AJ Styles reveals indie names he helped get WWE SummerSlam tryout
The WWE SummerSlam tryouts are scheduled to take place next, and AJ Styles has revealed his role in helping some indie wrestlers get that.
The WWE SummerSlam tryouts are scheduled to take place on Thursday, July 30, 2026. According to a recent report by PWMania, the latest round of WWE tryouts is scheduled for next week ahead of the SummerSlam PLE. The list of participants expected to attend includes Titus Alexander, Josh Bishop, J-Rod, Colton Theron Vaught, Conan Lycan, and others. And some of those attending the tryouts were handpicked by Styles himself.
Speaking on his The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles named the independent talent he helped get a tryout on the WWE SummerSlam weekend.
“Conan Lycan is definitely one. I just took a picture with him. We got to have a little workout with him the other day when I was down in Florida. CTV, Colton, he’s a pro wrestler/MMA guy. So in fantastic shape. Not the biggest guy, but he looks a little crazy to me and I like that about him.
“Joe Lando is a high flyer. Reminds me very much of Amazing Red. If you don’t remember Amazing Red, then just think of Rey Mysterio. He reminds me of that. He can do almost anything,” Styles added. “Then I got some girls. Monica Ladybird. I saw and I was like, ‘Wow, she’s super athletic.’ So just a couple of these men and women that I have.
Brooke Havok is my last one. She looks so different than everything that I’ve seen in wrestling right now because a lot of what I see, especially down in the PC, have been blonde hair, blue eyes. Where she has kind of that emo look to her. Dark hair. Just different. I like that about her. She was, I think, actually the first one that I wanted to get a tryout. She was my first pick. I was just on an indie show checking out other talent and she was on it. I was like, ‘Who is this?’ So I’m really excited,” the WWE Hall of Famer finished.
Styles, 49, retired from in-ring action earlier this year and was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He currently works as an in-ring talent scout for WWE.
Also, according to a Fightful Select report, the potential recruits were notified of their invitations at least a couple of weeks ago.
Shounak Chakrabarti is an experienced sports journalist with a lifelong passion for athletics and storytelling. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and joined F4WOnline in 2025.
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