Catching Up With Air Paris, AJ Styles' former partner (Patreon)

I spoke to Air Paris for a great interview. He said that originally he was on a per-appearance deal for about his first year in WCW, and only missed a few shows. Paris said that WCW was paying them $500 per show plus accommodations for just doing security and extra spots. Terry Taylor and Shane Helms were integral in bringing them into the company. They weren't given any big plans or pitches for the tag team division, but actually rejected their first contract offers. Paris said that he and Styles likely would have been the lowest-paid WCW wrestlers on contract of all-time had they accepted it, so they sent the contracts to Bill Behrens, who worked in more money, and it was accepted. Even though the deals were long-term, there was a 90-day out clause that was exercised when WWE came along and bought the company. He worked a couple indy dates before that clause was even up.

Paris takes responsibility for not continuing to wrestle full time after WCW, saying that he'd already worked his entire teenage life to get there and felt deflated. AJ Styles, who he still is on good terms with today, encouraged them to keep teaming, but he didn't have the heart to keep doing it. There were a couple of feelers from TNA that had reached out to Paris at times, including Jeremy Borash, but he didn't end up coming in. Today, Paris is a family man, and often takes his daughters to shows. A few years ago at a WWE one, Styles brought one into the ring to celebrate with him and the WWE Title at a house show. Paris was also backstage at an IMPACT Wrestling Show recently.