POST NEWS UPDATE: AJ Styles discusses in-ring chemistry with John Cena, life after wrestling

AJ Styles notes, Raven says he'll get back to in-ring competition, Arn Anderson on an AEW Talent Relations role, IYO SKY-Triple H note

Photo Courtesy: WWE

If any of the quotes from the following podcasts or video interviews are used, please credit those sources and provide an H/T and link back to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.

** Corey LaJoie welcomed AJ Styles onto his ‘Stacking Pennies’ podcast as a part of a NASCAR-WWE crossover. Styles looked back on the in-ring chemistry he had with John Cena and feels they’ve never had a bad match. Styles listed Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels as names who he’s had similar chemistry with.

There was something about John Cena and I, we just meshed well. We’re completely the opposite, 100 percent but I guess opposites attract and we were able to do — I never had a bad match with him. Not one. So, Cena is definitely up there on the list but I could name a few others that would be up there as well.

So, a guy who had been wrestling forever and still to this day wrestles, Christopher Daniels, Samoa Joe, those guys I’ve known forever. It’s hard to pick which one of those matches that I would do again because they were all so good, you know?

On the topic of life after wrestling, Styles is not sure what that looks like for him.

Who’s to know what that is? [Styles said about life after wrestling] And how we’ll deal with it. Being on the road as much as we are and then we’re at home, then what? What do you do? Do you have a hobby that you do that can, I don’t know, can take up — I don’t know.

** During a virtual signing with K & S WrestleFest, Raven stated that he’ll get back to performing in the ring. It will not be immediate because he had both of his knees replaced this year.

I had both my knees replaced this year so not right now but I’ll go back to it [performing in the ring].

** Former NXT video editor Cornell Gunter was a guest on The Black Announce Table podcast. Gunter told the story of when he witnessed Triple H put together IYO SKY’s entrance in NXT.

There was somebody’s entrance that I thought was freaking incredible that Hunter — IYO [SKY]. So when IYO turned on Candice [LeRae], right? After the whole Cage match situation and she comes back out, we had NXT tapings at Full Sail. We’re going through rehearsal and he’s doing her entrance and originally, her lights weren’t as crazy as it was. That man said, ‘IYO, come out, do your head thing, be you, get into it, embrace it, become a character and just do your thing. Don’t worry about that. I’ll take care of the rest of this’ and man, she came out on TV and I was like, ‘Aye, hold on! That wasn’t what you just did dawg.’ Money, man. That man’s just different.

** On a Q&A episode of Arn Anderson’s podcast, he was asked if he would consider taking a Talent Relations role in AEW. Arn explained why he would not take a position as such even if it had no affect on him being able to work with his son Brock.

No [I would not want to work in Talent Relations for AEW]. I don’t want to be responsible for anything that’s outside of my control. I can help Brock [Anderson] and help teach him what to do, what not to do within reason. I don’t want him to be a clone of what I think. Wrestling should be coming from him. I want him to figure that out but I can certainly control that. Like I said, I spent probably five or six years working in the office with WCW and then I was 19 years with WWE and it just — here’s the thing, don’t have me have to be responsible for something and not give me any power, because that’s not fair. If you give me the power to run the whole, you know, shoot match, good. Then if we fail, I fail, the talent failed. But if I don’t have the authority or the power to say, ‘Do this.’ Not, ‘How about trying this?’ ‘Do this and if it don’t work, then we’ll talk about it when you get back.’ So I don’t want to be in that position any further. I just wanna — whatever time is left for me until nobody wants to see hanging around anymore, I just wanna spend it just enjoying the business, enjoying AEW, enjoying going to these wrestling events that Tony Hunter is so kind to book for me, these signings and I just wanna do all the things, telling fans thank you in person for supporting us all this time and just enjoy the fruits of 40 years in the business.

As a part of Ric Flair’s ‘Last Match’, Brock Anderson and Brian Pillman Jr. teamed up. Arn shared that there has been talks of them doing more together but added that nothing is official or has been said to the higher ups.

Well, we keep hearing that [Brock Anderson & Brian Pillman Jr. have great chemistry] and it was one of those things at Starrcast, they were put in that position as partners just to go back and relive the Crockett days as kind of a symbol and apparently, it gelled pretty good. I think a lot of people have been very kind in their comments and said they would like to see more of these guys and it’s — let me just put it to you this way, it’s something that has been discussed. Nothing is on paper, nothing has went to the next level but you know, hey, what if? That’s another one of those what ifs.

** There’s an interview on the Vicente Beltrán YouTube channel with Logan Paul. He spoke about what he’s been able to pick up and learn from Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. Logan added that he wishes Levesque would respond to his text messages.

Triple H is incredible man. He’s very generous with his time and his energy and he’s so intentional when he speaks and when he gives me advice, I know that every single word that comes out of his mouth is extremely valuable. So he takes the time to point me in the right direction and guide me. The one thing that he hasn’t done just yet is respond to any of my text messages. Triple H, if you’re watching this, just please. I’m three texts deep with no response. I don’t know if you’ve seen ‘em but I’m feeling desperate and I’m just afraid to send that fourth because rejection — some say rejection is redirection but where am I going? Triple H, just please respond to my texts.

** While making the media rounds to promote WWE’s European tour, Karrion Kross chatted with Daily Star. He spoke highly of the working environment that Paul Levesque has cultivated and Kross said he thrives in that environment that requires him to be better.

It’s a really healthy environment [that Paul Levesque has established]. It feels good. I think it’s awesome having a boss that just by being there, by simply being there, you’re knowing that you have a learning tree every single time you step into work to improve on something and to become a better version of yourself every week. I think it’s a good thing for me. I thrive in that sort of environment. It’s an extra challenge that is very rewarding. You get better every week.

** MuscleManMalcolm posted his sit-down conversation with Bret Hart. He asked Bret for his thoughts about Sami Zayn and Hart said the following:

I think he’s [Sami Zayn] a great wrestler, I got a lot of respect for him and he’s always entertaining.

** For episode #91 of The Kurt Angle Show, Kurt looked back on the 2017 WWE TLC event. During the conversation leading up to discussing Angle’s role at that event, he talked about sharing the ring with Cody Rhodes years prior. Angle said he wanted to “do the job” for Rhodes in their last encounter on the independents.

Oh, I love wrestling with Cody Rhodes. I actually wrestled him three separate times when I left TNA and I was doing the independent circuits for about a year and Cody was great. I knew he was good but I didn’t know he was that good and what I did, I decided to — we had three matches so I beat him once, he beat me once and then we had the rubber match and I felt because he had a bigger career ahead of him and I’m nearing the end of my career, I said, ‘You know what Cody? Let me just do the job for you, let you go over and continue on with your career because I’m nearing the end of my career’ and that’s what legends are supposed to do. They’re supposed to make other wrestlers before they retire.

Angle filled in for Roman Reigns in The Shield at TLC 2017. He recounted receiving the call from John Laurinaitis about the opportunity. Angle told Laurinaitis that he was not ready but he’d be there.

Johnny Laurinatis. He told me, ‘Get ready because you’re gonna be wrestling with The Shield. You’re gonna replace Roman Reigns and you’re gonna wrestle in the main event at TLC’ [Kurt laughed]. I was like, ‘Well I’m not ready Johnny but I guess I’ll go.’

** Madcap Moss went live on Instagram with WWE Deutschland. He touched on the friendship he established with Finn Balor in NXT and how helpful Balor was to him. Moss said Balor encouraged him to try different things in his wrestling career.

Finn Balor was a guy who I started with [in NXT] at the same time and so it was we were coming from two totally different backgrounds where he had been wrestling for years and years and was a huge name already and I was coming in starting from scratch but, we bonded, we lived in the same apartment complex and we drove to work everyday together and he was definitely a guy who helped guide me along and more than anything, just encouraged me to try things and not be afraid to fall flat on my face which you have to do in this business to have a chance to grow and I really, I think that’s true in life. You have to be willing to take some chances and look dumb sometimes. Calculated chances but you gotta take some chances.

This past April, Moss won the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He described that as the biggest moment of his career thus far.

Unbelievably special [Madcap said of his André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal win] and you know, I had mentioned that Finn Balor and I were really close and he was the one I actually last eliminated to win so that was an added bonus on top. Just André himself is one of the biggest, absolute biggest legends in the world really, let alone this industry. Just so well known, even to this day.

Yeah, he was a movie star, just larger than life and so to be able to win a trophy with his name on it but also have the superstars that have come before me and won it and it has a strong lineage of really good winners and so to be able to add that to my résumé, I think it’s the biggest moment in my career so far and that whole weekend, that WrestleMania weekend was just an unbelievable weekend man. The fans and all three nights for SmackDown and both nights of WrestleMania and the performance that the superstars put on, it was definitely one to remember and for me personally, one I’ll never forget.

** House of Glory announced KENTA for their December 17th show.

** NJPW Battle Autumn Results (10/30/22) Makuhari Messe International Exhibition Hall 1 in Chiba, Japan
– DOUKI def. Akio Fujita
– Great-O-Khan & Jeff Cobb def. Ryohei Oiwa & Yuto Nakajima
– Hikuleo & Master Wato def. Dick Togo & EVIL
– David Finlay, Tiger Mask & Alex Zayne def. TAKA Michinoku, Taichi & Zack Sabre Jr.
– Yoshinobu Kanemaru & El Desperado def. Gedo & Taiji Ishimori
– Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, BUSHI, Hiromu Takahashi & Titán) def. Gideon Gray, TJP, Francesco Akira & Aaron Henare
NJPW World Television Championship Tournament: Ren Narita def. Toru Yano
NJPW World Television Championship Tournament: SANADA def. KENTA

** Shinobu Tanaka of ‘MOVIE WALKER PRESS’ conducted an interview with Hiroshi Tanahashi.

** All Japan Pro Wrestling Results (10/30/22) Shinkiba 1stRING in Tokyo, Japan
– Black Menso-re vs. Izanagi – Time Limit Draw (10:00)
– Ryuki Honda & Shotaro Ashino def. Masao Inoue & Takao Omori
– Hokuto Omori def. Yusuke Kodama
GAORA TV Championship: Toshizo (c) def. Masao Hanabata
All Asia Tag Team Championships: TAJIRI & Yoshitatsu def. Dan Tamura & Hikaru Sato (c)
– Naoya Nomura def. Yuma Anzai
– Voodoo Murders (Jun Saito, Rei Saito & Suwama) def. Jake Lee, Ryo Inoue & Shuji Ishikawa
– Kento Miyahara & Rising HAYATO def. Atsuki Aoyagi & Yuma Aoyagi

** In the November 3rd issue of Shūkan Bunshun, there’s a feature on Hiroshi Tanahashi.

** October 30th birthdays: Edge, Luther (AEW).

** Ice Ribbon Results (10/30/22) Ryogoku KFC Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Kizuna Tournament First Round: Nao Ishikawa & Yuuki Mashiro def. Hamuko Hoshi & Kiku
Kizuna Tournament First Round: Maya Yukihi & Misa Kagura def. Ram Kaicho & Saran
Three Way Match: Makoto def. Kaho Matsushita and Maika Ozaki
Kizuna Tournament First Round: Amin & Ibuki Hoshi def. Totoro Satsuki & YuuRI
Kizuna Tournament First Round: Asahi & Yuko Sakurai def. Saori Anou & Sumika Yanagawa

** While speaking to Fightful, Serpentico told the outlet that he’d like to see Danhausen join him and Luther as a part of ‘Chaos Project’.

** A story on the ‘Battle in the Creek 2: Halloween Mayhem’ event.

** NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Trevor Murdoch was interviewed by Steve Fall on NBC Sports’ ‘Ten Count’ podcast.

If any of the quotes from the following podcasts or video interviews are used, please credit those sources and provide an H/T and link back to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.

About Andrew Thompson 9825 Articles
A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.