Eddie Guerrero is great.

Chris Benoit is fantastic.

But A.J. Styles is phenomenal, and it didn't take him long to become the best wrestler on planet Earth. Just a few years ago, he was learning his craft in the NWA Wildside promotion. Now, he's a crucial centerpiece of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, featured on FoxSportsNet.

Styles, 26, is the current X-Division champion of TNA, a belt he retained by beating The Fallen Angel Christopher Daniels in a 30-minute Ironman match at the "Against All Odds" pay-per-view Feb. 13. His next big title defense is at the March 13 "Destination X" PPV. Like WWE's Shawn Michaels, he is definitely a show-stopper -- a performer in his prime who gives you a "wow" moment every time he hits the ring.

Styles, who has wrestled with TNA since 2002, has also held the NWA heavyweight title twice (the title TNA recognizes), but his heart is in the X-Division, which features cruiserweights who perform at a dizzying pace, pulling off almost-impossible moves.

"That's my kind of style," Styles said in a recent phone interview. "I love that kind of wrestling. It's easy to put together awesome matches when you got guys like (TNA's) Chris Sabin and Petey Williams. I love being in the X-Division."

Professor's Choice: The Best Wrestling Web Sites Pro Wrestling Torch Wrestling Observer The Road Warriors Inc. Total Nonstop Action Wrestling World Wrestling Entertainment

Not that he wasn't honored to hold the NWA title belt. To him, it meant that co-owner Jeff Jarrett and the rest of the TNA brass designated him as one of their franchise players.

"Here's the thing. They're saying that A.J. Styles (holding the NWA title) is the guy that's going to put butts in the seats. If they're going to say that, what an honor for them even to put the belt on me. To me, it is the most recognized belt in the world. Everybody knows about the NWA title. (But) whether I wrestle the heavyweight division or the X-Division, I'm still going to do X-Division stuff. It's all good to me."

Styles, before coming to TNA, was signed to a contract in World Championship Wrestling. He was there in WCW's final days (before being absorbed by WWE), grateful for a chance to shine on a national stage.

"I think total I had five matches with WCW," Styles recalled. "Heck, it was great! I loved it. I was in WCW! It was my big break. Unfortunately, it didn't last very long. I didn't notice anything bad going on until I seen all the older guys like (Lex) Luger and Sting and Buff (Bagwell) … getting their pictures taken together (laughs). Go figure."

These days, Styles rubs shoulders with former WCW stars Kevin Nash and Dallas Page -- both currently on the TNA roster. And he's sharp enough to know what they can teach him.

"They're all about psychology," Styles said. "They're not in the best of shape anymore as far as being physical, so psychology plays a big part. (But) these guys are so above A.J. Styles. They're icons. I'm just a little guy trying to make a living."

Styles hopes to get a big raise when his contract is up in about six months. He says he hopes to resign with TNA "for a bunch of money," but if WWE owner Vince McMahon is as smart as advertised, he'll do everything in his power to steal Styles away from Jarrett. Styles, when asked if he sees a day when he'd jump, uttered a coy "never say never."

As for the WWE/TNA rivalry, make no mistake. Styles is a company man right now, and he's convinced TNA is creating the better product -- especially in the X-Division.

"I think that we have a big chance to become the next big thing because our pay-per-views have been killing theirs," he said. "We have off-the-charts pay-per-views. (The X-Division) is something that WWE will try to come after because we've made such a big impact in professional wrestling. A lot of people forget what the 'X' stands for, it stands for 'extreme.' And I don't mean tables and chairs, I mean these guys are athletes. They do stuff that you've never seen before or even thought was possible."

Just watch one A.J. Styles match, and you'll see what he means.

He's the best.

That's it. Class dismissed!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting Systems. He urges you to give TNA a chance. Competition makes everyone better.)