AJ Styles left many fans wondering if he’d gone off-script during his latest promo on WWE RAW, where he claimed it was the first time in his career that nobody had his back and that the situation may have been “orchestrated” against him.
However, what looked like a potential shoot was actually a calculated move. According to JoeyVotes, the entire segment was scripted and intentionally designed as a test by WWE officials. The company was reportedly gauging the fan reaction to see if the material could be used to build a character change for the 48-year-old veteran.
This on-screen frustration is woven into his current rivalry with Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio, which has seen Styles fail to capture the title on two recent occasions. That storyline context, combined with strong opinions from industry figures, is what led many to believe they were watching Styles genuinely go into business for himself.
Bully Ray’s Unscripted Promo Claim
Fueling much of that speculation was WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray. Speaking on the Busted Open Podcast, he was thoroughly convinced that the promo was a legitimate shoot, an action he described as highly out of character for Styles.
He stated, “I don’t know, but I’m shocked that AJ Styles went into business for himself and started shooting on the microphone. That normally never happens, and he did it last night, ’cause that was a straight-up shoot, brother.”
Bully’s assessment was bolstered by Styles referencing his recently released friends, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, and a cryptic hourglass image he posted to social media just days before the promo.