AJ Styles could make life a whole lot easier for his son, Avery. He refuses to do it because he believes that’s the worst thing he could do for a young wrestler.
With Avery beginning his independent wrestling career and recently making his debut, AJ explained on the Phenomenally Retro podcast that he’s intentionally taking a hands-off approach. Rather than micromanaging every booking and every match, he wants his son to experience the business the same way he did—by making mistakes, learning from them and growing on his own.
“I think his mom’s a little bit worried about me just throwing him to the wolves, but at the same time, you got to learn, man. I’ll help out as much as I can, but at the same time, he’s got to grow up.”
AJ said those early experiences are part of becoming a wrestler. Looking back at his own career, he remembered traveling to WCW by himself in his early 20s and admitted it was intimidating. But those moments taught him lessons nobody else could.
“Listen, I remember being, I don’t know, 20, my early 20s, maybe 21, 22, flying to WCW by myself. And I was a little nervous because I hadn’t been to the airport that many times. It can be scary a little bit now because you’re going to these places where you don’t really know a lot of people. So it can be intimidating, but the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. The more experience you get… just take it in, soak it up.”
AJ also isn’t pretending Avery is already the finished product. In fact, he laughed while pointing out just how new his son still is to the business, saying ring time—not advice—is what will make the biggest difference.
“He’s still very green. Like his gear… he’s green. But the only way that you get better is by being in that ring. You will learn quicker and faster by experience. You’re going to screw up. You’re going to make mistakes. That’s okay. But again, this is the only way that you’re going to learn.”
That philosophy extends beyond what happens between the ropes. AJ said he isn’t managing Avery’s wrestling career or keeping track of his bookings because he wants him to learn how to handle those responsibilities himself.
“He’s got his own schedule. Like, I’m not keeping up with your schedule. Keep up with your own schedule. I’m not your manager. Freaking your dad. I’m not your mom either. You get one match. One match. That’s it. I’m coming to one match.”
AJ later explained why fans shouldn’t expect too much too soon. Avery is only 19 years old, has very little in-ring experience and, like every young wrestler, still has a lot to learn before reaching his full potential.
“He’s very green, and you got to understand there’s limitations to him. I know he’s my son, but just because he is doesn’t mean we had a ring in our backyard, because we don’t. There are going to be limitations to everything that he does because he’s so very new to this. It doesn’t matter how much wrestling you’ve watched. Either you’re going to go too fast or not sell anything, or oversell something. There’s so much that you have to learn.
The only way you’re going to learn is being in that ring and then seeing it back and going, ‘Oh yeah, you’re right. Okay. Yeah, you’re right. That’s okay. I know what I got to do here.’ It’s just going to take experience. But he’s young. He’s 19. It’s a good thing.”
AJ has already made it clear how proud he is of Avery’s early performances, but he’s just as determined not to fast-track his son’s development because of the family name. In AJ’s eyes, the best lesson he can teach isn’t a new move or a better promo—it’s giving Avery the freedom to figure the wrestling business out for himself, one match at a time.
Do you agree with AJ Styles’ approach, or should a father with his experience be more involved in guiding Avery’s wrestling career? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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