WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles recently said that his constant defense of WWE has nothing to do with corporate loyalty and everything to do with the people he left behind.
‘The Phenomenal One’ pushed back on fans who accuse him of being a company shill, explaining that when he promotes WWE, he is really protecting the friends and colleagues still working there.
Since stepping away from in-ring competition, Styles has hosted The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, where he talks retro gaming and shares his thoughts on the wrestling product. His repeated praise for WWE on the show has drawn criticism from fans, and he addressed that head-on during the latest episode.
Speaking on his podcast, Styles drew a line between defending the company and defending the people inside it.
I think a lot of people think, ‘Oh, he’s a freaking whatever, because he always puts over WWE.’ I’m like, ‘To be honest with you, I’m putting over my friends, colleagues, peers and people that I care for that work there.’ I want to make sure that they’re in a good place. If I dog WWE every second, then I’m not doing any favors. So I am going to promote WWE because I have people that I care about that are there and people who are continuing in the PC that will be up there one day.
The former WWE Champion added that his support extends to talent still developing in the Performance Center, and that he wants the workplace to stay a positive environment for current and future stars. He acknowledged that the company will never be flawless, but argued there is value in highlighting what works.
I want to make sure that it’s a good place to be. It’s not a negative thing always. I mean, it’s not always going to be perfect, but nothing is. So I want to do what I can to make sure there’s some positive influence in what’s going on. The fans, they’re always going to find something wrong, and that’s okay. But there’s also positive things too.
The comments arrive shortly after Styles’ remarks about wins and losses in wrestling sparked debate, which he also clarified on the same podcast. He has been candid on the show before, including his thoughts on Vince McMahon’s leadership style and the backstage culture during that era.
Styles has also used the platform to advocate for talent, recently explaining what he meant by saying wins and losses do not matter in wrestling and urging WWE to capitalize on rising stars.