AJ Styles has been in the ring with some of the best in the world during his career.
Styles' in-ring opponents include the likes of Kurt Angle, Samoa Joe, John Cena, Kota Ibushi, Shinsuke Nakamura and just about all the top wrestlers of the last 15 years. But it was Hiroshi Tanahashi who impressed Styles the most with his in-ring psychology.
Speaking on his Mixer channel, Styles recalled one moment that made him realize just how smart Tanahashi is.
"I remember having him in the calf crusher and I'm wrenching on it. I'm like, 'Okay dude, get to the ropes. OKAY!' I was starting to get pissed off. He could see and hear something that I couldn't. What he saw was the front row crying because these girls were afraid that Tanahashi was about to lose. I didn't see that because my back is to them. He could see it and was milking it. When I understood, I felt like such a turd. That's how good he is. His psychology is on another level. I enjoyed every match with him, he's a top, top talent. He will go down as one of the best, no doubt about it," he said.
Styles and Tanahashi wrestled six singles matches against each other during their respective career, first meeting in 2006 at TNA Final Resolution and last meeting in 2015 in the G1 Glimax 25.
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