AJ Styles Gets Candid About His Experience in WWE Under Vince McMahon

AJ Styles has described working for Vince McMahon while highlighting how different things are today under the current regime.

AJ Styles Gets Candid About His Experience in WWE Under Vince McMahon

AJ Styles and Vince McMahon [via- WWE]

AJ Styles spent the last ten years of his wrestling career in WWE. Over half of that run had Vince McMahon at the helm and dictating the creative direction of the company. ‘The Phenomenal One’ was asked to reveal his working experience for McMahon on the latest episode of his Phenomenally Retro podcast.

The 49-year-old started off by appreciating the fact that McMahon was fairly answerable to him anytime he went to his former boss. Styles also stated how people would walk on eggshells backstage with McMahon in charge as opposed to how relaxed it became after he left.

AJ noted that those in WWE could share their opinions more freely under the current regime. Styles also insinuated the commentators being yelled at and said mean things to by McMahon back then. Michael Cole once revealed in an interview in 2024 that McMahon would often say inappropriate things to him in his headset.

Cole didn’t put up with it, and he confronted McMahon backstage every time it happened. ‘The Face That Runs the Place’ also said in the aforementioned podcast that he’s heard some stories about Vince McMahon being mean to commentators. Styles further stated that current WWE programming isn’t subject to micromanaging like it used to be under the previous boss. “Vince liked to be on top of every little thing…” added AJ.

In essence, it was neither good nor bad working for Vince McMahon as far as AJ Styles’ time with the former WWE chairman is concerned. ‘The Georgia Pitbull’ said he became a two-time world champion under McMahon, so he didn’t have anything to complain about. AJ just viewed McMahon as his boss and not someone he’d want to hang out with after the shows.

The former OC leader had to retire from in-ring competition earlier this year at the Royal Rumble. It also marked the 10-year anniversary of AJ Styles’ WWE debut, which is why he cherrypicked that event to have his last match instead of chasing the grandeur of WrestleMania. Styles passed out to Gunther in a hard-hitting showdown in Saudi Arabia.

He would appear on Raw a few weeks later in his hometown to formally announce his retirement. It put a definite end to any rumors floating in the market about AJ possibly leaving WWE and having a short run in AEW before actually calling it quits. Styles was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

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AJ Styles is excited about Chad Gable’s arc moving forward

AJ Styles has been keeping a close eye on how WWE is treating Chad Gable now that he has ditched the guise of a mask and is being himself once again. The legendary wrestler said last week that it would be dumb on the company’s part to not capitalize on Gable with the kind of momentum he has at the moment.

AJ Styles and Chad Gable
AJ Styles and Chad Gable [via- WWE]

Speaking on his podcast, Styles really enjoyed the segment from last week’s Raw where Gable saved Rey Mysterio and Penta from the onslaught of Rusev and Ethan Page. The former US Olympian wiped out Rusev and Page and handed Mysterio’s mask back to Penta and Dragon Lee, both of whom were checking on the ‘Master of 619’. ‘The Phenomenal One’ said he’s very excited about where this story is going.

Styles then dived into the fans finally starting to appreciate the former Alpha Academy leader. ‘Mr. TNA’ said he knew it was only a matter of time. He talked about wrestlers facing highs and lows in their respective careers and how everyone needs to truck through it.

Styles wondered if Gable might’ve thought that taking on the gimmick of El Grande Americano would be the worst thing to happen to his career. However, in hindsight, it was the best.

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