AJ Styles
A high-flying wrestler who redefined in-ring excellence, becoming a global star without ever needing the WWE machine for validation.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American retired professional wrestler·Birthday: June 2·Generation X
Biography
AJ Styles, born Allen Neal Jones, spent the early years of his career as a well-kept secret on the independent circuit, a blur of phenomenal athleticism and technical precision. His breakthrough came with TNA Wrestling, where he became the cornerstone of its roster, delivering match-of-the-year candidates that made him a cult hero. Defying conventional wisdom, he then conquered New Japan Pro-Wrestling, leading the Bullet Club faction and winning the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, proving an American could thrive at the pinnacle of Japanese wrestling. This global acclaim forced WWE to finally take notice, and his stunning 2016 Royal Rumble debut was met with seismic shock and joy. In WWE, Styles, the 'Phenomenal One,' seamlessly transitioned from rebel outsider to respected veteran, winning world titles and main-eventing Wrestlemania, completing a journey that cemented his status as one of the most complete performers of his generation.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
AJ was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When AJ Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
AJ's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the WWE Championship twice, including a victory over Dean Ambrose in 2016.
- Captured the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, a rare feat for a foreign wrestler.
- Headlined multiple pay-per-view events for TNA Wrestling as its franchise player for over a decade.
- Named Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Wrestler of the Year in 2010 and 2016.
Did You Know?
His ring name 'AJ Styles' is derived from his first name Allen Jones and his early car, an 'AJ' model Audi.
He is a devout Christian and has referenced his faith in his wrestling persona.
Before wrestling, he was a talented amateur wrestler and also worked as a firefighter.
He famously turned down a WWE developmental contract in 2002 to help build TNA.
“I don't want to be the next somebody, I want to be the first AJ Styles.”
