WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins recently appeared on CBS Radio Dallas 105.3 THE FAN. He talked about his inspirations in becoming a professional wrestler, A.J. Styles, and WWE's developmental system NXT.

Rollins said that he was inspired by legends like Bret Hart, "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig, Shawn Michaels, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior. He added that the late "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes was a huge influence on him, especially during his time at the developmental.

"Rhodes was before my time, obviously, but he was someone I was able to be mentored by down in WWE developmental for a couple of years and someone whose work I've studied extensively," Rollins said as quoted by Wrestling Inc.

Before his death, Rhodes worked for NXT as a producer and booker. However, he was also influential on the development of the next generation of WWE superstars as he was in charge in developing their gimmicks and characters as well as skills on the microphone, per WWE.com.

The 29-year-old champion also noted that he is one of the first wrestlers in the WWE to be influenced by the independent wrestling scene, naming Daniel Bryan, CM Punk, and A.J. Styles as the wrestlers who helped him develop his own style in the ring.

Rollins started wrestling in 2005 at the independent circuits in the Mid-South, before making his name as Tyler Black at Ring of Honor in 2007, per ROH Wrestling. He became the ROH World Champion in 2010 but left the same year for a chance in the WWE.

Rollins was also asked if he would like to see A.J. Styles in NXT and WWE. "I don't talk to AJ on the regular, but I think he's doing pretty alright in NJPW's Bullet Club and Ring of Honor, so he has made a great career for himself just doing his thing," the former SHIELD member answered.

"He's someone I'd love to work with. I think we're pretty much at the top of our games, so it'd be cool, but you never know," he added.

Speaking of the possibility of Styles being on NXT, Rollins said that he does not watch NXT on a weekly basis because of the main roster's busy schedule, but he keeps up with the product as much as he can. "I keep enough of an eye on the product. The internet makes it easy for you to keep tabs on what's going on," the WWE champion said.

Rollins just retained his WWE Title at Hell in a Cell last Sunday against "Demon" Kane. It has already been more or less 210 days since he won at WrestleMania 31 last March 29.