WWE's AJ Styles Calls Rumoured AEW Shot "The Dumbest Thing I Ever Heard"

WWE's use of Joseph Parks was NOT a shot, according to AJ.

by Andy H Murray
AJ Styles Joseph Parks
WWE

AJ Styles has spoken out on suggestions that WWE's recent use of Joseph Parks as a televised character is a potshot at AEW.

Speaking on his latest Twitch stream, the now-former Intercontinental Champion said the following (h/t Wrestling Headlines):-

"So there were statistics that Joseph Parks did and analytics, and it was said somewhere that ‘WWE’s AJ Styles taking a shot at AEW because they keep up with [rankings]. Like, what? That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, like, why? I feel like maybe the information they were getting from whoever it was, from dirt sheets and whatnot, are just not there anymore so they’re really just making stuff up… It was not a shot. It was a story, and it had nothing to do with Tony Khan."

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This would be in stark contrast to NXT's Robert Stone character, then, which has been widely reported as a Tony Khan parody act.

It's been a rough week for AJ in WWE's kayfabe universe. SmackDown saw him injure Jeff Hardy's knee to weaken him ahead of their Intercontinental Title match, only to lose the belt to his rival anyway. Neither man is on the SmackDown 2020 card.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.