AJ Styles reveals indie stars he handpicked for WWE tryouts at SummerSlam 2026

AJ Styles has revealed the independent wrestlers he handpicked for WWE tryouts scheduled during SummerSlam weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

What did AJ Styles say about the WWE tryouts?

Speaking on The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles explained why he hasn’t attended a WWE tryout himself. “I have yet to be able to get to a tryout because I want to know exactly what goes into this. I’m just curious. How do we go about picking because it’s not just independent workers who are going to get in this tryout. It’s athletes from college, D1 athletes normally, getting tryouts too,” he said. “I want to see what goes on. I want to see what they see when they decide this is the person that we want.”

Styles stressed that he looks beyond traditional height and weight standards when recommending talent. “I know that I have brought in certain guys and girls that may not meet the standards of height and weight that they’re looking for. But it’s what I see that I think makes them special and I think they deserve an opportunity to be looked at.”

Who are the wrestlers AJ Styles recommended?

Styles named several independent stars he helped secure tryout opportunities. Among the men, he highlighted Conan Lycan, whom he met in Florida and trained with recently. He also pointed to CTB (Colton Theron Vaught), praising the pro wrestler and MMA competitor’s physical condition and intensity despite not being a large athlete.

For the high-flying style, Styles compared Joe Lando to the legendary Amazing Red and Rey Mysterio. “He reminds me very much of the Amazing Red. If you don’t remember Amazing Red, then just think of Rey Mysterio. He reminds me of that. He can do almost anything.”

On the women’s side, Styles singled out Monica Ladybird for her athleticism and Brooke Havoc for her distinct look and attitude. “She looks so different than everything that I’ve seen in wrestling right now. A lot of what I see especially down in the PC, I’ve been blonde hair blue eyes guy where she is kind of that emo look to her. She’s dark haired, just different. I like that about her,” he said. “She was, I think, actually the first one that I wanted to get on trial. She was my first pick.”

Why does this matter for AJ Styles?

This marks one of the first public instances where Styles has directly influenced WWE’s talent recruitment process. His willingness to vouch for athletes outside conventional WWE size norms reflects his long-standing advocacy for athleticism and in-ring ability over traditional body types. It also signals his growing role behind the scenes as a talent evaluator, not just a performer.

Styles’ comments come amid a busy period for WWE’s developmental pipeline, with tryouts often serving as a pipeline for NXT and main roster opportunities. His recommendations could influence who gets called up in the coming months.

What happens next?

The WWE tryouts are set for SummerSlam weekend in Minneapolis. Styles did not confirm whether he would attend, but reiterated his curiosity about the process. Wrestlers who impress may earn developmental contracts or immediate call-ups to NXT or the main roster.

Fans can expect to see some of the names Styles mentioned make their way into WWE programming if the tryouts yield results. Styles recently commented on Mike Santana’s NXT appearance, showing his ongoing engagement with WWE’s talent landscape.

Key takeaways

• AJ Styles named Conan Lycan, CTB, Joe Lando, Monica Ladybird and Brooke Havoc as wrestlers he recommended for WWE tryouts during SummerSlam weekend.
• Styles emphasized evaluating talent based on athleticism and in-ring ability over traditional height and weight standards.
• He called Brooke Havoc his first pick and praised her distinct look and attitude.
• The tryouts are scheduled for SummerSlam weekend in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
• Styles stressed his curiosity about WWE’s selection process and desire to understand it better.