Busted Open satellite radio show with A.J. Styles
Host: Dave Lagreca, Doug Mortman, and Mike Riker
Airs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on Sirius 92 and XM 92 from 2-4 ETOn his return to Ring Of Honor:"Im excited. I really am. The different things that have happened in Ring Of Honor and for guys that have left--a lot of great wrestlers have left but Im honored that I can come back. That they would welcome me with open arms and Im looking forward to getting into a Ring of Honor ring and mixing it up with some guys."
On him returning to ROH creating buzz around ROH again:"I cant imagine that I am--that its blowing up or getting a little bit more attention because of me but--because Ring Of Honor is such a great place to work and its very respected. I dont know anybody whos ever really watched the show that hasnt enjoyed it. So its going to be fun going back and a lot of people think that I did this on purpose. That the very place Id first be wrestling after my contract is up with TNA is in Nashville, Tennessee with Ring Of Honor. That wasnt planned that way. It wasnt on purpose, it was coincidental. But then again if youre gonna start back with ROH, what a place--I mean I started in Nashville, so a lot of people--at least my career, as far as TNA started in Nashville. They know me up there, you know? So its gonna be, its gonna be fun."
How strange is it that negotiations with TNA have seemingly broken down, yet he is still being featured on TNA:"Well, it seems that the dirt sheets are way off on this one. How many times did you hear that I was signed with TNA and now Im not signed with TNA? Theyre way off on this thing. Theyve been all over and then theres people saying, 'Oh, its a work, its a work.' Because they dont want to be fooled and they are not going to admit when they are wrong when I havent signed a contract. I dont know man, its just--its been a crazy time for me, these couple of weeks. And I dont want you guys to think that Im mad at TNA, cause Im not. Im not bitter towards them. I dont hate them. I hope they do well. I got a lot of good friends that wrestle there and I hope that its successful. It was just an opportune time for me to take an opportunity to go wrestle somewhere else, where I may not have that opportunity again. And thats basically what this has come down to. And I left the door open for TNA and I hope they continue to leave the door open, that you know maybe sometime in the future, I will be back. But that I dont know and like I said, I left the door open."
On people stating that his statements about his status with TNA being a work:"Well, I mean, and I can understand why people want to believe that it is a work. Because they dont want to; first of all Im sure they dont want to believe that Im actually not working for TNA. Second, I told them that I didnt have a contract in the first place. Cause I didnt. I had an extension. So I understand why they might believe its a work, and why its hard to believe but its even hard for me to believe. That after working with a company for 11 years, and busting your tail and doing what you thought was right and doing it to the best of your ability that it would even come down to a negotiation where it would take a long time or anything like that. I just figured that wed find a way. And the timing, you know it just had me where I had to make a decision. I had to do something and I just figured that this is an opportunity and I need to take it."
On how difficult has it been to adjust to life outside of TNA after being there so long:"Well, I think the biggest problem for me right now is when I do interviews is to stop saying 'we'. A number of times Ive said 'we' when its not 'we' anymore, its 'me'. And 'them'. Thats my biggest problem that I am having right now. Because its so hard to get used to. I mean, 11 years might not sound like a long time to someone but when you work anywhere for that long of time, its like you cant get it out of your head. Its just a force of habit. Being there. But its something that Im gonna have to get used to and get used to it quick. This is my first match at Ring Of Honor, this Saturday; tomorrow. And I think once I get in the ring and start rolling around, and weekend after weekend and week after week and being on the Independent scene, Ill get used to it pretty quick."
What does he have to say to the hardcore TNA fans who are upset with his departure:Well, Ive definitely have had a couple of tweets, with some being angry with me. And Im not going to retweet them, Im not going to respond to them. Im not going to respond to someone who is just being a jerk even though I want to. Just a number of things, like for instance some guy said that 'AJ, if youre done with TNA, then thats a big F you to me.' Like saying Im screwing him. My argument would be to him if you would like to pay me to work there then Id be more than happy. Negotiations are what they are and sometimes you cant agree on something and at some point you need to make a decision that benefits your family. One guy brought up this--this is the most ridiculous thing--did you know that I guess, Ring Of Honors website there is an under 18 kind of--I dont know, soft porn or whatever it is, that sponsors them? I dont know if it sponsors the website, I dont know anything about it. Im not filming any movies with soft porn if it makes him feel any better. Im not doing that. I am there to wrestle and thats it. Im sure if we knew where a lot of money comes from; from different businesses; we would be less likely to support them. I am supporting my family. Thats the bottom line. It has nothing to do with some soft porn site. I dont really know what it is. And hes attacking my beliefs. And I want to say to this guy 'well you without sin, throw the first stone.' They always want to bash something that you do. No matter what it is but it relies on me taking care of my family and what I think is right for them."
On if he looks at Ring of Honor possibly having a brighter future than TNA:"I mean sure I do. Im going there so I would think that the skys the limit, man. I wanna go and help build something that you take pride in and you fall in love with it. As I did with TNA and dont get me wrong, like I said, I dont hate TNA but if the opportunity comes to make ROH bigger and I can have a part in that then absolutely I want to do something like that."
On how Ring Of Honor is about the wrestling more so than TNA:"It is and I do know that you have to create characters. I understand that. But then again you cant fight someone on their field; on their playing field. You gotta accentuate what you do best. And Ring of Honor knows that wrestling is what they do best. And that is their strongest asset and I think that at a point, TNA thought the same thing about themselves. And then they tried to move on and tried to be bigger. Which is what you should do. But it was the little things like taking away the six-sided ring and putting the squared ring back in there. You realize that they werent really being different; they were being the same. And to me that was a bad move."
On whether his contract status is long term or short term with Ring of Honor:"Well, I think we are gonna sit down tomorrow at the show and talk about that. I definitely want to be there. I definitely want to represent them. Like I said tomorrow well talk about how far we are going to go with it."
How he felt after his contract with TNA was officially expired:Well, when you know you dont have a job its pretty scary. Its heartbreaking, really. But as quickly as I got those independent dates, it started making me feel a lot better. When you think youre worthless sometimes and you get the respect that I got from the Indys and Ring Of Honor, thats a big deal.It boosts your confidence, it boosts your ego a little bit. Which you need. And apparently somebody was watching. Everything you did and its gonna take off. It is worrisome, youre gonna worry about it. But at the end of the day, it aint gonna do you any good. Just go up there and do your best and do what you can and thats it.
On if WWE was to approach him with a contract, would he be worried they would change him:"I do know that they like to make their own characters. But Im ok with that. If I had the opportunity to go there, I may take that opportunity. I mean it all depends on certain things obviously but if they were willing to give me the opportunity, I would make the best of it. Im not saying that I would go there, Im definitely not saying that I wouldnt. It all depends on what they are offering. Thats the bottom line."
On the top of the card at WWE being more wrestler orientated than 'characters':"True. But there are little things that have happened that have gotten that character over; that wrestler over. Despite what we may think, there is a bearded guy who once he starts saying yes, people go crazy for it. And I think its awesome. Good for him, man. I am so proud that he is doing so well because I know that guy works really hard. And of course Im talking about Daniel Bryan or American Dragon or whatever you want to call him. But thats a good thing and like I said its all about opportunity."
Does it frustrate him to see the state of TNA how it is right now; not utilizing the talent they have:"Well, I mean that is frustrating because you know they are more than capable of having those kinds of matches (5 star) like Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels. But at the same token I look at what Chris and Frankie (Kazarian) are doing as far as this tag team and I think its hilarious the stuff that theyve come up with. You know it is entertainment. And for those who want a little bit of everything, those two guys can definitely give that, theres no doubt. But at the same time they can give amazing matches. And its all who you put them in there with. You can only do so much with certain people in the ring. I dont want to bash anybody because thats not what its about. Im just saying that its who you are in there with sometimes that you are able to have these five star matches. But at the same time you gotta tell a story and have guys who are able, are capable of having five star matches. Its difficult to find that happy medium. Joe I think deserves to be in a huge storyline because every time he goes out to the ring somebody yells, all we hear is 'Joes gonna kill you' yet he never gets to do it anymore. Its hard, man. Its just--it stinks sometimes and I dont know whether going with a storylines better. Its one of those things--its the same thing that Ring Of Honor does is that they do a good job of wrestling. Because thats what they do best. TNA definitely has the wrestlers that can gather and do amazing things. But they have to give them that opportunity.
On what Dixie Carters focus should be on; her character or running the company:"I dont know. I dont know what her position in the company is anymore. Im not really sure if shes dealing with the money or dealing with the storyline, Im not exactly sure what shes dealing with. When I was in negotiations, it wasnt with Dixie. So Im not sure whos in charge when it comes to that. And as far as her character goes, if she is doing such a terrible job then why is she getting booed so much? Is she getting booed because shes doing a terrible job or is she getting booed because people honestly dont like her character? Its hard to say, its hard to know."
His thoughts on Jeff Jarretts departure from TNA:"Real shocking. To see the man that help start the company and the man that I know loves that place. And wants to see that company do well. For him to say you know what? Im done with this. I cant do anything else. Its surprising. Because I just figured that if it was gonna go down, the captain would go down with his ship. But its honestly--it makes you think. If Jeff Jarrett is willing to depart with the company then you know whats going on out there? How frustrated are they up there? Its hard to say, man but it was very surprising to see Jeff Jarrett leave."