Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon initially harbored reservations about AJ Styles when the wrestling star joined WWE, according to TNA Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth. These doubts centered on Styles’ physical stature and style, which didn’t match McMahon’s traditional criteria based on his prior experience.
Concerns Rooted in Wrestling Era Mentality and Appearance
Nemeth explained that McMahon’s hesitation was tied to a mindset formed during the 1960s to 1980s era, when height and presence were critical factors in the wrestling world. He shared,
“When [Styles] was coming into WWE, behind the scenes, this is second-hand, but the boss-boss was like [iffy]. The way he saw AJ was he still had that 80s mentality, if you’re six-[foot]-five, okay, I can go with you, you look like the Warlord, whatever the situation is. AJ is jacked, but he’s not six-five. At the time I had heard that because of him having somewhat of a southern twang to his voice, that basically here is like Heath Slater telling a joke and [Vince] is like, ‘Oh, that’s what AJ Styles is? Okay. I can’t even take him seriously,’ because that’s still that mentality from his brain from the 60s and 80s. Like, ‘Oh, he’s not from New York.’ He doesn’t have this accent that we have.”
Nemeth highlighted that McMahon’s perception was influenced by Styles’ southern accent and his appearance, which deviated from the typical profile McMahon expected.
AJ Styles Wins Over Vince McMahon Over Time
Despite these early doubts, AJ Styles gradually convinced McMahon of his ability and worth in WWE. Nemeth noted that although Styles faced an uphill battle joining WWE, his well-established reputation and talent eventually earned McMahon’s admiration. He said,
“I kind of second-hand and first heard [Styles] was fighting an uphill battle, even already coming here with all his accolades, with everything he’s done, everybody knows what he’s capable of. Whatever he did in his body of work while he was here, which, by the way, is effing fantastic, he won over the boss.”
This journey from skepticism to acceptance demonstrates the changing attitudes within WWE and highlights Styles’ enduring perseverance and skill that overcame entrenched biases.
