AJ Styles & Arik Cannon Get Into Argument on Social Media Over Claims Avery Styles Did Not Help Out at GCW Event

As noted before, Avery Styles, son of WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles, made his official in-ring debut for Game Changer Wrestling at this past Friday’s The Top Play event in Omaha, Nebraska. Styles defeated Alex Lev in a singles match at the event. Styles has been wrestling since his official wrestling career debut this past June.

A recent episode of The Casual Conversations with The Classic featured Nattie, also known as Natalya in WWE, One of the topics discussed included Nattie’s thoughts about Avery’s development as a pro wrestler and how she loves that he wants to pay his dues and not just coast by his famous father’s name.

“I was able to go to GCW yesterday and watch Avery Styles and one of our dungeon students Marcus Mathers wrestle and they blew me away. They blew me away. They’re so young and they have so much presence and they just love this. They study it, they think about it, they eat, sleep, breathe, fight, scratch, claw and want this. So after their match, I went up to Avery Styles and Marcus Mathers cause Marcus already trained with us in the dungeon. I was like, ‘man, Avery, I would love to get you in the dungeon,’ because I just love his passion. I could feel his passion pouring through his soul and I loved in the match. What I really liked is that he didn’t win the match. It showed me, and I said this to Avery, I said ‘it showed me that you’re willing to pay your dues, that you’re not just gonna come into the industry as AJ Styles’ son that has to be pampered and coddled’ and he wants to earn it. He wants to pay his dues, and I love that.”

Following the release of the interview, indies talent Arik Cannon responded on Twitter about Nattie’s comments about Avery wanting to pay his dues in wrestling. Cannon claimed that Avery did not help out at GCW’s event and instead just skirted away from any responsibilities.

“As someone who watched this kid skirt away from helping with a single thing at this very show…

I’d just like to say: L O F’ING L !”

As someone who watched this kid skirt away from helping with a single thing at this very show…

I’d just like to say: L O F’ING L ! https://t.co/4I2xB9GvS6

— Arik Cannon (@arikcannon) August 8, 2026

This led to an argument between AJ and Cannon on Twitter in a series of posts that started off with AJ saying that his son was only hired to wrestle on the show and not help out with other things for GCW.

“He was paid to wrestle at GCW, not help you put up and take down the ring. That sounds like your job. You just sound like a jealous douche.”

Cannon responded stating that he understands why AJ would defend his son and stated that Avery can either stay as “AJ’s kid” and continue to skirt responsibility and paying dues or he can earn the respect of his peers and stand on his own.

“I have all of the respect in the world for you, AJ. I understand why you’d defend your son, and it is admirable.

But the fact remains… He can stay “AJ’s kid”, continue to skirt responsibility, & paying dues.

Or he can earn the respect of his peers, & stand on his own as Avery.”

AJ responded back stating that while Avery is grateful for the opportunity to work for GCW, a veteran wrestler should have talked to him in a professional manner privately about this if it was an issue.

“You don’t ask someone to have dinner at your house and have them do the dishes. He was asked to wrestle at GCW. Although grateful for the opportunity, a vet would have talked to him professionally or at least face to face.”

Cannon responded back stating that Avery was asked by a veteran and promoter to help with the chairs twice but he hid in the locker room until everything was done instead.

“A 20+ year vet & promoter asked him to help w/ the chairs. TWICE! Instead of helping, he hid in the locker room until everything was done.

My 2 cents isn’t going to affect his future… But with all due respect, you stating he doesn’t need to help is only doing him a disservice.”

I have all of the respect in the world for you, AJ. I understand why you’d defend your son, and it is admirable.

But the fact remains… He can stay “AJ’s kid”, continue to skirt responsibility, & paying dues.

Or he can earn the respect of his peers, & stand on his own as Avery. https://t.co/cgwzA30F9a

— Arik Cannon (@arikcannon) August 8, 2026

A 20+ year vet & promoter asked him to help w/ the chairs. TWICE! Instead of helping, he hid in the locker room until everything was done.

My 2 cents isn’t going to affect his future… But with all due respect, you stating he doesn’t need to help is only doing him a disservice.

— Arik Cannon (@arikcannon) August 9, 2026