One of the best in-ring performers in the WWE today is AJ Styles. Yet, the high-flying, technically-gifted WWE Champion doesn't think of himself as a "good performer".
Before coming to the WWE, Styles toured all around the world as one of the independent scene's best wrestlers not in the WWE. Fans couldn't understand what was keeping Styles and WWE from working out a deal and when the two sides finally came together, Styles quickly rose up the ranks of the company, having great matches with the likes of Kevin Owens, John Cena, and even Shane McMahon. Styles knew he was meant to make it to the WWE and the WWE immediately realized they should have brought him in years earlier.
Yet, for all that Styles has accomplished in a relatively short amount of time as a WWE Superstar and for all the accolades he's accomplished over a distinguished career, he doesn't look at himself as a performer and see a lot of "great." On Chasing Glory With Lilian Garcia (H/T WrestlingInc), Styles said:
"First of all, I don't believe I'm that good or I'm that great. I want to be one day, but I never assume. I try not to watch matches. When I do watch them, I get so mad at myself. I think they could've been better or a promo that could've been better that it just tears me up, so I know there's a point that hopefully, I can get there, but I'm not there yet. I want to be."
While the rest of the audience realizes just how wrong AJ Styles is, it's perhaps the thing that actually makes him great. There's a saying that goes something like, "you're not very cool if you have to tell people how cool you are." The fact that Styles doesn't think he's that good, or in the same conversation as the likes of Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart or other wrestlers who have been looked at as the top in-ring performers of their generation, makes him even that much better.
Styles professed. "I think I get the most satisfaction out of making someone else look good than making my own self look good." He asked, "What can I do for them to bring it up another level?" That sentence alone describes the greats of all time and it's only fair to put Styles in that conversation.