AJ Styles believes his arrival in WWE came with an understandable degree of skepticism from Roman Reigns.
Looking back on his 2016 debut during an episode of The AJ Styles Show, Styles discussed the early dynamic he felt existed between himself and Reigns. Styles entered WWE with an extensive reputation built before joining the company, while Reigns was already one of WWE’s central figures both on television and within the locker room.
Styles said he has a feeling Reigns did not immediately know what to make of him. Importantly, Styles framed that view as his own interpretation of the situation rather than a confirmed account of Reigns’ feelings at the time.
“I think there was some [feeling with Roman] like, ‘Ah, freaking this guy.’ I don’t think Roman liked me in the beginning. I don’t think he really liked me. He didn’t know who I was or what I was about or know anything about me. He was like, ‘This guy’s coming into my house thinking he knows how to do this.’ I don’t know that for sure,” Styles said.
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That uncertainty is central to Styles’ recollection. He was not claiming to know Reigns’ private thoughts, but he could understand why a major WWE personality might be guarded when a highly regarded new arrival entered the environment. Reigns was becoming a locker-room leader and was already positioned as the promotion’s biggest name. For a wrestler in that role, trust is not simply a personal matter; it is also tied to the ability to build matches, tell stories, and carry the responsibility attached to major WWE programs.
Styles’ WWE entrance at the 2016 Royal Rumble remains one of the defining debuts of that era. He has said that he initially worried whether the audience would recognize him, a concern that quickly eased amid the reaction he received. The Royal Rumble appearance also put him in close proximity with Reigns, beginning a connection that soon grew from a brief exchange into a significant storyline.
A Major Test Immediately After the Royal Rumble
For Styles, the program with Reigns represented more than an early opportunity. It was a chance to demonstrate how he would operate in WWE’s system when the stakes were high and the spotlight was fixed on him.
Styles and Reigns feuded in 2016 following Styles’ Royal Rumble debut. Their rivalry arrived at a crucial moment for Styles because it gave him a prominent platform almost immediately after he joined WWE. Rather than spending a lengthy period attempting to establish himself far from the main-event scene, Styles was placed opposite one of the company’s leading stars.
Styles believes their in-ring work and storyline changed whatever initial reservations may have existed. In his view, Reigns’ confidence grew once they had the opportunity to work together directly and their program came together.
“But I think once we wrestled and that storyline that we had was unbelievable, I think after that he was like, ‘All right, I like this guy.’ You know, it wasn’t about me, it was about the match. I think once people realize that with anybody, now you’re able to trust him. I think he got to that point and was like, we can trust this guy. He’s one of the boys,” Styles added.
The distinction Styles drew is notable. He did not portray the situation as a matter of winning someone over through reputation alone. Instead, he pointed to the work itself: producing strong matches, serving the storyline, and showing a willingness to prioritize the finished product over individual standing.
That is the standard Styles believes ultimately mattered. A performer can arrive with credentials, confidence, and a sizable following, but relationships are still formed through the practical experience of working together. In Styles’ recollection, Reigns reached the point where he viewed him as reliable because their program demonstrated that Styles could be trusted in an important position.
From Uncertainty to a Working Relationship
Styles’ comments offer a look at the adjustment period facing any wrestler who enters WWE after already becoming well known elsewhere. An incoming talent may bring a strong body of work and clear expectations from fans, but the WWE locker room has its own established hierarchy, rhythms, and pressures. The newcomer also has to show existing talent that the transition will strengthen the product rather than disrupt it.
In Styles’ case, he suspects Reigns may initially have viewed him through that lens. Reigns did not know Styles personally, Styles said, and may not have known what kind of performer or teammate he would be. Styles’ own wording leaves room for the possibility that this was merely his impression, but the broader point remains clear: he felt he had to earn acceptance.
His route to doing so was through the ring. Styles said it was not about making the rivalry personally about him. It was about making the match work. That approach is consistent with the way he described the change in trust. Once Reigns saw that they could deliver together and the storyline was effective, Styles felt their relationship became much stronger.
The phrase “one of the boys” carried particular weight in Styles’ explanation. He used it to describe the point at which he believed he was no longer viewed as an outsider arriving with his own established identity, but as somebody who could be depended upon within WWE. That kind of acceptance is often earned over time, particularly when performers are placed together in major programs where chemistry, communication, and confidence can have an immediate impact.
Styles’ story also emphasizes the difference between a first impression and a final judgment. Even if Reigns did have doubts at the beginning, Styles believes those doubts did not define their professional relationship. The work they produced together gave both men the chance to learn how the other operated, and Styles came away feeling that he had gained Reigns’ respect.
A Rivalry That Continued to Matter
The 2016 program became the foundation of a longer WWE history between Styles and Reigns. Their paths crossed again over the years, but Styles identified the early feud as the moment that established the trust he felt was initially missing.
They ultimately had their final singles match against one another at Saturday Night’s Main Event in 2022. By then, the circumstances were very different from the Royal Rumble in 2016. Styles was no longer trying to prove that WWE audiences knew who he was or that he belonged at a high level in the company. Reigns, meanwhile, had continued to grow into an even more defining presence in WWE.
Still, Styles’ reflection brings the focus back to the beginning: an uncertain first read, a major rivalry, and a belief that professional trust had to be earned rather than assumed. He acknowledged that he cannot say for certain Reigns disliked him, and he did not present the thought as a fact. But Styles clearly views their 2016 work as the turning point in how Reigns saw him.
For Styles, the value of that experience appears to be bigger than any one moment in the feud. It reinforced a straightforward principle that he believes applies across wrestling: respect comes from putting the match and the story first. When other performers recognize that commitment, trust becomes possible.
That, in Styles’ view, is what happened with Roman Reigns. The early doubts he perceived gave way to a successful working relationship, and the rivalry that followed his WWE debut became the proof that he had earned his place.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.