AJ Style reveals why he turned the WWE down back in 2002. The Phenomenal One was given a chance to join the promotion two decades earlier but refused.
Considering WWE’s treatment of stars they did not create, it is amazing to see AJ Styles thrive in the WWE. This has prompted fans to wish he had joined the promotion earlier. Styles himself however, has no regrets. In fact, he believes it’s the best decision he ever made.
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On the latest episode of WWE Untold, the two time WWE Champion recalled when the WWE offered him a developmental contract back in 2002. Styles would go on to turn down the offer in order to not disrupt his young family.
AJ Style reveals why he turned the WWE down back in 2002
“That development deal consists of me moving to Cincinnati,” Styles said. “I ended up talking to Jonny Ace. I said ‘I really appreciate this, but I can’t move to Cincinnati and disrupt my family.’ I feel like my wife’s dream came first with her wanting to be a teacher. And I didn’t want to mess that up. And, lo and behold, I think that was the best decision I’d ever make.”
“My wife is brilliant, though I like to say she made a mistake in marrying me,” The Phenomenal One joked. “She worked so hard to get to college and earn a scholarship, and her dream was becoming a teacher.”
“I wanted to make sure that she was able to go after her dream,” he continued. “That was very important to me. Mine could come second, so I didn’t take the developmental with WWE in Cincinnati. Years later, it ended up leading me back to WWE at the perfect time.”
The perfect time Styles is referring to is the 2016 Royal Rumble. Rumors swirled of him moving to the WWE. Despite that however, his appearance blew the roof of the arena. Styles would eventually become WWE Champion within the same year and very quickly established himself as a top star in the company.
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