AJ Styles Details Coaching Philosophy & How NXT Talent Can Avoid In-Ring Redundancy

Former WWE Champion AJ Styles has opened up about his transition into a backstage coaching role with NXT, placing heavy emphasis on guiding rising talent to build unique in-ring identities rather than copying established stars.

Speaking on the latest edition of The AJ Styles Show, Styles discussed the progress of NXT stars Keanu Carver and Saquon Shugars, pointing to their distinct physical styles as a key asset in avoiding repetitive match structures.

Breaking Away From Repetitive Patterns

Styles explained that learning under the same training environment can sometimes lead developmental talent toward redundant habits. For Styles, teaching performers how to execute different setups and move sets is vital to helping them stand out.

“They have something that not a lot of people possess, and that’s being different. Different is good,” Styles stated. “When you learn from the same people and by same people a lot of times you’re with the same coach for a while you’ll learn the same moves and learn the same stuff, the cut offs and stuff like that.”

He detailed his hands-on strategy to ensure developmental talent can craft personalized signatures that fit their specific character work:

“So we have to find ways to make them different. That’s what we have to work on and maybe that’s something that I can do personally, go ‘Hey man we got time let’s work on this with you, we’re working on these, this is your move set, this is who you are, this will make you different.’ Different is good. We got to make sure you’re not doing the same stuff because unfortunately there are some stuff that a lot of them do that everybody does and you have to watch the match before you and go well they did that already. Let’s think of something else because we do it all the time.”

Crafting Memorable Moments Over Imitation

Styles stressed that modern wrestling audiences grow fatigued when multiple matches on the same card feature identical spots or reactions. While reaching a narrative high point in a match is important, the path taken to get there should reflect the individual performer.

“Then you can get to the same spot in a match, but you need to be different in how you get there. If someone has done that exact same thing before, it gets very redundant when some things that you watch and it isn’t just, I’m not saying just NXT does it. Once a match gets over, people do the same stuff, and so they try to do, be the same way and do the (same), get the same reaction… So, let’s be different in the way that we do it.”

He concluded by advising younger performers to avoid trying to replicate legendary moments from iconic figures of the past:

“And when they think of a match, we don’t want them thinking about, ‘Oh, wow. I remember when, you know, The Rock and Hogan…’ But no, don’t. Let them do something different. Do something that’s more you and so that they don’t think of them, they think of you when you do the move.”

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