I am a kid, just the same as you. I grew up in a rural town. I had normal friends and a normal life. The only difference is between you and me is…I wanted to be a professional wrestler. This is my story. I am Johnny Styles.
At age 7, I began to watch WWE on the tv, and everything started to fall into place. I would get excited when the performers would come out. I could name each finishing maneuver and match it to the superstar who performed it.
When I turned 11, I entered into an amateur wrestling tournament in my hometown of Waldorf, Maryland. Though I was small, I had the heart of a lion and the speed of a cheetah.
Sadly, I ended up losing in the first round of the tournament, but the loss just fueled the fire in my heart.
When I entered high school, the first team I joined was the wrestling team. I was agile, but I had also grown over the last 3 years. I now had the build of a wrestler.
Over the next 4 years, I wrestled enough to become known as the top amateur wrestler in the state of Maryland.
When I entered college, I once again joined the wrestling team. But, as I soon found out, the wrestlers in college were a lot more built than the ones in high school.
Everyday, I would go to the gym for several hours before practice and work out. By the time my sophomore year came around, I was built more than the other guys on his team.
In no time, I was known as the second-best college wrestler in the nation. But I wasn’t, and I’m still not, satisfied with “second-best.” I wanted to be the best.
A few months later, I got the answer he was looking for. Or, well, an opportunity to get the answer. I had the opportunity of a lifetime. I would face the number-one college wrestler in the nation, Conor Hero, in a match to air live on television with a WWE contract on the line.
I was invited to fill a spot on the nation’s news network. I was supposed to talk about the upcoming contract match between me and Conor Hero, but as time grew closer, I started thinking about the future. My future…in WWE.
When my time on-screen came, I knew exactly what to say. I walked to the chair, shook the host’s hand, and sat down.
A microphone in my hand, I calmly stated, “I am the next big thing. I will beat Conor Hero in his own game. Wrestling is a gift and I amthe only one who can use it to its maximum potential. The only difference between me and Conor is…I know how to use my gift to destroy people.” With that, I dropped the microphone and walked off-stage.
For the next week, all anybody talked about was Johnny Styles versus Conor Hero, scheduled for June 22nd, which was one week away.
As the week proceeded, I spent considerable amounts of time in the weight training room.
By the time the match rolled around, I was ripped. I had muscles protruding from my muscles. I knew I had this match in the bag.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Florida State gymnasium for this WWE contract match. The participants in this match are competing for a WWE 2-year contract.” With that, a business man with the WWE symbol embroidered on his shirt stood and held up a clipboard with a contract on it.
“Welcoming to the Florida State gymnasium for the first time, from Hollywood, California, weighing in at 190 pounds…he is the number-one college wrestler in the USA…Conor Hero!!!”
The crowd went ballistic as Conor’s name was called.
“And his opponent, the Florida State Beast, the toughest wrestler on the east coast…Johnny Styles!”
The crowd booed me the entire way to the ring. I relished in the fact that I was hated.
As I approached the ring, I also grabbed a microphone.
“Conor. You may be the number one college wrestler in the country, but I am the Florida State Beast. No one has defeated me and no one will defeat me. You are number one on one list, though…my hit list.”
With that, I ran to the ring to start the match.
Conor started off strong with quick punches to the gut and side, but his offense didn’t last for long. I quickly put an end to it with a kick to the side of the head.
I locked in my signature submission, a half nelson choke hold I called the Styles Lock.
Within minutes of being put in the hold, Conor Hero was counted out due to his passing out.
With my hand raised high, I knew...this was it.
