AJ Styles is a name synonymous with TNA Wrestling and vice-versa. AJ won his first TNA title in August of 2002 when he became the NWA-TNA X Champion.
AJ would go on over the next 11 years to become a six-time TNA X Division Champion, a two-time TNA Tag Team Champion (one with Tomko, one with Kurt Angle), a TNA Legends champion, a two-time TNA Television champion, and a two-time TNA World Champion.
AJ Styles departed the company in 2013 after AJ was low-balled and expected to take a pay cut to stay with the company. Instead, he bet on himself and departed TNA test the waters in both Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he would become a two-time IWGP Heavyweight Champion, and a member of the esteemed Bullet Club.
AJ Styles has opened up about almost signing with TNA instead of WWE in 2016.
“I mean we went and met with them, so it was that close and we talked about numbers, of course nothing was signed … We kind of signed something but it wasn’t anything that had any value or importance, so it was pretty close.
I’m very thankful that things happened the way that they did because we now know they didn’t have the money back then either to have signed us and we’d be right where we started.”
(Source: SHAK Wrestling)
Full interview:
The “kind of signed something” that AJ was referring to above was agreeing to a formal deal with TNA management, but once his attorney got involved things changed. The reported plan was for AJ to return in January, and then for Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to debut with AJ when their contracts with New Japan and the creative of the story called for it.
Styles attorney Bill Beherens release the following statement regarding AJ not signing with TNA:
“No contract was ever finalized nor signed by the parties.
That I would need to be involved in the contract process was known by TNA prior to my involvement and understood by them.
TNA and its 1st lawyer did not present in a timely fashion a contract that accurately reflected previous discussions at all. That created great concern tied to past experiences. In that time and prior there was other interest and there were other firm offers on the table and other discussions.
TNA was aware of other interest and various conflicts. TNA was aware a final contract was required. It was creating that contract and controlled that timetable. Too much time passed early on. Other things came into play.
No contract was ever finalized with TNA.
To suggest I make any decision for my clients is to misunderstand my role and diminish the role each talent has in making their own decisions, and insults the talent in the process.”
After no contract with TNA was finalized and communication broke down between the two sides, AJ Styles would debut for the WWE at the Royal Rumble in 2016.
AJ has made quite the impression on WWE, racking up accolades such as being a former three-time WWE United States Champion, a former WWE Intercontinental Champion, a former WWE Tag Team Champion (with Omos), and a former two-time WWE Champion.
One major accomplishment that gets overlooked a lot is that AJ Styles was the one who Undertaker decided to have his retirement match against. The two fought in a Boneyard Match as part of WrestleMania 36. It was a cinematic match that took place off-site at a farm.
AJ battled Cody Rhodes in a great match this past weekend at Backlash in Lyon, France for the WWE Undisputed Title. Styles fell short of the victory, but looked great in the match. Styles was recently drafted to the Smackdown brand.
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