Recently, WWE Superstar AJ Styles talked with KISS FM’s Big Poppa and Banna on a number of topics including how Styles got his ‘Phenomenal’ nickname and his transition to WWE from New Japan Pro Wrestling.
When asked how he got the ‘Phenomenal’ tagline, Styles joked that he wished that a woman gave him that name for his sexual prowess, but it was really given to him by a commentator during his stint with NWA Wildside.
“I wish I could tell you that [it] was a girl that gave it to me, that was giving me that name, but, no, it wasn’t. I think, I want to say around 2000, maybe 2001, I was wrestling where I started in Cornelia, Georgia, at a place called Wildside, and one of the commentators just started calling me ‘The Phenomenal’ AJ Styles and it stuck.”
Styles said that his move to WWE has been smooth because everyone he works with has been very helpful and professional.
“It was very easy, honestly. Everybody is great. The only transition I wasn’t expecting [was for everyone] to be so professional. That’s sad to say, but I’ve been to places where it’s not exactly that, so to come to a place that is, is so refreshing and so easy. It’s great.” Styles continued, “I mean, you would think I’ve been wrestling with these guys for years. But it’s just a great bunch of guys. I’m a little jealous of these guys though, because some of them were in NXT together or before that, but they all team up together and have just a strong relationship, but they’re just great guys to be around and girls.”
Styles admitted that working for WWE has made it easier for him to be close to his family, despite having a heavier schedule now.
“It’s just part of it. I mean, either I can fly 14 hours to Japan or I can stay in the [United] States and work four or five days a week, but at least I’m close to home and my biggest worry was, when I was in Japan, if something were to happen at home, I couldn’t just jump on a plane and get there, so the travel’s not a problem for me. Me and my wife, it [has] been part of our lives for 17 years. It’s not that big of a deal anymore.”
