AJ Styles Just Shared a WrestleMania 42 Fan Encounter That Every Wrestling Fan Needs to Hear

AJ Styles has shared his experience with fan behavior at WWE WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas — and his account adds another voice to the growing conversation about hotel security concerns that have emerged following the event. Speaking on The Phenomenally Retro Podcast, Styles explained what it is actually like to walk through a hotel after a full day of signing events, and described one fan who refused to accept his clearly stated request for privacy with his family.

“Even though we’re just trying to get to our room, we have been at signings all day and you get kind of exhausted because we’re trying to be in a good mood for you at that point. Especially for people who paid to see it. We want to make sure you get your money’s worth. And it’s a little exhausting. I know you’re like, ‘Well, what are you gonna do? All you do is stand there.’ But we’re doing it for a couple of hours,” Styles said. He then described the specific incident that put him in an uncomfortable position. “I’m not taking pictures because once I start, I’ll never stop. So if I have my family with me, I can’t do that. I said, ‘Hey, I’m not taking pictures right now. I’m sorry.’ And they just swarmed me like bees. Even this one guy, even though I told him no pictures, he was walking and laying on me and stuff like that. I’m like, ‘Whoa! Whoa!’ And finally, security was able to find me and take me to the elevator.”

AJ Styles Says Fans Need to Remember That Wrestlers Are Real People When They Cross Paths in Public

Styles was careful not to condemn fans broadly but made his point clearly about the boundaries that need to be respected regardless of how familiar audiences feel with performers they have watched for years. “I understand that they think they know the superstars because they’ve watched them for so long, but at the same time, you’ve got to remember that they’re real people. It can get overwhelming when that many people swarm you like that. I get it. No means no with pictures and whatnot. If they ask you not to, chill out.” Styles was in Las Vegas as a WWE Hall of Fame inductee during WrestleMania 42 weekend, having officially retired from in-ring competition at the Royal Rumble earlier this year.