AJ Styles might already be doing a whole lot more behind the scenes in NXT than people realize. With all the talk about him potentially taking over once Shawn Michaels moves up, a new update makes it sound like AJ has basically been getting a head start for months.
According to Andrew Baydala, Styles has quietly been “running things” at the WWE Performance Center for months. That comes right as rumors continue to heat up about Styles potentially taking on a much bigger NXT role after WrestleMania 43.
“Regarding the news/rumor that AJ Styles will take over for HBK in #WWENXT after #WrestleMania 43. Styles has been quietly running things in the WWE PC for months.”
That doesn’t mean WWE has officially handed Styles the keys to NXT or named him Shawn Michaels’ replacement. But AJ being heavily involved at the Performance Center isn’t coming completely out of nowhere either. Styles previously revealed that he had been filling in for a coach while also producing matches and working directly with younger talent.
That also makes Matt Hardy’s recent comments a little more interesting. Hardy believes Styles’ years grinding through the independent scene could influence the kind of talent he gives opportunities to if his power within NXT grows.
“I think he’s definitely much more on the pulse of indie workers, and he would be much more willing to give someone a chance than someone like Shawn Michaels would be because I don’t think Shawn is quite on that same pulse.”
Styles hasn’t officially been announced as the next guy running NXT, and the original report only said people within the Performance Center expect him to become more hands-on once Michaels moves up. But if AJ really has already been quietly taking on that kind of responsibility for months, WWE may not have to look very far whenever it’s time for somebody else to take a bigger seat at the table.
Do you think AJ Styles is the right person to take on a bigger role in NXT once Shawn Michaels moves up? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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