For years fans wondered if they would ever see AJ Styles in WWE, and The Phenomenal One finally joined the roster when he debuted at the Royal Rumble in 2016. Styles got a great ovation from the fans in attendance, but it doesn’t sound like Vince McMahon was initially sold on him.
While talking about his WWE debut on Fanatics Live with Tyler Breeze, AJ Styles explained that Vince McMahon thought the reaction The Phenomenal One received was a fluke.
“I think I’m 37 when I come to WWE. The redacted name did not know me. He had no clue who I was. I think it was guys who had worked with me, probably with TNA and whatnot, that were able to say, ‘Let this guy come in third at the Rumble.’ Finally, he’s like, ‘Fine, let him.’ Then, the reaction happened, but he still didn’t believe it. He was like, ‘it’s a fluke.’
The next night, I had a match and it was okay but it wasn’t anything special. He’s like, ‘I have 100 guys who can do what you just did.’ What he was saying was true. I was trying to be something that is trying to be the babyface. I should have just been AJ Styles. He told me what he wanted and I was like, ‘I know that guy.'”
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H/T Fightful
