AJ Styles, known as "The Amazing," has competed against nearly every major wrestling star in his almost 30-year career. Having starred in WWE, TNA, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro Wrestling, as well as numerous independent circuits, Styles has likely faced most wrestlers from the last three decades. Recently, on the No Contest Wrestling podcast, he shared his favorite opponents—those who bring both quality performances and a sense of safety in the ring. Styles highlighted Finn Balor as a prime example, especially enjoying their recent tag team matches where trust makes teamwork seamless. He also praised Jimmy and Jey Uso for consistently delivering exciting matches. While he acknowledged many great matches with John Cena, Styles feels a unique connection with only a few wrestlers with whom he shares a special chemistry. He also expressed pride in his 2017 Extreme Rules match against Balor, which came about on short notice when Bray Wyatt was originally scheduled, and singled out Dean Ambrose (now Jon Moxley in AEW) for their memorable WWE Championship feud in 2016.
Given his long-standing career, Styles has built strong friendships that allow him to push boundaries in the ring, knowing his safety is assured. He mentioned Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels as two wrestlers with whom he shares this trust, enabling more intense, dynamic bouts. Notably, the three participated in a highly regarded triple threat match at TNA’s Unbreakable pay-per-view in 2005, celebrated recently for its 20th anniversary. The match’s legacy endures despite much of it being improvised in real-time during the bout.
Fan Take: AJ Styles’ reflections offer fans a fascinating glimpse into the bonds and trust that underpin great wrestling matches, underscoring how relationships enhance performance quality. For WWE enthusiasts, this highlights how the sport is as much about camaraderie and safety as it is about athletic spectacle, potentially shaping how future matchups and rivalries evolve in the ring.
