AJ Styles believes there is no mystery behind how so many backstage WWE stories end up online, but he called out wrestlers for leaking information to the media.
While speaking on his Phenomenally Retro podcast, Styles was asked whether wrestlers feed information to wrestling journalists. The former WWE Champion didn’t hesitate, making it clear that he believes talent inside the company are absolutely sharing information they shouldn’t be sharing.
“For some reason, some reason, these guys just want to be giving info that they shouldn’t. I take pride in where I am and what I do and that nobody gets to have what I have based on the fact that because I’m a pro wrestler. I went through the beatings and everything else, the trainings, and so you don’t get to have that that I have.”
The Phenomenal One acknowledged that the wrestling business is far more open today than it used to be, but he said there are still stories that could only get out if someone inside the company is talking.
“Again, we’re putting that information out there freely today, but there’s definitely guys that would give inside information because otherwise, how would they know? Because there’s some things that were spot on and it’s because somebody, one of the boys or whatever, told them. There’s no question they’re not.”
When asked why wrestlers leak information in the first place, Styles admitted he doesn’t fully understand the motivation: “For some reason, they like having the info.” A big part of Styles’ frustration comes from the impact leaks have on fans. He said one of the best parts of wrestling is being surprised, and too many stories get spoiled before they can happen.
“I think so. One, we can’t appreciate any surprises because we never know when they’re coming in or if they’re coming in. Uh, or we do know when they’re coming in. That’s the problem.”
While Styles admitted advance reports can sometimes help sell tickets if fans believe a major star might appear, he still feels the negatives outweigh the positives.
“If there’s a chance that this guy may show up, you may buy a ticket to see the show. So, it could be bad and good. I prefer it on the bad side more than anything because there’s just so much information.”
The most interesting part of the discussion came when Styles revealed that even WWE talent are occasionally shocked when rumors reported online turn out to be accurate, which made it clear someone was leaking information.
“For guys like me who are actually in the company and then you hear something that’s going on with the company that you work for, you’re like, ‘No way.’ It turns out to be true. So, somebody’s talking.”
Styles’ comments won’t do much to quiet the long-running debate about wrestling leaks, but they do offer a rare perspective from someone still working inside WWE. According to AJ, the answer is pretty simple: if reports keep turning out to be accurate, somebody behind the scenes is clearly sharing information.
Do you think wrestling leaks hurt the fan experience, or do they make following the industry more interesting? Let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.
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