Christopher Daniels and AJ Styles are longtime, foes, but the ROH star recently praised AJ Styles for his high level of success in WWE.
In an interview with HuffPost promoting Ring Of Honor's upcoming All Star Extravaganza iPPV, Daniels was asked about Styles, who earlier this month became the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
“Whatever WWE’s mentality is or was about talent that’s come out of TNA. I think AJ going over to Japan and having the success he did — I don’t know if it’s ‘cleansed the palette’ or changed everyone’s minds that he can work and get over in a different environment, but now he’s gotten that opportunity and he’s taking advantage of it," Daniels said.
After leaving TNA, Styles went on to become IWGP Heavyweight Champion for New Japan Pro Wrestling twice. He's the only wrestler ever to hold the WWE, TNA, NWA and IWGP championships.
Daniels and Styles worked together frequently when they were in TNA, winning the NWA World Tag Titles on a pair of occasions. They also were frequent opponents, most notably in matches over the X Division Title.
Daniels currently is one half of the ROH World Tag Champions with Frankie Kazarian. They are set to defend the titles at All Star Extravaganza this Friday, September 30, in Ladder War against the Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley) and the Young Bucks, who currently hold the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Titles.
As for Styles, he will defend his WWE title against Dean Ambrose and John Cena next Sunday, October 9, at No Mercy.
