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The Resume of a Phenomenal One: Deconstructing AJ Styles’ Unrivaled Career
In the world of professional wrestling, a performer’s legacy is not merely measured in wins and losses, but in moments that define an era, influence that shapes a generation, and a championship pedigree that stands the test of time. A wrestler’s resume is a tapestry woven from classic matches, historic title reigns, and the rare ability to transcend the scripted drama to become a true global icon. When discussing the most impressive, versatile, and internationally acclaimed resumes of the modern era, one name stands as a benchmark of unparalleled excellence: AJ Styles.
He is, quite literally, “The Phenomenal One.” This is not a manufactured catchphrase; it is a declaration of fact, a title meticulously earned over two decades of relentless dedication across every major wrestling landscape on the planet. From the intimate settings of independent promotions to the packed arenas of Total Nonstop Action (TNA), from the hallowed grounds of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) to the grandest stage of them all in WWE, AJ Styles has not simply competed—he has conquered. His career is a portfolio of world championships, five-star encounters, and a proven, undeniable ability to be the cornerstone of any promotion he graces. To analyze the resume of AJ Styles is to study a masterclass in wrestling greatness.
The Foundation: Mr. TNA and the House That Styles Built
Long before the WWE Universe chanted his name, AJ Styles was the undisputed heart and soul of another prominent American wrestling promotion. When TNA Wrestling (now IMPACT Wrestling) launched in 2002, it was an ambitious upstart attempting to fill the void left by WCW. It desperately needed a franchise player—a wrestler with a dynamic style, undeniable charisma, and the work ethic to build a brand from the ground up. They found all of that, and much more, in a young, hungry high-flyer from Gainesville, Georgia.
For over a decade, AJ Styles was TNA Wrestling. His list of accomplishments from this period is staggering and speaks volumes about his versatility and his foundational importance to the company’s survival and growth.
- Pioneering the X-Division: Styles was the inaugural TNA X-Division Champion, a title he would capture six times. The X-Division was TNA’s defining feature, a fast-paced, high-impact style of wrestling that set it apart from WWE’s product. Styles, alongside contemporaries like Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels, put the division on the map with their revolutionary matches. Their three-way encounter at TNA’s Unbreakable pay-per-view in 2005 is still widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in North American wrestling history and solidified Styles as a once-in-a-generation performer.
- Multiple-Time World Champion: Styles proved he was far more than just a cruiserweight daredevil. He successfully transitioned from the X-Division to the main event scene, capturing the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship three times and the TNA World Heavyweight Championship twice during his tenure. He was the unquestionable face of the company, the man trusted to carry its most prestigious prize and lead it into its most significant pay-per-view events.
- The First Grand Slam Champion: Long before he would achieve the same feat in WWE, Styles became the very first TNA Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion. He methodically collected every major title the promotion had to offer, including the World, X-Division, Tag Team, and Legends/Global/Television Championships. This historic achievement cemented his status as the most decorated and indispensable performer in the company’s history.
When Styles departed from TNA in 2013 over a contract dispute, it was a monumental shift in the wrestling landscape. He chose to bet on himself, leaving the comfort and security of being the top star in a familiar environment to prove his value on a global scale. This courageous gamble would pay off in ways few could have possibly predicted.
The International Headliner: Conquering Japan and Leading the Bullet Club
For many American wrestlers, finding success in Japan is the ultimate validation of their in-ring prowess. The “strong style” of New Japan Pro-Wrestling is notoriously physical and demanding, and earning the deep-seated respect of the Japanese audience is a formidable challenge. For AJ Styles, it was simply the next logical step in his phenomenal journey.
In 2014, Styles made a shocking debut in NJPW, immediately attacking the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion, Kazuchika Okada, and revealing himself as the new leader of the world-renowned faction, the Bullet Club. Taking the reins from the departing Prince Devitt (who would become Finn Bálor in WWE), Styles didn’t just fill a vacant spot; he elevated the group to unprecedented heights of global popularity.
His Japanese resume is a testament to his immediate and profound impact:
- Two-Time IWGP Heavyweight Champion: In his very first match as an official NJPW talent, Styles defeated Okada to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, the most prestigious and respected title in Japanese wrestling. He was the first American to hold the championship since Brock Lesnar nearly a decade earlier. His two reigns as champion solidified his status as a legitimate international draw and, in the eyes of many, the best pound-for-pound wrestler on the planet. He engaged in classic main-event matches against the Mount Rushmore of modern Japanese wrestling, including Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Shinsuke Nakamura, producing encounters that are still revered by wrestling purists today.
- Leader of a Global Phenomenon: Under Styles’s expert leadership, the Bullet Club became the hottest and most influential act in all of professional wrestling. Their iconic t-shirts became a ubiquitous sight at wrestling shows around the world, even making regular appearances in the crowds of WWE events. Styles was the “gaijin ace” (foreign ace) who brought a new level of main-event credibility and star power to the group, cementing its legacy as one of the most significant factions of all time.
By the end of 2015, there was no longer any room for debate. AJ Styles was a global megastar. He had built a company on his back in the United States and had then conquered the most respected wrestling territory in the world. There was only one final mountain left to climb.
The Pinnacle: Building a New House in WWE
On January 24, 2016, at the WWE Royal Rumble, the moment that fans had dreamed of for years finally became a reality. The number three entrant’s music hit, the words “I am Phenomenal” flashed across the giant screen, and AJ Styles walked down a WWE aisle for the first time as an official member of the roster. The eruption from the crowd was deafening, a visceral reaction representing a decade of hope that one of the world’s best would finally arrive in the industry’s biggest promotion.
Many “indy darlings” had come to WWE before with varying degrees of success, but Styles was different. He was not a developmental prospect in need of seasoning; he was a ready-made main eventer with a world-class resume that demanded immediate respect. His subsequent WWE career has been a masterclass in silencing doubters and exceeding already monumental expectations.
- A Historic WWE Championship Reign: Styles is a two-time WWE Champion. His first reign began less than eight months after his debut, when he defeated Dean Ambrose at Backlash 2016. However, it was his second reign that etched his name into the WWE history books. He defeated Jinder Mahal in Manchester, England, becoming the first person to ever win the WWE Championship outside of North America. He then held that title for a remarkable 371 consecutive days, a reign longer than those of certified legends like “Macho Man” Randy Savage, The Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin. This year-long reign established him not just as a champion, but as “The Champ that Runs the Camp.”
- The WWE Grand Slam: Just as he did in TNA, Styles methodically collected every major championship available in WWE. His elite portfolio includes:
- WWE Championship (2 times)
- United States Championship (3 times)
- Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
- RAW Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- A Legacy of WrestleMania Moments: Styles has compiled a “Phenomenal” list of WrestleMania opponents, consistently delivering high-quality, memorable matches on the grandest stage of them all. He has faced off against Chris Jericho, Shane McMahon, Shinsuke Nakamura, Randy Orton, LA Knight, and Cody Rhodes. Most notably, he was the handpicked final opponent for the legendary Undertaker, battling him in a critically acclaimed and innovative “Boneyard Match” at WrestleMania 36. To be entrusted with the final chapter of such an iconic career is the ultimate sign of peer respect and a permanent jewel in Styles’s own legacy.
The Final Verdict: An Unassailable Legacy
When you lay out the evidence of his career, the professional resume of Allen “AJ” Styles is, without a hint of hyperbole, one of the most complete, decorated, and impressive in the history of the wrestling industry. He was the homegrown hero who carried a company on his back for a decade. He was the foreign invader who became a champion and a legend in Japan. And he was the seasoned veteran who arrived in WWE and proved he was everything the hype suggested, and so much more.
He has thrived as a breathtaking high-flyer, a masterful technical wizard, a rugged brawler, a beloved babyface, and a despised heel. He has won 25 total championships across TNA, NJPW, and WWE, including nine world titles. He is a Grand Slam Champion in the two biggest American promotions of the last two decades. He has been deservedly named “Wrestler of the Year” by prestigious publications like Pro Wrestling Illustrated and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter on multiple occasions.
The nickname “The Phenomenal One” was earned, not given. It is a title backed by an ironclad resume of gold, glory, and global acclaim. In an industry of larger-than-life characters, AJ Styles stands tall as a testament to what happens when once-in-a-generation talent meets an unquenchable work ethic—a living legend whose career portfolio is, and will likely forever remain, in a class entirely of its own.
