It finally happened! Former TNA and IWGP champion AJ Styles made his WWE debut last night during the Royal Rumble, coming in as entrant number three as was welcomed with a gigantic pop from the Orlando crowd.
The broadcast team were full of praise for AJ, listing his accomplishments but obviously forgetting to mention his time in TNA. The crowd chanted “AJ Styles” throughout his time in the Rumble which lasted a while until Kevin Owens came out and dumped him out of the ring. Before throwing him out, Owens told Styles, “Welcome to the WWE!” in typical Owens fashion.
The man they call “The Phenomenal” actually wrestled for both WWE and WCW in the past, first for WCW in 2001 appearing on Thunder and Nitro and then made just two appearances for WWE in 2002, making one TV appearance on Metal.
However he made his name on the indy circuit with Ring of Honor and then with TNA where he made his debut in 2002. Considered as one of the TNA Originals, Styles went on to have, well, a phenomenal career with the Nashville-based company, taking the X Division by storm before moving higher up in the card.
Styles also made a big name for himself in New Japan Pro Wrestling and joined the Bullet Club. He wrestled his last match for NJPW at the WrestleKingdom 10 show earlier this month.
AJ pretty much won every title there is in TNA and Ring of Honor as well the IWGP Heavyweight title twice apart from many other titles at several independent wrestling companies.
