AEW Official Reveals Why AJ Styles Did Not Leave WWE

AJ Styles may have lost his Intercontinental Title to Jeff Hardy, but his WWE career is thriving. However, according to recent reports, AJ Styles was only a breath away from shifting to the rival promotion AEW. Even though he did not make the shift, he made some good cash out of the fright. Sounds confusing? Read on.

AJ Styles almost joined AEW on its debut

The Young Bucks, Matt and Nick Jackson, recently joined Talk’n Shop’s Patreon Podcast to talk about AEW, their career in New Japan Pro Wrestling, and much more. Matt also serves as the executive vice president of AEW and he had some secrets to reveal.

According to him, during AEW’s initial days in 2018, the company offered contracts to the former Bullet Club Members from NJPW. He talked about AJ Styles without naming him. The three were then a part of the WWE group O.C.

Jackson said the trio was supposed to appear on the debut episode of AEW and have a Bullet Club reunion.

“When we’re pitching ideas to have you guys [Anderson and Gallows] come in, it was not going to be just the two of you [debuting on AEW]. There was going to be another person who I would not name. Let us just say he’s another Bullet Club member you may not want to talk about.

“We were originally going to debut AEW Dynamite at Madison Square Garden. At the end of our match, the three of you [Anderson, Gallows, and Styles] were supposed to jump the guardrail, and we were going to have a Bullet Club reunion. Obviously, things didn’t work out like that,” Matt revealed.

According to Matt, WWE spoiled the plan by offering AJ Styles a huge load of cash and a five-year-long contract.

“The first guy in this conversation [AJ Styles] buzzed us and said, ‘I just got too good of an offer [from WWE] and I would have never got that money without you guys’ offer. So, I want to thank you.”

AJ Styles may still be with WWE but his O.C. partners Gallows and Anderson are currently working with TNA Impact. The duo had a massive fallout with WWE and Paul Heyman in particular. You can read that story here.

The Young Bucks are going to release a book “Young Bucks: Killing the Business from Backyards to the Big Leagues” in November.