AJ Styles has been one of the best professional wrestlers since the early 2000s, and a WWE Hall of Famer recently gave fans some insight into what the veteran is like backstage. The Phenomenal One has been absent from Raw's championship scene for quite some time, with Roman Reigns holding both the WWE Championship. Still, he's one of the company's most dependable hands, and audiences know they're in for a treat whenever his—or The OC's—music hits. Kurt Angle spent time with Styles while he was in TNA and recently spoke about how awesome AJ is to work alongside.
Speaking on The Kurt Angle Show, the Olympic Gold Medalist said the following about one of WWE's workhorses in Styles: "Whether I was alongside him as a tag team or working with him, he made me better. Every time I wrestled with him or against him, he made me better. That's the kind of guy AJ is. That's the kind of athlete he is. Everybody he gets in the ring with, he makes the match better and the other person better." Styles and Angle won the TNA World Tag Team Championships at Slammiversary 2012, beating Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian. The duo was also members of the Angle Alliance faction in 2007. Kurt Angle spent a lot of time around AJ Styles at this stage, making his words carry even more water. (h/t to sescoops.com for the transcription)
AJ Styles Will Join Kurt Angle In The WWE Hall of Fame Someday
AJ Styles didn't make a name for himself with the company, but there's virtually no chance he doesn't eventually make it into the WWE Hall of Fame. Over the years, outside achievements have been given more and more weight. WWE doesn't own TNA, but there's no denying that Styles' trademark high-flying approach didn't impact the business. His debut at the Royal Rumble in 2016 is one of the best of all time, and the crowd's reaction on that night elevated AJ in the eyes of Vince McMahon.
Styles would become the standard-bearer for the SmackDown brand following John Cena's departure for Hollywood. That's no small feat and one that WWE will have to recognize once the Georgia native decides to hang up his boots for good. As 2022 winds down, it doesn't seem like that day is fast approaching. Not by a long shot.
Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson recently reunited with their former Bullet Club brethren, reforming The OC in WWE. Mia Yim has been a fantastic twist on the old-school group, and their ongoing feud with Judgment Day has produced a handful of solid matches. AJ Styles is still one of the most trustworthy workers in pro wrestling today. With Randy Orton on the shelf, there's an argument to be made that he's the steadiest and most reliable hand WWE can call on week in and week out. Given his resume and the fact that he has several more years left in the tank, and AJ Styles seems like a sure-fire bet to land in the WWE Hall of Fame alongside Kurt Angle one day.
Sources: The Kurt Angle Show/YouTube, sescoops.com