WWE’s upcoming SummerSlam weekend tryout will feature several prospects who were personally picked by AJ Styles.
Speaking on The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles revealed that he helped bring multiple independent wrestlers into the Minneapolis tryout after seeing something special in each of them. Styles has never attended one of WWE’s tryouts, but he wants to see how officials decide which college athletes and experienced wrestlers deserve a shot with the company.
“I have yet to be able to get to a tryout because I want to know exactly what goes into this. I’m just curious. How do we go about picking? It’s not just independent workers who are going to get in this tryout. It’s athletes from college, normally D1 athletes, getting tryouts too.”
Styles admitted that some of the wrestlers he recommended may not fit WWE’s usual expectations when it comes to size. That didn’t stop him from pushing for them to get an opportunity.
“I know that I have brought in certain guys and girls who may not meet the standards of height and weight that they’re looking for. But it’s what I see that I think makes them special, and I think they deserve an opportunity to be looked at.”
The first name Styles confirmed was Conan Lycan. Styles recently trained with Lycan while visiting Florida and made sure he was included in the tryout. Styles also selected Colton Theron Vaught, better known as CTB. He described Vaught as a pro wrestler with an MMA background who brings a wild edge to his presentation.
“Conan Lycan is definitely one. I just took a picture with him. We got to have a little workout with him the other day when I was down in Florida.”
“CTB, Colton Theron Vaught, he’s another one. Colton is a pro wrestler and MMA guy, so he’s in fantastic shape. Not the biggest guy, but he looks a little crazy to me, and I like that about him.”
Joe Lando also earned Styles’ support. The former WWE Champion compared Lando’s high-flying ability to Amazing Red and Rey Mysterio. Styles then named Monica Ladybird as one of the women he helped bring into the tryout. Her athletic ability immediately grabbed his attention.
“Joe Lando is a high flyer. He reminds me very much of the Amazing Red. If you don’t remember Amazing Red, then just think of Rey Mysterio. He reminds me of that. He can do almost anything.”
“Then I’ve got some girls. Monica Ladybird, who I saw, and I was like, ‘Wow, she’s super athletic.’”
Brooke Havoc was Styles’ final selection, but she was actually the first wrestler he decided to recommend. Styles spotted Havoc while attending an independent show and said her darker, emo-inspired look separated her from the talent he usually sees at WWE’s Performance Center. Styles said Havoc caught his attention immediately and became his first choice for the tryout.
“Brooke Havoc is my last one. She looks so different from everything that I’ve seen in wrestling right now because a lot of what I see, especially down in the PC, has been blonde hair and blue eyes, where she has kind of that emo look to her. She’s dark-haired, just different. I like that about her.”
“She was, I think, actually the first one that I wanted to get on trial. She was my first pick. I was just on an indie show checking out other talent, and she was on it. I was like, ‘Who is this?’ So I’m really excited.”
Styles clearly isn’t just sending names to WWE based on height, weight or a traditional superstar look. He picked wrestlers who stood out through their athleticism, experience, presentation and ability to do something different once the bell rings.
Which of AJ Styles’ hand-picked prospects do you think has the best chance of landing a WWE deal? Leave your feedback in the comments.
