Raw man hails Styles and discusses his time wrestling in Japan
Tuesday 13 September 2016 16:05, UK
Luke Gallows must have both groaned and cheered while sat in front of his TV last weekend.
The groaning would have come after seeing his former WWE stablemate CM Punk - they banded in the Straight Edge Society in 2009 and 2010 - lose his UFC debut inside the first round on Saturday night.
But he would surely have punched the air 24 hours later when AJ Styles, his long-time friend and ex-Bullet Club colleague, defeated Dean Ambrose at Backlash to become WWE World Champion.
With Punk pondering whether to return to mixed marital arts and Styles celebrating his maiden world title in WWE, Gallows told Sky Sports about his respect for both men.
"Even though he lost he got to do his thing, something he had been working for two years to achieve," said the Monday Night Raw man after Punk submitted to Mickey Gall's rear-naked choke.
"If you have a dream - his changed from wanting to be WWE Champion to wanting to fight in the octagon - you have to pursue it and he did.
"It takes a lot of guts to go after something like that and he gave it a good crack. I don't know if he is necessarily done [with UFC] but whether he is or not I am very proud of him.
"Styles is one of the best in the world, and people got to see that at Backlash," added the powerhouse, who re-signed for WWE earlier this year following a six-year absence.
"If you watch a Styles match, watch Styles do his thing, you notice something special - he has that 'it' factor that you hear people talk about and he gets you emotionally invested in a performance.
"I have been in the ring with just about all of them - Punk included - and Styles is one of the very best, I think everyone would agree on that."
If you watch a Styles match, you notice something special - he has that 'it' factor that you hear people talk about and he gets you emotionally invested in a performance. He is one of the best.
Gallows built his reputation in New Japan Pro Wrestling after being axed from WWE in 2010 at the age of 26, going on to win the IWGP Tag Team Championships three times with Karl Anderson.
It was also in Asia where the Bullet Club flourished - the faction was established by Finn Balor, before Styles entered the group once the Irishman had headed to WWE's NXT brand.
Gallows would later join the stable - and the 32-year-old feels his time in the Far East was crucial to the success he is currently enjoying in his second spell as a WWE Superstar.
"I came into WWE when I was 20 years old, so I was a little wet behind the ears," he said. "Leaving gave me a real life experience as well as the experience of the industry that lots of guys need.
"I am thankful that I was in the WWE to begin with but I am equally thankful for the time I was away because it helped me grow as a performer and become more valuable.
"From that perspective, I never saw my release initially as a negative - I knew I could still do what I loved.
"I wrestled the next day, went to Japan the next week, and gave my career a rebirth, being part of one of the hottest acts outside WWE in Bullet Club.
"If the opportunity to go to WWE comes you have to take it, especially now with the Performance Center, which is a sports entertainer's dream.
"But if that opportunity is not afforded to you then go to other territories - Japan, Puerto Rico, Mexico - get to work and get used to being in front of a live audience."
Gallows and Anderson interjected themselves into Styles' rivalries with Roman Reigns and John Cena after re-debuting - and, in Anderson's case, debuting - in WWE back in April.
The American is delighted with how his comeback has gone so far, both in the ring, where he and Anderson are now pursuing The New Day's Raw Tag Team Titles, but also backstage.
"It has been a resurgence in my career for sure," added Gallows. "Japan was great for [Karl and myself] but to do it in the WWE is spectacular.
"There is no bigger place to perform and we have got to mix it with Cena and Reigns, two of the biggest guys in our industry.
WWE was great before but it's even greater now - there is a group of like-minded, motivated, talented young men and women who have a real passion for our business.
"WWE was great before but it's even greater now - there is a group of like-minded, motivated, talented young men and women who have a real passion for our business.
"I have been doing this for 15 years now and I haven't been in a better locker room."
The one blot on Gallows and Anderson's copybook is that they have as yet failed to pinch The New Day's gold - Big E and former Daily Show host Jon Stewart scuppering them at SummerSlam.
Gallows hopes he and his tag-team partner can rectify that at WWE Clash of Champions on Sunday, September 25, a show you can catch live on Sky Sports Box Office.
"We have been fortunate to hold titles all around the world but none as yet in the pinnacle of our business, the WWE," he said.
"We know we are a pretty darn good tag team but it would be a crowning achievement for us to win titles here - it is goal number one, so I am very much looking forward to Clash of Champions."
WWE Clash of Champions is live on Sky Sports Box Office at 1am on Sunday, September 25 (Monday morning) - the show is priced £14.95 for UK customers, €21.95 for viewers in the Republic of Ireland.
WWE Clash of Champions booking details
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