AJ Styles recently spoke with Yahoo Sports about a wide range of topics.
During the interview, he reflected on making his WWE debut in 2016 by competing in the 30-Man WWE Royal Rumble Match.
Styles lasted almost 30 minutes in his debut before being eliminated by Kevin Owens. This is where recalled the match and admitted he was nervous.
At the time, there was speculation about Styles going to WWE but it was unknown whether he would be put in NXT or sent straight to the main roster.
“You have to think about it all,” Styles said. “Not only is it one of the biggest pay-per-views in WWE, it’s WWE in general. It was my first time under contract, working for a company that is easily the biggest in the world. Was I a little nervous? Oh yeah. Was anybody going to remember A.J. Styles? I had worked at this little place in Orlando, I was in Japan a lot, so I was a little nervous because I didn’t know what to expect.”
Styles also said his WWE debut couldn’t have been any better.
“I was in a position that gave me the opportunity to really shine,” Styles recalled. “When I walked out for the Royal Rumble, there was only one man in the ring. I went No. 3 and the spotlight was on me. The fans had no idea whose music was playing and then when they figured out who it was, it was even more exciting because they had no idea what would happen and they had no idea that AJ Styles was coming to WWE.”
He continued, “It couldn’t have been any better. Once I step into the ring, those jitters and that nervousness goes away, that doesn’t exist anymore. Walking down the aisle, yes, you’re still feeling it.”
