This week, WWE released several WWE superstars, producers and coaches, among other personnel, as the company navigates the coronavirus pandemic that shut down the ability to run live shows with an audience. Two of the men released were two-time Raw Tag Team champions, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, otherwise known as part of the OC (formerly The Club). The third member of the OC -- AJ Styles -- conducted a Mixer live stream for fans today, explaining he feels somehow responsible for the release of his close friends.In the video, Styles described Gallows and Anderson as being like brothers to him, saying their release "hurt really bad." The former WWE Champion said the two men were like his family, and he couldn't taker care of his "little brothers." Styles said he is the oldest, and he is supposed to take care of them and didn't do that, saying he feels "responsible in some weird way" for their release, calling the move devastating.Styles also pointed out some of the other superstars released, going down the list and touching on a few of them as well. After naming a handful, he backtracked and mentioned Eric Young twice, asking how WWE "missed the boat" on those guys. Styles also mentioned referee Mike Chioda, who he said should have tenure, saying it "sucks." The Phenomenal One continued, "This stuff is expected with everything that is going on," Styles said. "I'm as shocked as you are about some of the guys that got released."
Style's friendship with Gallows and Anderson dates back to their time in New Japan Pro Wrestling. In addition to being a popular tag team in Japan, Luke (Doc) Gallows and Karl Anderson were members of the fabled Bullet Club stable, as was Styles. In fact, Styles became the villainous wrestling outfit's third leader in 2014, taking over for Anderson (who himself took over for Prince Devitt, known in WWE as Finn Bálor).
Styles made the jump to WWE in early 2016, with Gallows and Anderson following suit later that year. Notably, Gallows had worked for WWE before, taking on such gimmicks as the imposter Kane, Festus (of Jesse and Festus) before finally adopting the Luke Gallows moniker as a member of CM Punk's Straight Edge Society. He was released in 2010, wrestling for various other promotions -- most notably NJPW -- before returning to WWE alongside Anderson.