Every Look Of His Wrestling Career, Ranked

Nicknamed “The Phenomenal One,” AJ Styles has certainly lived up to the moniker, having put on countless classic matches over the course of his 26-year career. More than just a superb in-ring performer, Styles also proved to be a major star in multiple promotions, namely TNA, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and now WWE, where he’s wrestled since 2016.

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Although AJ Styles has had a Phenomenal WWE career, there were also some bad moments.

Styles is one of those wrestlers who’s evolved over the course of his career - not just in look and in-ring style, but also in his appearance. Let’s take a look at every look AJ Styles has ever rocked, from his early days all the way to today.

The New Nature Boy

Styles Was, At One Point, Ric Flair’s Protege In TNA

New Nature Boy Run	Accomplishments
2010-2011	TNA World Champion, TNA Television Champion

During his time in TNA, AJ Styles ran the gamut of things a wrestler can do in a given promotion - he’s been a flunky and a defender of the company, worked both face and heel. One of his worst eras, however, was his stint as Ric Flair’s protege, during which he was positioned as “The New Nature Boy.” Aping the iconic Flair was a poor fit for Styles, and one exemplified by his look in Flair’s signature robe, which really only ever looked like AJ Styles randomly wearing Ric Flair’s entrance gear.

Member Of Air Raid In WCW

Styles Looked Like He Was Wearing A Costume, But In A Fun Way

Air Raid Run	Matches On WCW Television
2001	4

In 2001, AJ Styles got his first big break in wrestling, debuting on WCW television alongside NWA Wildside Rival Air Paris as the cruiserweight tag team Air Raid. The duo only had a handful of matches on television, including a foray into the tournament to crown the doomed Cruiserweight Tag Team Champions, but it wasn’t long before WCW put them in Top Gun-esque flight suits. It was incredibly on the nose, but a fun (if forgotten) look from Styles’ past.

AJ Styles In Fortune

Styles Always Looked A Bit Awkward In A Suit

Fortune Run	Members
2010-2012	Ric Flair, AJ Styles, Desmond Wolfe, Christopher Daniels, James Storm, Bobby Roode, Frankie Kazarian, Matt Morgan, Douglas Williams, Rob Terry

AJ Styles’ pairing with Ric Flair was part of an entire faction. In 2010, Flair’s arrival in The Impact Zone soon resulted in the formation of a new version of the Four Horsemen dubbed Fortune, with Styles joined by other TNA stars like James Storm and Frankie Kazarian.

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To further sell the Four Horsemen comparison, it wasn’t uncommon to see the group wearing suits, much like how their predecessors did back in the ‘80s. Unfortunately, Styles looked less like the heir to the Horsemen throne and more like a guy at his buddy’s wedding.

AJ Styles During The Aces & Eights Angle

Styles Developed A “Darker” Look

Aces & Eights Run	Select Members
2012-2013	Bully Ray, Devon, Knux, D.O.C., Mr. Anderson, D’Lo Brown, Taz, Tito Ortiz, Garett Bischoff, Wes Brisco,

From 2012-2013, the biggest angle going on in TNA was the Aces & Eights storyline, where a villainous biker gang led by Bully Ray staged a violent invasion of the Impact Zone. In a lot of ways, it was yet another rehash of the nWo invasion in WCW, with AJ Styles playing the Sting role as the babyface whose loyalties were being questioned. As such, Styles began to grow his hair out and wear darker gear, suggesting a Crow Sting-like transformation. It was a bit silly at the time, but in retrospect it looked like a prototype of his Bullet Club era.

AJ Styles In NWA Wildside

The Phenomenal One Started His Career There

NWA Wildside Run	Accomplishments
1999-2005	NWA Wildside Heavyweight Champion, NWA Wildside Television Champion

As stated, NWA Wildside is where AJ Styles first started gaining notoriety, winning some of his first championships and even tangling with future stars like a young R-Truth. While some photographs of this era look like classic AJ Styles, there was a period where he turned heel and joined a faction called NWA Elite. As a bad guy, Styles is great at looking incredibly stupid by virtue of the right stink face and a stupid hat. In other words, as he looked perfectly like someone fans would like to see get beaten up by their favorite wrestler.

Returning Heel AJ Styles

Styles Tweaked His Look Upon Returning From Injury In 2023

AJ Styles 2023 Return	Date	Location
WWE SmackDown	12/15/2023	Green Bay, WI

In late 2015, AJ Styles re-emerged from a two-month layoff with a new heelish attitude, surprise-attacking LA Knight and disregarding his O.C. buddies in the weeks that followed. To go along with his new bad guy era, AJ Styles changed his look, wearing mostly black gear with some white accents. Given that Styles has often worn busy gear with brighter colors, it’s a surprising if subtle change - one that better fulfills the promise of that aforementioned Aces & Eights era.

AJ Styles In The O.C.

WWE Couldn't Make It Work With The Former Bullet Club Members

The OC Run	Members
2016, 2019-2020, 2022-present	AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Michin

Before arriving in WWE, AJ Styles became huge with the die-hard fans as leader of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Bullet Club, so WWE couldn’t help but try to cash in on it. As a result, WWE put together their own version of the group, The O.C. (The Original Club), with former Bullet Club members Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson backing up The Phenomenal One.

WWE OC And NJPW Bullet Club Gallows And Anderson

The OC: Why WWE's Version Of The Bullet Club Failed

WWE's OC, led by AJ Styles, never took flight at close to the level of NJPW's Bullet Club or AEW's Elite. Why didn't the group succeed?

Of course, to truly ape Bullet Club, it was crucial that The O.C. had their own T-shirt, but unfortunately one that paled in comparison. Seeing AJ with the rest of the crew wearing the same O.C. shirt doesn’t quite have the same effect as when they were in the Bullet Club.

The Phenomenal One Arrives In WWE

Styles Developed A New Look During His Time In WWE

AJ Styles' WWE Debut	Date
WWE Royal Rumble	1/24/2016

When it comes to gear, AJ Styles' WWE look isn’t that different from his previous runs - long tights with the "P1" logo on it, gloves, and either a red or a blue color motif (usually). Despite that, one would be able to identify Styles’ era based on hair alone. While he kept his gear relatively classic, in WWE Styles grew his hair out to an absurd degree since his Royal Rumble debut - including an unintentionally hilarious “soccer mom” era and sported more of a full beard than ever before.

Short-Haired AJ Styles In TNA

For Many Fans, This Was Their First Exposure To AJ Styles

AJ Styles' TNA Run	Accomplishments
2002-2014	NWA World Heavyweight Champion, TNA World Champion, X-Division Champion, NWA World Tag Team Champion, TNA World Tag Team Champion, TNA Legends Champion

Despite AJ Styles' wider exposure in WWE, there are likely many purists whose “true” version of The Phenomenal One was his time in TNA. After all, that was his first major run in wrestling, as the aforementioned WCW run was incredibly brief. Of course, the biggest difference in the TNA era compared to most of the rest is that AJ had short hair and was almost always clean shaven, but he also varied his gear a lot more. On top of there being lots of palette swaps beyond red and blue, Styles also sometimes wore shorts instead of long tights.

The Leader Of Bullet Club

Styles Was In The BC During A Hot Era

AJ Styles Bullet Club Run	Accomplishments
2014-2016	IWGP Heavyweight Champion

After departing TNA in 2014, AJ Styles headed overseas to perform for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where he hit new heights as the leader of the mega-popular Bullet Club faction. At the time NJPW was red-hot with Western fans, with the well-known Styles being a good hook for curious fans in the English speaking world. In terms of his look, it was one that fulfilled that Aces & Eights era, as Styles perfectly took to the BC aesthetic. On top of that, his hair never looked better.