Jeff Jarrett: AJ Styles is ‘the face of modern wrestling’
Jeff Jarrett believes AJ Styles is hugely responsible for shaping the in-ring style that exists today.
While speaking with Undisputed, Jarrett expressed how happy he is for Styles following his retirement from the ring. The two worked together closely in TNA Wrestling with Styles becoming the biggest star that TNA ever produced.
“I could not be happier for the guy,” Jarrett said. “Getting to work with him was super special. It always takes me back to the creation of the X Division. At the beginning, there were so many questions and doubts about the X Division. I was adamant that it wasn’t about weight limits; it was about no limits.”
That X-Division style has taken over much of the wrestling industry, and Jarrett believes that Styles deserves a lion’s share of the credit.
“Look at today’s style of wrestling–the 2026 modern style–that’s the X Division from ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07,” Jarrett said. “You think of [Samoa] Joe, [Christopher] Daniels, Sonjay [Dutt], and so many others. And AJ is the face of that. That’s why AJ is the face of modern wrestling. I’m super grateful to have worked with him in the ring and behind the scenes with him. I feel very blessed to be a part of AJ Styles’ career.”
Styles had his final match at Royal Rumble 2026 and will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during WrestleMania 42 weekend. With his in-ring career over, Styles has agreed to a new contract to remain with WWE in a behind-the-scenes capacity.
Jarrett, a member of the TNA and WWE Hall of Fames, is now with AEW. He’s set to be featured in the new documentary “The Jeff Jarrett Story: Heart of a Promoter” that premieres on YouTube and CW Nashville tonight.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.