AJ Styles' TNA colleagues credit WWE star for paving way to company ahead of Hall of Fame induction

LAS VEGAS – A.J. Styles’ in-ring vocation came to a adjacent with a nonaccomplishment against Gunther astatine the Royal Rumble earlier year, marking the extremity of a "phenomenal" run.

Styles was 1 of the archetypal pro wrestlers among this procreation of stars who created an tremendous instrumentality basal earlier helium made the leap to WWE. Styles was the main lawsuit astatine Total Nonstop Action (TNA) for a agelong clip up of his 2016 debut astatine the Royal Rumble.

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AJ Styles points to the assemblage successful solemnisation of his status during Monday Night RAW astatine State Farm Arena successful Atlanta, Georgia, connected Feb. 23, 2026. (WWE/WWE/Getty Images)

He was a six-time TNA X-Division champion, three-time National Wrestling Alliance satellite heavyweight champion and two-time TNA satellite heavyweight champion arsenic good arsenic the company’s first-ever expansive slam and triple crown champion. In WWE, Styles was a two-time WWE champion, three-time United States champion, one-time intercontinental champion and two-time satellite tag squad champion.

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, collectively known arsenic the Motor City Machine Guns, got to ticker Styles’ vocation firsthand successful TNA. Now with WWE, the duo told Fox News Digital that Styles’ ascent successful WWE paved the mode for them to yet leap to the company.

AJ Styles delivers a forearm onslaught to CM Punk during Monday Night RAW astatine Scotiabank Arena successful Toronto, Canada, connected Jan. 26, 2026. (Michael Marques/WWE)

WWE TO INDUCT BAD NEWS BROWN INTO HALL OF FAME

"To beryllium wholly honorable with you, to me, it’s the crushed I privation to spell to the Hall of Fame. I’m funny anyway," Shelley said. "There’s immoderate large inductees – Sid Vicious, Bad News Brown. But AJ is the 1 that tugs connected my heartstrings the most. It’s bittersweet, I think, for me, astatine least, due to the fact that he’s been specified a large member to me.

"To spot that doorway close, does fto maine cognize the transition of clip is real. But AJ deserves it. He truly did blaze that way of wrestlers to travel and articulation WWE successful 2016. We showed up astir 10 years later. I don’t cognize if we would person if helium hadn’t killed it."

Sabin agreed with Shelley.

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin of the Motor City Machine Guns marque their entranceway during SmackDown astatine Rupp Arena successful Lexington, Ky., connected June 13, 2025. (Craig Melvin/WWE)

"He perfectly blazed the way for guys similar america to marque it here. I mean, he’s amazing, right? AJ Styles has done things nary 1 other has done. He’s been a person and a relation exemplary and it’s awesome to spot him get inducted into the Hall of Fame," helium said.

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Styles, Stephanie McMahon, Sycho Sid, Bad News Brown, Dennis Rodman, the tag squad duo known arsenic Demolition and Hulk Hogan’s lucifer with Andre the Giant from WrestleMania 3 are included this year.

The WWE Hall of Fame ceremonial volition instrumentality spot astatine Dolby Live astatine Park MGM connected Friday nighttime astatine midnight ET.