5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (Jan 25)

2. AJ Styles' Close Shave With Understanding Things

AJ Gillettte
WWE

AJ Styles this week had a pop at the SHAVE COMMUNITY?! when he discussed on Steven Crowder's conservative-leaning podcast Gillette's recent, controversial marketing campaign.

For those who haven't seen it, the company asked if we're really the best men can get, or if we are toxically masculine. Cynical, important, whatever: you have an opinion it. AJ Styles has an opinion on it, too: he has a "problem" with Gillette razors, but seems deeply confused as to what the problem is.

We're not highlighting this to cast Styles as problematic, or anything like that. He's welcome to his traditional views, even if some expressed previously are quite rancid, writing subjectively. He wears a beard, but probably didn't grow it to own the libs. He didn't say anything remotely appalling here, he's a phenomenal athlete and in-ring storyteller, he loves and is loyal to his family, yada yada yada - but we cover his podcast appearance here to point out a wonderful spot of irony.

Discussing the "mansplaining" portion of the advert, Styles sought to understand. "There's an incident in the commercial where, I guess, the head honcho puts his hand on the woman's shoulder and says "What she was trying to say...", and I go: "Well, what did she say before? Maybe he was sticking up for her." Or maybe she said nothing, because this was a fictional reconstruction of mansplaining. AJ Styles needed to get the concept of mansplaining explained to him.

Great stuff.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!