The Indie circuit is getting a serious injection of nepotism
AJ Styles is one of the greatest workers to ever lace up a pair of boots. We all know the resume. The guy could have a four-star classic with a wet paper bag and make it look like a technical masterpiece. Now, we are getting a look at the next generation. It turns out his son, Avery Styles, is stepping into the ring for a tag team match that sounds like it was booked by a fan with too much free time on a message board.
Avery Styles is teaming up with CJ Gallows to take on the Good Brothers. Yes, you heard that correctly. Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson are squaring off against the literal offspring of their former Bullet Club comrade. It is the kind of booking that makes you stop mid-sip of your beer and check if you misread the flyer. We have seen AJ Styles' son entering the fold, which feels like a fever dream provided by the wrestling gods.
Why this booking is completely insane
Putting two second-generation prospects against guys with thousands of hours of high-level ring time is a massive sink-or-swim moment. The Good Brothers have been doing their schtick globally for years. They know exactly how to draw heat and how to protect their opponents. However, there is a legitimate risk here. Throwing kids into the deep end against seasoned veterans often results in one of three things: a total disaster, a surprisingly competent sprint, or a flat-out injury waiting to happen.
Let’s be real about the optics. If Avery Styles and CJ Gallows don't look like they belong in the same building as Doc and Karl, the internet is going to eat them alive. You cannot hide behind your last name when you are standing across the ring from guys who have worked WWE and NJPW for decades. The pressure to live up to the Styles name is heavy enough without the Good Brothers trying to stiff you in the corner.
The creative team needs a reality check
I have been vocal about my frustrations with recent booking trends. We saw this with NXT getting stuck in a purgatory of filler, and this feels like a similar misguided attempt at building hype. Relying on legacy names is a cheap shortcut. Sure, it gets the click-throughs and the social media buzz for 48 hours. But does it actually build a star? Not if you just toss them into a match that is effectively a sideshow attraction.
The match is set to feature the Good Brothers bringing their usual chaotic energy to the table. If I am the agent for this match, I am telling the kids to keep it simple. Hit your spots, sell for the veterans, and for the love of god, keep your feet underneath you. I want to see something special, but I am bracing for a clunky mess that forces these kids to learn the hard way that wrestling is not just about the last name on your birth certificate.
My biggest concern remains the execution of the finish. If the Good Brothers go over clean, what have we actually accomplished? The youngsters need to show a spark of rebellion. If they win, it needs to look gritty and earned. We need to stop pretending that every second-generation star is ready for prime time just because their dad was a world champion. Keep your expectations grounded, people. This is an experiment, not a coronation.
The reality of the indie scene in 2026
We are currently living in a cycle where name recognition is the only currency that matters in the smaller promotions. It is frustrating to watch genuine talent get passed over because they didn't happen to have a famous father. I hope Avery Styles turns out to be the real deal because if he isn't, this match will be remembered as the moment the indie scene jumped the shark. We have seen wrestlers talk about their legacies, but rarely do we see them try to force it onto the canvas this prematurely.
