection to the person behind the
performer. Lilian Garcia: Making Their Way To The Ring will leave you cheering and
rooting for that star’s life and dreams!