Ex-WWE Champion Called The Best Of His Generation

Johnny Gargano believes one rival deserves a spot alongside the all-time greats.

WWE SmackDown star Johnny Gargano has spent almost two decades sharing the ring with some of the best in the world. Gargano clashed with several would-be legends before even landing in WWE but there was one star who stood out above all others.

During a recent Twitch stream, Gargano heaped praise on AJ Styles, describing him as the “best generation of our generation.” In praising Styles, Gargano said he was the first independent wrestler he ever loved.

“I can’t say enough good things about AJ Styles. He’s probably the best wrestler of our generation. AJ Styles was the first independent wrestler that I loved. I had a hood on my entrance gear when I had my very first match because of AJ Styles.

I loved AJ and TNA and I’m talking back in the NWA TNA days, ROH days, and things like that. AJ Styles is my guy. He was my first non-WWE, non-WCW, non-ECW guy that I really loved just from his independent work.”

Gargano went on to recall getting to wrestle Styles when he was just 18, before linking back up with him in WWE.

“So, I got the chance to wrestle AJ when I was 18 years old. He was my favorite wrestler at the time and I got the chance to wrestle him. He brought it. He was so amazing. I learned so much from that match at a very early age,” says Gargano.

“I wrestled him again right before he signed with WWE years later and now, I wrestled him again in WWE on that live event in France. He’s still as great as he was when I wrestled him when I was 18 years old. AJ Styles is definitely one of a kind. I firmly do believe that wrestling wouldn’t be what it is today without AJ. AJ is literally, like, you talk about GOATS? AJ is one of the GOATs and he’s a great guy in the locker room.”

AJ Styles Closing On WWE Retirement

Speaking on the eve of WrestleMania 40, AJ Styles admitted he’s getting close to retirement and is growing increasingly worried about embarrassing himself in the ring. At Backlash, Styles challenged Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship, but he was ultimately pinned by the American Nightmare.

In recent months, AJ Styles has also been praised by The Undertaker who dubbed him the “Shawn Michaels of his generation.”

H/t to Fightful