Scott Hensley Recalls Calling AJ Styles’ Last Indie Match, Worried AJ Wouldn’t Show

Scott Hensley reflects on calling AJ Styles’ last independent match. 

AJ Styles made his WWE debut at Royal Rumble 2016, coming off a New Japan Pro-Wrestling run where he held the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. 

Though Styles was signed to WWE, he worked one final independent match on February 5, 2016 for Georgia Premier Wrestling. 

Scott Hensley, who now runs SCI, was on the call for AJ’s final independent match. 

“AJ is one of my all-time favorite wrestlers. I grew up in Middle Tennessee going to TNA shows and after, I would hang out and try to meet people. One time, I did get to meet AJ. He’s just the most down to earth, nice guy ever. He’s a real human being unlike some guys who can’t get out of character. Some of them, it’s admirable, but some of them it’s weird. AJ is a good guy, a normal guy, and to be able to work that last independent show with him, it was a dream come true, it really was. We didn’t think he was going to show up. He was on a WWE show in California on Friday night before that show and the promoter, Greg Hullender, he told everybody, ‘AJ says he’s coming. I believe AJ.’ We were like, ‘Okay, we believe you, we believe AJ.’ He was in California with WWE the night before, ‘Is he really coming?’ True to his word, he’s a guy who character, he showed up. He had already debuted at the Royal Rumble and was already on the road with WWE. He comes back to honor that last commitment. To be able to call his last match and to see him wrestle Corey Hollis, who is a guy I started with at Ultimate NWA in Alabama, it was really cool and special. AJ addressed the crowd after that match. The match was good, AJ is great. What an experience,” Hensley said on The Spotlight with Jeremy Lambert & Stephen Jensen. 

Styles was victorious over Corey Hollis in his final independent match.

Styles remains a major player on WWE television and is currently part of the SmackDown brand. He is set to face LA Knight at WrestleMania 40. 

Fans can check out the full interview with Scott in the video above.