AJ Styles Discusses His Christian Faith: ‘I Found Out For Myself Where I Belonged’

AJ Styles has taken the WWE by storm since showing up as a surprise entrant into the 2016 Royal Rumble, and while he did not win that match — or his WrestleMania 32 match either for that matter — he did manage to become the No. 1 contender for Roman Reigns’ WWE World Heavyweight Championship the next night on Raw.

Not a bad consolation prize to go with the rabid fan base that continues to hope WWE will give him a primetime run with the belt.

But some may not be aware of a certain thing in AJ Styles’ life, something that can be quite polarizing, depending on how you were brought up.

While some will love to hear that the Phenomenal One is a proud Christian, others may be turned off by it. And for AJ Styles, it’s “cool” if you feel that way.

In a recent interview on the Sam Roberts Wrestling Podcast, AJ spoke freely about his faith.

“I went to church when I was younger, but it was never something pushed down my throat or anything, which is a good thing,” Styles said. “I found out for myself where I belonged.”

P1 said that there was a guy at his church, “who just wanted to show me that I don’t have to know you to love you, and it changed my life. I understood what it was like to be a man and a Christian man on top of that.”

When asked if it was difficult being a Christian and a professional wrestler — especially one at such a high position within the WWE — AJ Styles had this to say.

“Not at all. I mean it’s the perfect place for me. Little things, like, it’s very rare that I ever drop any cuss words or anything like that, which is the perfect play for me. At my house, it’s an ‘if dad says it, you can say it kind of deal,’ so a lot of my slang words come off very childish at this point in my career.”

As for the reaction he gets from most fans, who find out that he is a “believer,” as he calls himself elsewhere on the episode, it’s positive for the most part.

“People respect that,” Styles explained, “and if they don’t, that’s okay. And if they try to get a rise out of me, I’m just like, ‘Look man I’m not gonna push this on you. It’s cool if you don’t believe, it is what it is. I’m just telling you what makes me, me.”

Sharing a moment with new member of WWE, AJ Styles. Great wrestler, great guy, and Christian brother!! pic.twitter.com/ITVP2vZdKe

— Ted DiBiase (@MDMTedDiBiase) April 3, 2016

Elsewhere in the podcast, AJ Styles revealed that he “didn’t shed one tear” when he left TNA despite being a main star there since signing in 2002. He departed from the wrestling organization in 2013 amid turmoil and rumors that it would soon be going out of business.

While that never happened, TNA has never recovered since losing its SpikeTV deal. Styles did admit to “having a chip on my shoulder” when he left TNA, but his next stops would be more agreeable as he returned to Ring of Honor and the independent circuit before landing at New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Leaving New Japan was remarkably different, he said, admitting that when he departed after just two years, it was “emotional.” He also praised the promotion for its professionalism and had nothing but good things to say about his time there.

The full 22-minute AJ Styles interview is available in the embed below (with video). Give it a watch if you want to learn more about the Phenomenal One.

So what do you think about AJ Styles being such an open Christian, wrestling fans? Does it change your opinion of him for better or worse? Sound off in the comments section.

[Image via WWE Raw screen grab]