Following AJ Styles‘ retirement loss at the Royal Rumble, discussions about his AJ Styles wrestling legacy have reignited, focusing on how he ranks among wrestling’s greats. Wrestling personality Jim Cornette gave a nuanced perspective, resisting immediate placement of Styles among the all-time legends but acknowledging his significance as a standout performer.
Cornette’s Perspective on Styles’ Abilities and Era
Cornette initially questioned the challenge of naming all-time greats across more than a century of wrestling. However, when concentrating on Styles’ career era, Cornette praised Styles’ exceptional talent, longevity, physical condition, and technical skill. Even near the end of his career, Styles maintained a high level of athleticism and in-ring sharpness.
“He’s in great shape still for this, you know, as long as he’s been in the business and he’s technically in the ring, he’s so brilliant.”
– Jim Cornette
Nevertheless, Cornette noted that Styles was never a top-tier promo artist.
“I’ve never thought that he was one of the great orators of the history of our business,”
he stated. Despite this, Cornette emphasized that Styles’ strengths suited the evolving wrestling landscape, where work rate and versatility gained more importance than sheer size.
This led Cornette to firmly position Styles among the best in-ring workers of his generation.
“He has definitely been one of the modern greats.”
When pressed, Cornette further simplified:
“One of the best in-ring workers of his generation.”
How Early Career Challenges Affected His Rise
Cornette examined Styles’ early tenure in TNA, highlighting how the company’s reliance on older WWE veterans and inconsistent creative direction hindered the rapid elevation of homegrown talents like Styles and Samoa Joe. The branding of the X-Division, while showcasing athleticism, separated these performers from true main event status, delaying their arrival at the highest levels.
Despite these obstacles, Cornette also acknowledged Styles might not have been fully ready for global superstardom during the mid-2000s, requiring more seasoning before breakthrough success. His WWE debut in 2016 marked a turning point where he immediately demonstrated he belonged among the company’s top stars.
The Impact of Time on Styles’ Persona and Enduring Credibility
Cornette playfully remarked on Styles’ current mature, long-haired look, suggesting it fits now but would have appeared odd two decades ago. This underscores how a wrestler’s image evolves with experience and time spent in the business.
More broadly, Cornette’s assessment reveals that greatness often depends on the specific era. While Styles may not have attained the singular marketing status of figures like John Cena or The Rock, he consistently maintained main event status across multiple promotions, an accomplishment that speaks to lasting credibility in professional wrestling.
The Lasting Legacy of AJ Styles in Modern Wrestling
Styles’ career trajectory serves as a model for contemporary wrestlers: technically skilled, adaptable across companies, and able to thrive without being the sole face of a brand. Whether fans place him among all-time greats or not, his role as one of the defining performers of his generation is widely acknowledged and difficult to dispute.
