---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've never really felt like a veteran…"
description: "\"I've never really felt like a veteran. I've never felt like the guy who's like, 'OK, everyone needs to look up to me and respect me.' I've always just ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/a-j-styles-22007_always_i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i_1545056.jpg"
---

#  I've never really felt like a veteran. I've never felt…

![“I've never really felt like a veteran. I've never felt like the guy who's like, 'OK, everyone needs to look up to me and respect me.' I've always just been one of the guys that people are excited to get in the ring with. That's all I want.” quote by A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/a-j-styles-22007_always_i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i_1545056.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/a-j-styles-22007_always_i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i_1545056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/a-j-styles-22007_always_i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i_1545056.jpg)

> “I've never really felt like a veteran. I've never felt like the guy who's like, 'OK, everyone needs to look up to me and respect me.' I've always just been one of the guys that people are excited to get in the ring with. That's all I want.”

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He feels his role is to be a teammate and entertainer rather than a distant authority figure.

**In simple terms:** He wants to be relatable and fun in the ring.

Key Takeaway

Focus on camaraderie, not dominance.

Themes

teamwork humility entertainment

Mood

confident approachable

Type

motivational inspirational

When to use this quote

- sports entertainment
- team dynamics
- public image
- leadership style

Key Concepts

identity role perception peer respect

Questions to Reflect On

- How does humility affect fan connection?
- Can a leader be both relatable and respected?

A Different Perspective

May limit perceived authority in high‑stakes situations.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Always](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/) [Like Veteran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-veteran-4631649/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Really Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-felt/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Ve Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ve-felt/) [Veteran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veteran/) [Veteran Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/veteran-ve-4415624/) [Wrestling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrestling/)

## Related quotes

> [Because of the changes in the Padres team I played with last year, I felt like a veteran recently when I worked out with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-brooks/because-of-the-changes-in-the-padres-team-i-played-with-last-year-i/)

[Garth Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-brooks/)

> [I've been working professionally as an actor since I was 20. That's going to be 25 years soon. So, that's a veteran. That's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-imperioli/i-ve-been-working-professionally-as-an-actor-since-i-was-20-that-s/)

[Michael Imperioli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-imperioli/)

> [It's only my first year in the pros but I feel like I've been here a while now, I feel like a veteran already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-dubois/it-s-only-my-first-year-in-the-pros-but-i-feel-like-i-ve-been-here-a/)

[Daniel Dubois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-dubois/)

> [I felt they had really moved the characters in a direction that was very interesting. The family had really felt the impact of what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jobeth-williams/i-felt-they-had-really-moved-the-characters-in-a-direction-that-was/)

[JoBeth Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jobeth-williams/)

> [And I really felt like I would regret never accomplishing my goals on the beach, or missing special moments with my kids, more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/and-i-really-felt-like-i-would-regret-never-accomplishing-my-goals-on/)

[Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/)

> [They gave high fives to all the players who say like the most obvious textbook answers in the world. It's like after each game,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-arenas/they-gave-high-fives-to-all-the-players-who-say-like-the-most-obvious/)

[Gilbert Arenas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-arenas/)

> [Even though I'm an emotional and passionate person, I'm very in control of my emotions. I've had to be, over the years, being in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-lopez/even-though-i-m-an-emotional-and-passionate-person-i-m-very-in/)

[Jennifer Lopez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-lopez/)

> [I never really felt like a rock singer or a rock star or whatever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-never-really-felt-like-a-rock-singer-or-a-rock-star-or-whatever/)

[David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/)

> [“and even though I was in bed and he was in his basement, it really felt like we were back in that uncreated third…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/and-even-though-i-was-in-bed-and-he-was-in-his-basement-it-really/)

[John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/)

> [On the first one, X-Men: First Class, it would be James McAvoy, Nicholas Hoult and I. I'd basically inhale, there would be a red…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-till/on-the-first-one-x-men-first-class-it-would-be-james-mcavoy-nicholas/)

[Lucas Till](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-till/)

> [I'm a girl who has been tamping down her emotions and keeping them tightly guarded her whole life. And that works really well for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-m-a-girl-who-has-been-tamping-down-her-emotions-and-keeping-them/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Even the two times that I left, I never really felt like I left the band. It's very bizarre. It's like there's sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wakeman/even-the-two-times-that-i-left-i-never-really-felt-like-i-left-the/)

[Rick Wakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wakeman/)

> [I really never felt any tremendous aggravation or separation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chita-rivera/i-really-never-felt-any-tremendous-aggravation-or-separation/)

[Chita Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chita-rivera/)

> [Me and my mum didn't see eye-to-eye for a lot of years, and I've never really felt connected with my dad, because he wasn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-arthur/me-and-my-mum-didn-t-see-eye-to-eye-for-a-lot-of-years-and-i-ve-never/)

[James Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-arthur/)

> [Being frank or straightforward doesn't only tells the truth, it also states the fact that you just lost your temper of holding back from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vince/being-frank-or-straightforward-doesn-t-only-tells-the-truth-it-also/)

[Vince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vince/)

## More by A.J. Styles

> [I busted my tail for so long, I'm just glad it's getting recognized now as part of the WWE. Because let's face it, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-busted-my-tail-for-so-long-i-m-just-glad-it-s-getting-recognized/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [I've been a video game guy since I was eight years old and got my first Nintendo. I've been addicted to video games ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-ve-been-a-video-game-guy-since-i-was-eight-years-old-and-got-my/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [You're only as old as you feel, and I feel pretty young. I've got one gear, and till it gets reversed, I'm going all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/you-re-only-as-old-as-you-feel-and-i-feel-pretty-young-i-ve-got-one/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [I want to be known as A.J. Styles, the WWE Superstar that he is, and have amazing matches, make memories - I think that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-want-to-be-known-as-a-j-styles-the-wwe-superstar-that-he-is-and/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [There's a lot of goals I've set in the WWE that I want to accomplish. I'm always setting goals for myself, and someday I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/there-s-a-lot-of-goals-i-ve-set-in-the-wwe-that-i-want-to-accomplish/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [I always say when it comes to dream matches, that is not up to me: that's up to the WWE Universe. That's up to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-always-say-when-it-comes-to-dream-matches-that-is-not-up-to-me-that/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [Shinsuke Nakamura is probably one of the best wrestlers I've ever been in the ring with. He's very unorthodox. Everything he does is with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/shinsuke-nakamura-is-probably-one-of-the-best-wrestlers-i-ve-ever/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [At my house, it's an, 'If dad says it, you can say it' kind of deal, so a lot of my slang words come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/at-my-house-it-s-an-if-dad-says-it-you-can-say-it-kind-of-deal-so-a/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [I would love to tell you that it's been absolutely perfect, that I've been a man that's been super Christian. But I've had mistakes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-would-love-to-tell-you-that-it-s-been-absolutely-perfect-that-i-ve/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [Sometimes I feel like if I'm not getting people to boo me, then I'm not doing my job right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/sometimes-i-feel-like-if-i-m-not-getting-people-to-boo-me-then-i-m/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [You just can't compare the WWE to anything else when it comes to sports entertainment. There is nothing like the WWE, nothing like this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/you-just-can-t-compare-the-wwe-to-anything-else-when-it-comes-to/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [I hope to have more than one main weapon. I have the Phenomenal Forearm as we're calling it now, the Calf Crusher - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-hope-to-have-more-than-one-main-weapon-i-have-the-phenomenal/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [There's plenty of people who've never gotten the opportunity to wrestle at WrestleMania. To perform there and do that, I never thought it would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/there-s-plenty-of-people-who-ve-never-gotten-the-opportunity-to/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [Do I think Vince McMahon was looking at my matches in Japan going, 'We need him?' No. He wasn't. He's too busy. There's no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/do-i-think-vince-mcmahon-was-looking-at-my-matches-in-japan-going-we/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

> [You just remember back when you were watching as a kid and going, 'Man, Sting's so cool,' and now I'm wrestling the guy. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/you-just-remember-back-when-you-were-watching-as-a-kid-and-going-man/)

[A.J. Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

[Explore all 28 A.J. Styles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/)

[Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/)

> [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/)

[Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

[Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/always/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've never really felt like a veteran. I've never felt like the guy who's like, 'OK, everyone needs to look up to me and respect me.' I've always just been one of the guys that people are excited to get in the ring with. That's all I want.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "A.J. Styles"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i-ve-never-felt-like-the-guy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i-ve-never-felt-like-the-guy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/a-j-styles-22007_always_i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i_1545056.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/a-j-styles-22007_always_i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i_1545056.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4d/a-j-styles-22007_always_i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i_1545056.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've never really felt like a veteran. I've never felt like the guy who's like, 'OK, everyone needs to look…” — A.J. Styles",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "A.J. Styles",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-styles/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've never really felt like a...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i-ve-never-felt-like-the-guy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-styles/i-ve-never-really-felt-like-a-veteran-i-ve-never-felt-like-the-guy/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
