AJ Styles: The Phenomenal One’s Impact On WWE

“The Phenomenal One,” AJ Styles has undoubtedly left his stamp on professional wrestling. Ever since he made his debut for WWE in 2016, Styles has turned in quality work every night and quickly become one of the most reliable, if not popular, stars working for the company. After all, it was the years of grinding and success in other promotions that served as a roadmap for his eventual coming and making an impact in WWE. This article delves into AJ Styles’ impact on WWE, examining his career highlights, influence on the industry, and lasting legacy.

The Road to WWE

Early Career and TNA Success
AJ Styles made his debut in the late 1990s, wrestling for independent promotions. It was not long before this talented, athletic man caught the eyes of larger companies, and in 2002, he signed with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). He became one of TNA’s cornerstones, where he gained promotions related to in-ring experience and extreme versatility.

During his time in TNA, Styles won multiple championships, which include the World Heavyweight Championship, X Division Championship, and Tag Team Championship. His great matches with Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels, and Kurt Angle remain a high note to this very day for TNA history. He was innovative in his offense, combining flying with technical skill in a manner that cemented his place in many people’s minds as one of the best wrestlers in the world.

International Stardom
Following his release from TNA in 2013, Styles spent time. He met a lot of success working for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he was part of the Bullet Club and became a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion. These are what primarily served to cement his reputation as an elite talent—thanks to his matches at NJPW against them, including Kazuchika Okada and Hiroshi Tanahashi.

The success Styles was getting in NJPW, combined with his continued working of independents around the world, created a buzz on the wrestling scene. His huge matches and great performances made him one of the hottest free agents in the wrestling world, priming the ground for his eventual move to WWE.

WWE Debut and Immediate Impact

Royal Rumble Debut
AJ Styles made his WWE debut at the Royal Rumble in January 2016, entering third. A lot of time, the reaction from this crowd was electric; fans were erupting in cheers while Styles came out for his debut. It was one of those ‘hyped’ moments, and Styles didn’t let the fans down—one that lasted almost 30 minutes of the match and gave quite an exhibition against some of the top talent WWE had to offer.
Styles’ debut in the Royal Rumble marked the beginning of his journey in WWE, and right from the very first moment, one could just see that this guy is going to be a big deal. His coming infused a lot of energy into the roster, and fans were prone to know how “The Phenomenal One” was going to perform in WWE.

Feud with Chris Jericho
After his debut, AJ Styles feuded with Chris Jericho. It all came down to that one match at WrestleMania 32, setting the tone for Styles to establish a foothold as one of WWE’s bigger dogs. Their matches were only highly competitive, providing the magic it needed for Styles to adjust to WWE’s style while holding on to his unique offense.

Although Styles lost to Jericho at WrestleMania, the feud helped elevate his status, showing that he could hang with WWE’s more established stars. It also revealed some of Styles’ range, as he did play both a babyface and heel in the course of the feud.

Main Event Successful

WWE Championship Victory
Probably one of the defining moments in AJ Styles’ WWE career was at the Backlash pay-per-view back in September 2016, defeating Dean Ambrose for the WWE Championship. What that victory did was seal something quite major: he became the first man in history to win the top titles in TNA, NJPW, and WWE. The title reign right there proved he had arrived, with an eye-opening display of his talent and hard work; this was what truly established him as one of WWE’s top stars.

With regard to this period, Styles had memorable wars and matches against some of the game’s biggest stars, including John Cena, Roman Reigns, and Kevin Owens. He had a match against John Cena at the 2017 Royal Rumble, widely considered one of the very best matches WWE has ever staged; both men made their way in a masterclass of storytelling and action in the ring.

United States Championship and Further Success
Apart from the success in the main event scene, AJ Styles had a loud run as a United States Champion; he held the title many times and was engaged in feuds with Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, and Shinsuke Nakamura. Moreover, he put back importance into the United States Championship as a prestigious title, which further proves how valuable he was to WWE.
Styles just kept giving, churning out great matches and performances no matter where he was placed on the card. His versatility and consistency made him an invaluable talent for WWE, and he remained a core element of the company’s programming.

In-Ring Style and Influence

Innovative Offense
Probably the most distinctive hallmark that has defined AJ Styles’ career is his new, dynamic in-ring style. With power blurbs of athleticism, it incorporates several moves into the arsenal: high-flying, technical holds, and hard-striking. Those signature moves—the Styles Clash, the Phenomenal Forearm, and the Calf Crusher—have become a fan favorite and often make up the broadcast edit of his matches.

Besides the obvious answer, Styles’s capability of combining different wrestling styles so smoothly has helped him become a wonderful performer. Whether he is working with a high-flier, technical wrestler, or powerhouse, Styles changes his strategy to make the match in-ring performance exciting. Styles matches are usually fast and their sequences can be very exciting to view throughout.

Effects on Modern Wrestling
AJ Styles’ impact on modern wrestling extends beyond his in-ring performances. His success and popularity have inspired a new generation of wrestlers to pursue their dreams and push the boundaries of what is possible in the ring. Styles’ journey from the independent circuit to WWE serves as a testament to the importance of hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Most of the current WWE Superstars, as well as many other wrestlers on the indie circuit, consider AJ Styles to be someone who inspired them to become wrestlers. His ingenuity in offense, versatility, and connection set the threshold for what it means to be an elite professional wrestler. It is evident from several moves, styles, and approaches working today.

Very memorable feuds and matches.

AJ Styles vs. John Cena
Honestly, truly memorable and impactful feuds in AJ Styles’ WWE career would have to be that against John Cena. It includes grudge matches between them at Money in the Bank 2016 and SummerSlam 2016, which actually turned out really great, and another at the 2017 Royal Rumble. The chemistry between these two men was really palpable, and the matches were simply fantastic—each one a brilliant mix of storytelling, athleticism, and drama.

That feud with Cena helped really cement Styles as a top star in WWE. Not only beating John Cena once, but winning against him clean in the middle of the ring was huge. Furthermore, that loss really positioned Styles as a credible main event talent. What this has also done is shed light on how well Styles could do on the biggest of stages and with the biggest of names in the business.

AJ Styles vs Roman Reigns

Another huge rivalry for AJ Styles in his WWE career was with Roman Reigns. Those matches, mainly the 2016 Payback and Extreme Rules ones, greatly proved that AJ Styles has what it takes to deliver good shows at the top of the card. They were hard-hitting and fast; he and Reigns pushed each other very far.

The feud with Roman Reigns proved the versatility of Styles, who went from heel to babyface during the programs with him. While he lost to Roman Reigns, his performances garnered Styles respect from the WWE Universe and continued to solidify his position as one of the top stars in the company.

AJ Styles vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

Another peak moment of his career in WWE was the rivalry between AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura in 2018. This would be the first time the two had ever wrestled one another in WWE after burning the doors down with the highly acclaimed match in NJPW. While receiving mixed reviews from the WrestleMania match, their subsequent encounters—especially matches on Backlash and Money in the Bank—really showed the chemistry and storytelling ability between them.

This rivalry with Nakamura also brought out other areas of his character, more in the sphere of resilience and determination as a champion. The matches were hard-hitting and brutal; even from those, Styles emerged victorious as the champion.

Legacy and Continued Success

Phenomenal One’s Legacy
What AJ Styles has done for WWE, the professional wrestling scene in its totality notwithstanding, cannot go unmentioned. With his debut came regular bursts of excellence from Styles, who evolved into one of WWE’s most reliable and popular superstars. His matches staple every event, and he can engender a crowd like very few in the wrestling business. What will be remembered about Styles is how good he is, his versatility, and his commitment to the business. He has proven on more than one occasion that he can do well with every role given to him—whether as a babyface or a heel, in the main event scene or the mid-card. Styles’ career journey from the indies on up to WWE reflects an inspiration to several aspiring wrestlers, proof of perseverance, and hard work.

Continued WWE Success
In spite of all the success, there is no stopping AJ Styles. Moreover, throughout this period in WWE, he continued creating a central figure with high-class matches and good storylines. The fact that Styles can turn out to be surviving changes in the professional wrestling world tells you how talented and focused he really is. Recent feuds and matches of Styles, including a feud with Seth Rollins, pretty much prove that he has still got it. He remains one of WWE’s most reliable performers and continues to elevate the product while entertaining fans worldwide.

Conclusion
There is no denying the impact that AJ Styles has had on WWE and professional wrestling. Ever since his debut in 2016, Styles has consistently been anything but sensational, cementing himself easily among the most reliable stars within the company, as well as one of its most popular. His innovative offense, versatility, and capacity to make good with the audience set a certain kind of example for what being a top professional wrestler should look like. From the early days of TNA to international success in NJPW and further in WWE, the journey of Styles is one of much hard work, dedication, and perseverance. His influence on modern wrestling will go unquestioned, with his legacy cemented as one of the best wrestlers in the world and continuing to grow as future generations of wrestlers are inspired. It’s more phenomenal matches, classic feuds, and overall captivating storylines—continuous excellence in WWE—for which fans look forward to more of this from AJ Styles. A secure legacy for the Phenomenal One, Ajay styles’ contributions toward professional wrestling are never going to be forgotten any time soon.