AJ Styles says his son Avery signing with TNA comes down to something pretty simple—he needs reps on television. Avery will continue working independent dates, but AJ believes TNA can teach him the timing and discipline that only comes with wrestling on a televised show.
Avery Styles announced at TNA Lockdown on August 23 that he had officially signed with the company, just months after making his professional wrestling debut. While speaking on The AJ Styles Show, AJ confirmed that TNA won’t be the only place his son wrestles. Avery will continue getting experience on the independent scene, but AJ sees TNA as the place where he can learn how to work within the much stricter structure of television.
“Oh, he’s going to do independents and he’s definitely doing TNA. TNA gets him the reps that he needs on television. You need these reps on television because you have to hit times.”
AJ then broke down just how different television wrestling can be. A match might look like it has plenty of time on paper, but entrances, commercial breaks and other production requirements quickly eat into what wrestlers actually have to work with.
“Usually a good time’s—you got five minutes, commercial break of three minutes, and another five minutes. That means we’re working for five minutes, which is really only three because it took us two minutes to get to the ring and actually get the bell to ring.”
Even commercial breaks don’t necessarily give wrestlers a chance to slow things down anymore. AJ pointed out that international viewers may still be watching through Netflix while the United States broadcast is in commercial.
“And then we get to our commercial break, which we still have to work in because on Netflix, while it’s not on television here in the United States because of Netflix, it is everywhere else. So, you know, it’s not like you get to grab a hold.”
For AJ, learning to manage all of that is part of becoming a professional. He’s particularly strict about wrestlers finishing when they’re supposed to, and that’s something he wants Avery to learn through TNA. That’s ultimately where TNA fits into Avery’s development.
“And then when we come back from break, now you’ve got five minutes to get to your finish, whatever that is. And I’m a stickler of, ‘Hit your time. You’re a professional. Do your job.’ And so being at TNA will help him hit his times.”
Avery is still extremely early in his career, so AJ clearly isn’t looking at TNA as the only place his son should develop. The independents can give him matches, while TNA gives him something harder to replicate there—the experience of wrestling against a television clock.
What do you think of AJ Styles’ reasoning behind Avery signing with TNA while continuing to work independent shows? Let us know in the comments.
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