AJ Styles’s wrestling career highlights include a remarkable journey from his influential stint with New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Bullet Club to becoming a celebrated WWE main event star. Between 2014 and his latest WWE milestones, Styles transformed from a top international contender to a dominant champion, showcasing his talent across the globe. This article details key moments from Styles’s NJPW run through his groundbreaking WWE matches, spotlighting how his career flourished through perseverance and opportunity.
Joining the Bullet Club and Claiming NJPW Glory
In 2014, AJ Styles reemerged in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) under dramatic circumstances at Invasion Attack, attacking then-IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada and revealed as a new member of the Bullet Club. Although Karl Anderson remained the leader of the faction during this period, Styles took charge of the Ring of Honor (ROH) faction allied with Bullet Club.
That year at Wrestling Dontaku, Styles defeated Okada to capture the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, marking him as the sixth non-Japanese wrestler (gaijin) to hold the prestigious title and the first since Brock Lesnar in 2005. His reign began strongly with wins in multi-man matches and further victories over Okada, including at Back to the Yokohama Arena.
Despite a dominant 10-2 record in the 2014 G1 Climax tournament, a key loss to Okada prevented Styles from advancing to the finals. At King of Pro-Wrestling, he lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi, but continued to perform impressively, including a post-match confrontation with Tetsuya Naito after defeating Yoshitatsu at Power Struggle.
Later that year, teaming with Yujiro Takahashi, Styles participated in the World Tag League, finishing with a respectable 4-3 record, yet failing to progress. He bounced back by defeating Naito at Wrestle Kingdom 9, showcasing his resilience against top NJPW talent.
Adding Another World Title to His Resume
Continuing his momentum, after pinning Tanahashi during an eight-man tag match, Styles earned a shot at the IWGP Heavyweight Championship at The New Beginning in Osaka, where he claimed his seventh world championship. He successfully defended the title against Kota Ibushi, the 2015 New Japan Cup winner, but lost it after a five-month reign at Dominion 7.5 in Osaka-jo Hall to Kazuchika Okada.
During the 2015 G1 Climax, a pivotal loss to Tanahashi hindered Styles’s finals aspirations. At King of Pro-Wrestling, he was unable to reclaim the championship from Okada in their rematch. Styles’s NJPW tenure displayed consistent top-tier competition as he exchanged victories with the company’s elite.
Building Intense Rivalries Toward the End of NJPW Tenure
Following his championship loss, Styles set his sights on the IWGP Intercontinental Championship, challenging champion Shinsuke Nakamura. Unfortunately, an injury forced Styles to withdraw from the 2015 World Tag League, delaying their title match. At Wrestle Kingdom 10, Styles was unsuccessful in capturing the Intercontinental Title from Nakamura.
The next day marked Styles’s final NJPW appearance, as the Bullet Club turned against him, ushering Kenny Omega into leadership. Although his NJPW career spanned only two years, it significantly elevated Styles’s global standing and refined his in-ring skills, positioning him for subsequent WWE success.
AJ Styles Enters the WWE Stage
Although Styles had initially planned to return to TNA, WWE’s compelling offer redirected his career trajectory. His WWE debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble was notable: lasting 29 minutes, he eliminated Curtis Axel and Tyler Breeze before being ousted by Kevin Owens, signaling the arrival of a new main-event level star.
Following the Rumble, Styles engaged in a heated series of matches and storylines with Chris Jericho. Their rivalry featured alternating wins and culminated at Fastlane with Styles securing victory by submission. Subsequently, they formed the tag team Y2AJ, defeating New Day in non-title matches, yet fell short in WWE Tag Team Championship pursuits. The partnership ended with Jericho turning on Styles at WrestleMania 32.
This WrestleMania was a peculiar event overall, with a strong Women’s Revolution sidelined to the preshow and various matches lacking impact. Despite WWE’s booking decisions that year, Styles’s performance stood out, quickly becoming central to main event programs.
Clashing with WWE Giants: Reigns, Cena, and Championship Battles
AJ Styles challenged Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback and Extreme Rules but was unable to claim the title. Frustrated by these setbacks, Styles adopted a heel persona and engaged in a prominent feud with John Cena. While Cena won several encounters, Styles also secured notable victories, including a clean win at SummerSlam.
Styles proclaimed himself the
“New face of WWE” and
“The Face that Runs the Place!”
following his defeat of Cena. This momentum earned him a WWE World Championship opportunity against Dean Ambrose at Backlash, where Styles captured his first WWE World Championship and eighth world championship overall.
Styles’s reign included successful title defenses: a rematch with Ambrose on SmackDown, a Triple-Threat victory over Ambrose and Cena at No Mercy, and a TLC win against Ambrose aided by James Ellsworth. His reign concluded at the 2017 Royal Rumble when he dropped the title back to Cena.
Despite early skepticism about Styles’s size and charisma for a WWE top spot, the company pushed him strongly, granting significant victories and a lengthy championship run. For fans, 2016 marked a moment of vindication after his challenging TNA years.
Struggles and Triumphs in the United States Championship Division
Styles vied for the WWE Championship in the Elimination Chamber match, joining competitors like John Cena, Baron Corbin, Bray Wyatt, Dean Ambrose, and The Miz. However, Bray Wyatt left the chamber holding the title. Styles’s attempts to regain the championship met with repeated setbacks.
In a storyline development, Styles feuded with SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon, blaming him for his failures. Their match at WrestleMania 33 saw Styles victorious, after which he turned face by showing respect to McMahon.
Following this, Styles targeted the United States Championship, defeating Baron Corbin and Sami Zayn to become the number one contender. He initially lost a title match against Kevin Owens by countout at Backlash but later defeated Owens at a Madison Square Garden house show to win the championship. The title changed hands several times between Styles and Owens, with Styles ultimately retaining after wins at SummerSlam and subsequent SmackDown events.
However, Styles lost the United States Championship to Baron Corbin at Hell in a Cell, signaling a temporary dip in his main-event prominence. Fans questioned if Styles’s position was waning after frequent card shuffles and title losses.
Regaining the WWE Championship and Making History
In October 2017, Styles began a feud with WWE Champion Jinder Mahal during Mahal’s controversial 169-day title reign, a decision by WWE aimed at breaking into the Indian market, despite low local interest. Styles overcame Mahal in Manchester, England, to win his second WWE World Championship and ninth world title overall. This victory made Styles the first wrestler to claim the WWE Championship outside North America.
Styles subsequently lost a Champion vs Champion match against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series but defended his title against Mahal at Clash of Champions. He engaged in extended rivalries with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, concluding at the Royal Rumble in a Handicap match. Styles then defended his championship in a Six-Pack Challenge at Fastlane against Owens, Zayn, Cena, Baron Corbin, and Dolph Ziggler, before preparing for a high-profile WrestleMania 34 match.
At WrestleMania 34, Styles defeated Shinsuke Nakamura but was attacked post-match, prolonging their rivalry. The feud included a double countout at the Greatest Royal Rumble, a chaotic No Disqualification match ending in no contest at Backlash, and a decisive Last Man Standing match win for Styles at Money in the Bank.
After retaining the title against Rusev at Extreme Rules, Styles became the longest-reigning WWE Champion in SmackDown history, surpassing JBL’s 280-day record. He then battled Samoa Joe through the summer and fall seasons, losing by disqualification at SummerSlam, narrowly retaining at Hell in a Cell, and winning clean victories at Super Show-Down and Crown Jewel.
Styles’s championship streak extended beyond a full year, reaching 371 days before Daniel Bryan ended the reign. This monumental tenure underscored Styles’s elevated status and solidified his legacy within WWE’s championship hierarchy.
Transition to Raw and Formation of The O.C.
Following a failed WWE Championship rematch against Bryan at Royal Rumble and an early elimination from the Elimination Chamber by Randy Orton, Styles found renewed success with a WrestleMania victory over Orton. A hip injury temporarily sidelined him, but upon recovery, Styles was drafted to Raw, where he quickly asserted dominance.
On Raw, Styles defeated Rey Mysterio and Samoa Joe in a Triple-Threat match and then beat Baron Corbin to secure a Universal Championship opportunity against Seth Rollins. His tactics grew more aggressive, exemplified by walking out on Rollins during tag matches, culminating in a Money in the Bank loss and a full heel turn. Styles then assembled The O.C. (Original Club) with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, renewing his Bullet Club ties.
Styles captured his third United States Championship by defeating Ricochet at Extreme Rules. He successfully defended the title against Ricochet at SummerSlam, then beat Cedric Alexander at Clash of Champions and Humberto Carrillo at Crown Jewel. His reign ended after a loss to Rey Mysterio at Survivor Series, finishing at 134 days.
Engagement with The Undertaker in the Boneyard Match
After a loss at Super ShowDown in a Gauntlet match for the Tuwaiq Trophy and a defeat to Aleister Black due to Undertaker’s interference at Elimination Chamber, Styles set out to face The Undertaker himself. This culminated in the unprecedented Boneyard Match at WrestleMania 36, a cinematic, mood-heavy encounter blending horror and wrestling storytelling.
Although Styles lost, he maintained his stature by executing memorable sequences and paid tribute to the Hardy Boyz’s cinematic match style. The match provided The Undertaker a compelling career send-off and remains a standout piece from the era.
AJ Styles’s Lasting Impact and Ongoing Journey
Styles’s departure from TNA and subsequent rise through NJPW and WWE showcased his resilience and adaptability amid wrestling’s fluctuating landscape. His two reigns as IWGP Heavyweight Champion and multiple WWE World Championships reflect both his in-ring excellence and the industry’s recognition of his talent.
Notable victories over industry legends such as John Cena, Daniel Bryan, and Roman Reigns reflect his position at the top tier of professional wrestling. With the O.C.’s legacy continuing and Styles delivering consistently in high-profile matches, his career remains a blueprint for overcoming adversity and succeeding on the biggest stages.
Looking ahead, Styles’s journey underscores the ever-changing dynamics of the wrestling world, highlighting the importance of evolution, opportunity, and relentless determination as the keys to enduring success.
