AJ Styles is Right: The "Hunger" on the Independent Scene Is Gone
Some folks might think it's a nuclear take to say the independent wrestling scene isn't what it used to be—or that maybe it shouldn't even exist in its current form—but when a locker-room veteran and straight up legend like AJ Styles points out a glaring truth, it's time to listen.
During a recent appearance on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast, Styles got real about the current landscape of independent wrestling and didn't mince words about today's talent pool.
While discussing his post-retirement work scouting for WWE, Styles highlighted a major missing ingredient in the modern indie circuit: pure, unadulterated hunger.
Reflecting on his own rise through the ranks, Styles noted that he wanted every single ounce of what the business had to offer.
He was dying to break through, obsessive about his craft, and ready for all the smoke.
But when looking at today's crop of talent, he sees a completely different vibe—and frankly, it’s not the same.
It’s hard to argue with him. When the foundational urgency to scrap, hustle, and survive gets replaced by complacency or outdated mentalities passed down through the wrong channels, the magic of the grind gets lost.
AJ might frame it as just a difference in eras, but if a guy who clawed his way to the top of every major promotion on the planet says the fire has dimmed out there, maybe it's time to admit that the entire independent model needs a serious reality check.
