AJ Styles is pushing back against the constant WWE vs. AEW arguments — and the veteran star says fans should stop fighting over promotions and simply enjoy the amount of wrestling that exists today.
During the March 15, 2026 episode of the Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles addressed the ongoing “tribalism” debate between wrestling fans. The topic came up during a discussion about how the industry now has multiple major companies and weekly shows competing for attention. Styles first pointed out that the current wrestling landscape is actually something fans should appreciate rather than argue about.
“Yeah, I mean this is — you’re right — it’s a great time to be a wrestling fan. If you like wrestling, then take part in it. There are so many things going on right now.”
The former WWE Champion then explained that each promotion — and even each WWE brand — brings something different to the table, which is why fans shouldn’t feel the need to pick sides.
“NXT is different than Raw and SmackDown. AEW is different than Raw and SmackDown and NXT. There are a lot of things going on and a lot of wrestling to watch, so enjoy it.”
Styles also addressed the idea that fans often feel pressured to defend one promotion while attacking another. According to him, that mindset doesn’t really make sense when there’s so much wrestling available. While discussing WWE’s approach to its programming, Styles explained that the company itself tries to create a variety of entertainment elements across its shows.
“You don’t have to hate one or the other. There’s enough out there for you to enjoy a little bit of everything. I think that’s what WWE is trying to do — give you a little bit of everything. Because you want to be entertained, you want to laugh, you want to cry, and you want to enjoy the wrestling. Trying to find all of that in one show is very difficult.”
Styles then addressed the online negativity that tends to follow wrestlers who move between promotions. He said the constant criticism and fan arguments over those moves miss the bigger picture. Instead, Styles encouraged fans to simply appreciate the fact that wrestling currently has more options than it did in the past.
“But then you’ve got people hating on this because this guy left here and went there, or that guy moved somewhere else. Don’t do that, man. Just enjoy what you’ve got, because who knows how long it lasts.”
To explain his point, Styles reminded listeners that there was once a time when fans only had one major promotion to watch. He also pointed out that today’s wrestling landscape is broader than just WWE and AEW, noting that other promotions are also producing strong content.
“There was a time when it was just WWE. Back then it was just Raw and SmackDown… and that was all you got. We just listed four different shows and didn’t even mention TNA. And TNA is still there doing some really good work too. Yeah, TNA are great right now.”
Styles’ comments arrive at a time when debates between WWE and AEW fans continue to dominate online wrestling discussions. Recently, AEW World Champion MJF also addressed the topic, saying he doesn’t personally care about tribalism and believes wrestlers across the industry should simply be treated well.
But according to the Phenomenal One, the solution is much simpler — stop arguing over promotions and enjoy the fact that there’s more wrestling available today than ever before.
Do you agree with AJ Styles that fans should stop the tribalism between promotions, or do you think rivalries between companies are part of what makes wrestling fun? Let us know your thoughts.
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