This is a fantastic storyline interview Michael Cole conducts with AJ Styles ahead of his match with Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules this Sun., May 22, 2016, in New Jersey. They're still pushing the idea that maybe Styles has been ordering his friends, Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, to assist him in his pursuit of the WWE world heavyweight championship, and AJ is sick and tired of it. He's maintaining his original stance while also making clear he'll do what he needs to do to accomplish his goal.
If he's a liar:
"You don't understand. I said I was sick and tired of being called a liar. Now, I don't care. If you don't believe me, fine. If Roman Reigns doesn't believe me... I'm done with it! You don't understand the relationship that I have with Gallows and Anderson, no one does. They don't know what we've been through together. In Japan, they had my back. When I went over, they had my back. When I first got there, they took care of me. And I had their back. You have no idea what we've been through. Now that we're here, nothing's going to change. Everyone has those friends that we know they're not the best of people but at some point they did something that changed the relationship, meaning we got closer. I won't forget that. I will forever have their back, no matter what."
On if he'll use Gallows and Anderson at Extreme Rules:
"Michael, I've said this a million times. Again, you don't have to believe me, you can call me a liar to my face if you want to, but I said that I would beat Roman Reigns on my own, just me. I don't need them. But you better believe that they'll be watching my back again when The Usos come running out. That's what happened on Raw. There they were, there were The Usos and I turned around and got popped in the mouth."
On if he would accept a victory if it meant taking help from Gallows and Anderson:
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to take advantage of the situation, and I always have. Now, family, according to Roman Reigns, is stronger than The Club. So prove it. I'm not saying I'm telling these guys to come down, I'm not telling Anderson and Gallows to come down. But whatever happens happens. This is Extreme Rules, we can do anything."
Why is he different than he was when he first got to WWE?
"There's a lot of passion that goes into what I do. A lot of people don't understand what it's like to be in my position. I have an opportunity to be the WWE world heavyweight champion. I have been a champion everywhere I've been except here. Passion has a lot to do with it. Dedication, everything I've done to get here, has a lot to do with it. Pride. And whether you like it or not, this may make me sound like a bad guy, but the truth is money. ... I have to take care of my family. That's most important to me, to take care of my family. When you have the WWE world heavyweight title, money comes with it, opportunities comes with it. I want to be successful, and being successful to me is taking care of my family first and foremost."
Is he ready to cross the line against Reigns:
"I'll do anything and everything it takes to be the WWE world heavyweight champion."