After it was announced that AJ Styles would be moving from Raw to SmackDown, a number of rumors relating to the reasons for the brand swicth did the rounds online. Some claimed Styles was being bullied, others that he had a run-in with then CCO Paul Heyman for not sticking up for Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson prior to their release.
Now, The Phenomenal One has taken to his Mixr stream to clear some things up, and while he debunks reports that he clashed with Heyman over his former OC pals, he does seem to confirm that they had some sort of altercation or disagreement.
“There were some rumors going around that AJ Styles left Raw to go to SmackDown because he was being bullied," said the current Intercontinental Champion. "That may be the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m a grown man. If there was some bullying going on that upset me enough to leave Raw and go to SmackDown, I would handle it."
"When it came to the rumor about Paul Heyman and me being upset with him because he didn’t take up for Gallows and Anderson before they got released, that’s not what it was at all. Not even close. I’ll give you a snippet of what me, Gallows and Anderson already know. He’s a liar, now you know. I’m sure you’ve heard that before if you go back to his ECW days, you’ll hear that. He’s a bold-faced liar."
Styles then says that Gallows and Anderson will explain more on their Talk N’Shop podcast once they're legally allowed to (their WWE non-compete expires on July 18).
Interesting stuff. Be sure to check back next week once we find out what The Good Brothers have to say on the matter!