AJ Styles is opening up about watching his son Avery bring one of his old signature moves back to life. During a conversation on his own show, The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles addressed Avery Styles incorporating the spiral tap into his own repertoire — the same high-risk dive that was once a staple of AJ’s arsenal before it gradually faded out of his matches over the years.
For longtime fans, the spiral tap carries plenty of nostalgia. It was one of the signature aerial maneuvers that helped define AJ Styles’ reputation as one of the most innovative high-flyers of his generation, particularly during his early career. As Styles aged and his in-ring style evolved to rely less on high-risk aerial offense, the move slowly disappeared from his matches, eventually becoming a rarity reserved for special occasions rather than a go-to finisher or signature spot.
Now, with Avery Styles apparently picking up the torch and busting out the same move, it’s easy to see why AJ would have plenty to say about it. Wrestling lineage stories tend to resonate with fans precisely because of moments like this — a signature piece of offense skipping a generation and finding new life in a son following his father’s path into the business. It’s the kind of full-circle detail that turns a simple move into a talking point.
AJ Styles has long been regarded as one of the most respected in-ring performers of his era, with a career that has spanned NJPW, TNA, ROH, and WWE, among other promotions. His longevity and adaptability — shifting his style as his body and career demanded — are part of what has made him a fixture at the top of the industry for over two decades. Seeing that evolution discussed alongside his son’s own wrestling journey adds a personal layer to a career that’s already stacked with accolades.
While specifics on Avery Styles’ broader wrestling development weren’t detailed, moments like this tend to fuel speculation about where a young talent with a famous last name might be headed next. Legacy has always mattered in professional wrestling, and there’s an inherent storytelling hook whenever a recognizable move gets passed down. Whether Avery continues to use the spiral tap as he develops, or whether it becomes something uniquely his own down the line, remains to be seen.
For now, fans got a glimpse of AJ Styles reflecting on both his own in-ring history and the next generation carrying pieces of it forward. It’s a small moment, but one that speaks to the kind of enduring connection between a wrestler’s career and the family that grows up around it.
Reporting and match coverage produced by the PW Exclusive team. Articles under this byline are drafted with AI assistance and reviewed before publication — see our editorial standards for how we work.
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