For most second-generation wrestlers, having AJ Styles as your dad sounds like the fastest path to WWE. AJ doesn’t see it that way.
With Avery Styles beginning his wrestling career and already making his in-ring debut, Chris Van Vliet suggested on his podcast that AJ’s role as a coach at the WWE Performance Center could eventually open the door to a WWE tryout. AJ didn’t disagree. He just doesn’t think that day has arrived.
“Well, and I hope that he does at some point, but he’s not ready yet. My job is to make him ready and teach him the little things that we want to see as coaches. And, you know, I mean, there’s been plenty of guys that—even myself—have went for tryouts and they say, ‘Hey, we don’t care about the high-flying moves. We want to know, can you tell a story? Can you slow down? Can you make sense of what you’re doing?’ Those are the little things that matter.”
For AJ, that’s where Avery’s focus needs to be right now. Not flashy moves, not trying to impress WWE scouts, but learning how to wrestle. Styles also admitted one of his biggest challenges has been convincing his son to stop trying to become the next AJ Styles. Instead, he wants Avery to become the first Avery Styles.
“Well, hey, I want to do this, Dad. And I go, ‘Yeah, you don’t need that there.’ … You have to be you. You have to be you. You can do stuff that I have done before, and that makes sense why you should at some point, but that’s not who you are. You have to be Avery Styles. You have to be different.”
That doesn’t mean the conversations have always been easy. AJ admitted there were moments where he even questioned whether he should be the one training his son at all.
“So there was a point and I go, ‘Hey, look, if you’re not going to listen to me, then have someone else train you.'”
But after watching Avery’s first match, any frustration quickly turned into pride. AJ said his son’s debut was already well beyond where he was at the same stage of his own career.
“After seeing his debut match, so proud of him. He did so well. I mean, if you could see my first match and his first match, holy moly, he’s night and day better than me… But there’s little things that you can’t coach, like time, not rushing. It’s a young disease that most wrestlers have. They rush through everything. But if we can figure out how to slow them down, that’s the magic right there.”
Avery may have one of wrestling’s biggest names helping him behind the scenes, but AJ isn’t interested in rushing the process. As far as the former WWE Champion is concerned, earning a WWE opportunity means being truly ready for it—not simply having the right last name.
Do you think AJ Styles is making the right decision by slowing Avery’s path to WWE, or should he take advantage of every opportunity available? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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