AJ Styles Credits His Time in New Japan Pro Wrestling Between 2014 and 2016 for His Subsequent Success in WWE

He also became the second leader of the Bullet Club, following Prince Devitt ( Finn Balor ). His time in Japan saw him compete in major matches against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestling Dontaku 2014, Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi, and a memorable Wrestle Kingdom 10 showdown with Shinsuke Nakamura . 

Notably, Styles was also the first American IWGP Heavyweight Champion since Brock Lesnar . In a recent conversation with Undisputed’s Justin Barrasso, Styles reflected on how crucial his Japan run was to his later success in WWE. 

There’s no doubt in my mind that I may not have made it to WWE without Japan. My tenure in Japan helped me figure out who I was and what I wanted to do.

AJ Styles via Undisputed

He also revealed that Vince McMahon wanted him to stay true to that same persona when joining WWE, ensuring that the Styles that fans loved in NJPW remained authentic in his new environment.

After just two years in Japan, Styles left NJPW in 2016 and made his unforgettable WWE debut at that year’s Royal Rumble. He went on to face Chris Jericho at his first WrestleMania and later captured the WWE Championship that September by defeating Dean Ambrose . Styles held the title for 371 days, marking one of the longest reigns of the modern era.

Today, Styles continues to add to his legacy. He currently holds WWE gold on the Raw brand, as one-half of the World Tag Team Champions alongside Dragon Lee. The duo defeated Judgment Day to win the titles and are set to defend them in a rematch next week on Raw.

AJ Styles makes a surprising revelation about his rivalry with John Cena

The AJ Styles–John Cena feud is widely regarded as one of the greatest rivalries in modern WWE history. When ‘The Phenomenal One’ made his blockbuster debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble, fans immediately began dreaming of a showdown with Cena, who had been the face of WWE for over a decade at that point.

What followed was a legendary trilogy of matches at Money in the Bank and SummerSlam 2016 & Royal Rumble in 2017 that cemented both men’s legacies. However, Styles recently revealed that when their rivalry first began, he wasn’t even sure if Cena knew who he was or had followed his highly accomplished career outside WWE.

Interestingly, Styles had once been offered a WWE contract earlier in his career but turned it down for personal reasons, choosing instead to build his name on his own terms across the wrestling world. Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Undisputed, Styles opened up about the early days of their rivalry and his uncertainty regarding Cena’s familiarity with his work outside WWE.

When you’re in the WWE bubble, it’s very difficult to keep up with anything else, so I wondered how familiar he was with it. My thinking is that, over time, he heard more and did more research. Before our first match, he told me that he was trying to find stuff on me to cut a promo, but he couldn’t really find much. I’m assuming a lot of his research came from the Bullet Club, and that’s what he knew about it.

AJ Styles via Undisputed

The two men most recently shared the ring for the final time at Crown Jewel in Perth, where Cena gave Styles a special introduction, calling him “the definition of Total Nonstop Action” and “the ace and total boss of the Bullet Club.”

Styles, who became a global star through his incredible runs in TNA and NJPW, continues to reflect on his storied career as he nears its end. He has already expressed his intention to retire from wrestling in 2026, with reports suggesting that the company has major plans for his final year in the ring.

In fact, Styles recently wrestled his final match in Japan during WWE’s latest tour of the country, bringing his iconic international journey full circle.