AJ Styles has addressed the “pay your dues” controversy over his son Avery’s role at the GCW show in Minnesota, admitting that he may have been “rage baited” into the argument.

The situation began when F1RST Wrestling promoter Arik Cannon claimed that Avery Styles didn’t help set up chairs at the event. AJ responded that his son was brought in specifically to wrestle, not to assist with ring setup, sparking a back-and-forth on social media that drew in other wrestlers, including Cody Rhodes.

During a recent appearance on Cody’s “What Do You Want To Talk About?” podcast, AJ reflected on the incident, calling it the most ridiculous thing that has ever popped up on Twitter. He said,

“Probably the most ridiculous thing that was ever talked about on X. I may have gotten rage baited into that.”

Cody added, “I was standing by. I like to get in there every now and again. That one, I thought, ‘This kid. We’re not doing that.’ Ben Bishop had oddly a really good take on it. I wish it would’ve ended with that. One guy thought he was supposed to, and he was there, another guy wasn’t even on the show. He had a really good ‘let it be.’ Some of us, myself included, couldn’t let it be. I didn’t mean multi-gens didn’t need to do the thing they’re supposed to do. What I meant is there is a level of knowledge and osmosis. My mom and sister, I consider them wrestlers. They’ve never set up a chair in their life. They lived it. You went through your run with your children, you lived by it. A little grace, is all I’m saying. He’s got a target on his back and that’s never going to go away. I don’t regret for one second getting in there, but I didn’t mean second gens don’t need to set up chairs.”

Ben Bishop had shared a video explaining that while it’s common for newer wrestlers to help with setup work to earn a booking, Avery was already getting booked for shows. In his view, pushing Avery to help with chores was unnecessary and pointless.