AJ Styles wishes he and Abyss had worked together in the ring since joining .
The crossed paths a lot during their time in IMPACT Wrestling – largely during the company’s days – but they have only appeared very briefly together on screen since Abyss (real name Joseph Park) joined in 2019.
Park did appear as AJ’s statistician before the latter aligned with Omos, but Styles exclusively told Metro.co.uk that he wishes they’d been able to do more.
‘If it were up to me, I would’ve tagged with Abyss. Little things – Joseph A. Park, what a moment,’ he said.
‘I wish I could’ve had the opportunity to have him in a match here. It would’ve been great for him, and it would’ve been fun for me.’
Styles left TNA in 2013, and signed with WWE three years later, making his debut in the 2016 Men’s Royal Rumble as he skipped NXT and made an instant impact on the main roster.
He has gone onto become a two-time WWE Champion, as well as enjoying runs with the United States, Intercontinental and Raw Tag Team Titles, and he was glad that he did so without changing much as a performer.
He added: ‘I literally changed nothing about who I was and what I did. When I knew, Vince was like, “This is what I want”, I was like, “Great! That’s who I wanted to be!”
‘It made things easier. Japan, the ring’s the same size, it’s just cables instead of ropes. Nothing really – it seems like everything that I did previously before WWE prepared me for this, to get to WWE and try to be successful.’
Styles is set to face Edge at WrestleMania Backlash in a rematch from WrestleMania 38 itself, and he previously told Metro.co.uk with the likes of Triple H in the past.
He explained ‘I never thought Id get the opportunity to work with these guys. It’s a blessing for me to have gotten to work with Undertaker. I wanted to work Triple H. I wanted to work Shawn Michaels.
‘I’m jealous of the guys that had the opportunity that I didn’t. But it wasn’t meant to be – but Edge is gonna happen at WrestleMania.’
He insisted any performer in any promotion will always be looking at talent in rival companies and thinking about the chance to create in-ring magic with a fresh roster.
‘Anybody who’s ever been in the business – whether it be in TNA, Ring of Honor or AEW – everybody looks at the other roster and goes, “Man I’d have a great match with them,”‘ he said.
‘Everybody does it, and I’m sure guys did it in WWE too. If you’re a performer who enjoys performing, you do that.’
WWE Raw airs Monday nights at 1am on BT Sport 1. WrestleMania Backlash airs May 8 on the WWE Network.
