Summary

AJ Styles has finally shared what happened during one of the more memorable wardrobe mishaps of his WWE run.

Looking back on WWE TLC 2016, Styles said the tear in the back of his gear against Dean Ambrose was not a gear failure at all. He explained that the material ripped the way it was supposed to after catching a sharp object, and added that he was wearing a thong underneath at the time.

Styles went on to win that TLC match and retain the WWE World Title.

Quote from AJ Styles

"A lot of people think that I had a malfunction in my gear. No, my gear did exactly what it's supposed to do when it is hit with a sharp object. It's supposed to tear. There is no malfunction. It may have looked like that I don't have on underwear. I did, but I don't like manny lines, so I was wearing my thong."

Why the TLC 2016 moment still follows AJ Styles

That TLC 2016 spot has stuck with fans because it happened in a WWE title match, not in some throwaway segment. Styles was in the middle of one of the strongest stretches of his first WWE run, so even an accidental moment like that became part of the match's legacy.

It also says something about how durable Styles' WWE reputation remains. Even after his Hall of Fame induction, fans still latch onto both the serious highlights and the bizarre moments, and his influence is still visible elsewhere on the roster, including when Dragon Lee said Styles approved his use of the Styles Clash.

Sources

AJ Styles on the Nikki & Brie Show