AJ Styles has taken down the biggest names in wrestling but the WWE superstar was yesterday knocked out by the smiles of his bravest fans.
Styles and fellow global wrestling heavyweight Natalya made a surprise heart-warming visit at Perth Children’s Hospital yesterday, sharing hugs and snapping selfies with patients — and WWE devotees — ahead of the Telethon weekend.
For 13-year-old patient Blade Dyson, meeting his WWE idol was an unforgettable moment.
“I have been waiting for hours to meet him, as soon as Mum told me I couldn’t believe it,” he said, shaking in disbelief. “I’m so starstruck right now, he (AJ Styles) is like my hero. I love wrestling so this has just been the best day ever.”
Five-year-old Elijah Green was equally captivated as the stars walked into his ward.
“Dad loves AJ and I do, too,” he said. “It’s cool that he is here.”
For the two-time WWE world champion, meeting patients at PCH put everything into perspective before the frantic fundraising frenzy kicks off on the weekend.
“I think that it’s great being able to be a superstar in wrestling, but it’s even better when you’re able to share special moments with kids who really sometimes need to, you know, get a smile on their face,” Styles, 49, said.
“It’s the best, I love being able to be a star in wrestling, but it’s even better when you’re able to make kids smile.
“This is what it’s all about.”
It marks his first time visiting Perth’s iconic charity marathon and the father of four immediately felt the cause’s magnitude.
“I don’t know much about Telethon, but From what I’m seeing, it’s a pretty big deal. So I’m expecting something big,” Styles said.
“I think the opportunity to just obviously meet the kids and then meet other celebrities that are able to do this as well is what I’m looking forward to most.
“I’m a father of four, so you know I can’t imagine what kids are going through in the hospital or even just out throughout their lives. Life’s not easy, even as a kid these days. So being able to spend time with the kids and everything, it’s the best. It really is.”
Third-generation wrestler and former SmackDown women’s champion Natalya — affectionately known as Nattie — was equally moved by the warm WA welcome a decade after last visiting Perth.
“I have not been to Perth in ages,” she said.
“It has been so rewarding to see the kids’ faces light up and to see them feel happy and just feel like whatever it is that they’re going through, they can take a little break and have an escape,” said 44-year-old Nattie, the daughter of wrestling hall of famer and 1980s star Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart.
“We love that. That’s a big part of what we do.
“And almost all the kids that we’ve met today, they are big fans of WWE, so it’s even more rewarding to know that they know who we are and they’re excited that we came.
“We can’t say thank you enough to them for letting us into their space.”
Looking ahead to the weekend, Nattie promised WWE fans plenty of enthusiasm, photo opportunities, and high energy.
“I’m so excited to meet everyone that’s coming,” she said. “We’ve been getting tagged in posts, and people are so excited and it’s just going to be so nice to meet everybody, say hi, give hugs, take selfies. We’re coming for the people .
It’s a fun event for everybody, but it’s also giving back, and it’s so nice that so many people are going to benefit from Telethon this weekend.”
The WWE duo, who will be back in Perth for their Wrestle palooza tour in December, join a star-studded lineup of celebrities, performers and local personalities descending on the RAC Arena this Saturday and Sunday to help raise millions for sick and vulnerable Jchildren across WA. For the young heroes fighting tough battles in hospital wards, a sudden surge of joy arrived on Friday as WWE icons AJ Styles and Natalya made a special surprise visit.
Ahead of the massive 26-hour Telethon weekend, the wrestling heavyweights made a heartwarming pitstop at Perth Children’s Hospital, spreading pure joy, sharing big hugs, and snapping selfies with some of Western Australia’s bravest fans.
For 13-year-old patient Blade, getting to meet his ring hero in the flesh was a moment he will never forget.
“I have been waiting for hours to meet him, as soon as Mum told me I couldn’t believe it,” he said, shaking in disbelief.
“I’m so star struck right now, he (AJ Styles) is like my hero.
“I love wrestling so this has just been the best day ever.”
Five-year-old Elijah Green was equally captivated as the stars walked into the ward.
“Dad loves AJ and I do too,” he said.
“It’s cool that he is here.”
For the two-time WWE world champion, spending time at PCH put everything into perspective before the frantic fundraising frenzy kicks off across the weekend.
“Listen, I think that it’s great being able to be a superstar in wrestling, but it’s even better when you’re able to share special moments with kids who really sometimes need to, you know, get a smile on their face,” Styles said.
“It’s the best, I love being able to be a star in wrestling, but it’s even better when you’re able to make kids smile. This is what it’s all about.”
While it marks his first time participating in Perth’s iconic charity marathon, the father of four immediately felt the sheer magnitude of the cause.
“I don’t know much about Telethon, but from what I’m seeing, it’s a pretty big deal. So I’m expecting something big,” he said.
“I think the opportunity to just obviously meet the kids and then meet other celebrities that are able to do this as well is what I’m looking forward to most.
“I’m a father of four, so you know I can’t imagine what kids are going through in the hospital or even just out throughout their lives. Life’s not easy, even as a kid these days. So being able to spend time with the kids and everything, it’s the best. It really is.”
Third-generation wrestler and former SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya —affectionately known to fans as Nattie — was equally moved by the warm West Australian welcome after more than a decade away from Perth.
“I have not been to Perth in ages,” she said.
“It has been so rewarding to see the kids’ faces light up and to see them feel happy and just feel like whatever it is that they’re going through, they can take a little break and have an escape.
“We love that. That’s a big part of what we do.
“And almost all the kids that we’ve met today, they are big fans of WWE, so it’s even more rewarding to know that they know who we are and they’re excited that we came.
“We can’t say thank you enough to them for letting us into their space.”
Looking ahead to the weekend’s festivities, Nattie promised WWE fans plenty of enthusiasm, photo ops, and high energy.
“I’m so excited to meet everyone that’s coming,” she said.
“We’ve been getting tagged in posts, and people are so excited and it’s just going to be so nice to meet everybody, say hi, give hugs, take selfies.
“We’re coming for the people… it’s a fun event for everybody, but it’s also giving back, and it’s so nice that so many people are going to benefit from Telethon this weekend.”
The WWE duo, who will be back in Perth for their Wrestlepalooza tour in December, join a star-studded lineup of celebrities, performers and local personalities at RAC Arena this Saturday and Sunday to help raise millions for sick and vulnerable children across WA.