An unexpected war of words involving AJ Styles, his son Avery Styles and longtime independent wrestler Arik Cannon surfaced on social media this weekend.
The situation stems from Avery Styles’ recent appearance for GCW in Minneapolis, where he faced Marcus Mathers. Natalya, who attended the show in person, later praised both young wrestlers on social media and spoke highly of Avery’s willingness to “pay his dues” as he continues breaking into the business.
That comment caught the attention of Cannon, a longtime wrestler and promoter based out of Minneapolis, who claimed Avery avoided helping with chairs at the event.
“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 !” Cannon wrote.
AJ Styles didn’t appreciate the criticism of his son and quickly fired back.
“He was paid to wrestle at GCW, not help you put up and take down the ring,” Styles wrote. “That sounds like your job. You just sound like a jealous douche.”
Cannon responded by making it clear that he respects the former WWE Champion and understands why he would defend his son, but stood by his criticism of Avery.
“I have all of the respect in the world for you, AJ. I understand why you’d defend your son, and it is admirable,” Cannon wrote. “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.”
Styles wasn’t done there.
“You don’t ask someone to have dinner at your house and have them do the dishes,” Styles fired back. “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 then offered some additional context behind his criticism, claiming Avery had specifically been asked twice by a veteran wrestler and promoter to help with chairs before instead remaining backstage.
“A 20+ year vet & promoter asked him to help w/ the chairs. TWICE!” Cannon wrote. “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.”
UPDATE:
In one final post on X shared on Sunday, Cannon added some more reactionary comments regarding the back-and-forth with Styles.
“The only downside to having an online interaction with someone like AJ Styles, is his following,” Cannon wrote. “His followers. My notifications are currently filled with quite literally the dumbest, most ignorant segment of pro wrestling fandom.”
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
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. https://t.co/da26y4HjPB
— AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) August 8, 2026
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
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.
— AJ Styles (@AJStylesOrg) 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
The only downside to having an online interaction with someone like AJ Styles, is his following. His followers.
My notifications are currently filled with quite literally the dumbest, most ignorant segment of pro wrestling fandom.
— Arik Cannon (@arikcannon) August 9, 2026
