AJ Styles began wrestling 18 years ago in 1998. During his storied career, Styles has traveled all around the world competing for promotions from ROH to TNA to NJPW among many others. However, there was one place that was off limits to Styles until he signed with the WWE: Madison Square Garden.
No other wrestling promotion holds shows in The World’s Most Famous Arena, so Styles was unable to cross it off his list until he got the chance to perform there for a WWE live event on March 25 where he lost an Intercontinental title match against Kevin Owens.
Ahead of his MSG debut, the WWE had a camera follow Styles around as he prepared, and it’s pretty awesome to see a guy who has been around the business for so long and seen nearly all there is to see, still get awestruck when he steps into the arena. As Styles told WWE cameras, his first match at MSG wouldn’t only be his first time wrestling in New York City’s most famous venue, it would be the first time he stepped foot in it at all.
Before his match, Styles dealt with typcial NYC traffic, greeted fans, and chatted with the likes of Xavier Woods and The Big Show. He also explained why performing at MSG even after all of his accomplishments was still such a special achievement for him.
It’s a little hard to take in to be honest with you. These are goals and stuff that I didn’t think I’d see. No other promotion as far as I know is allowed in here. And the fact that I’m here with WWE in Madison Sqaure Garden, I can definitely check that off the bucket list. Sometimes you don’t get those butterflies anymore, but I’m definitely expecting them tonight here in Madison Square Garden.
(Via WWE)
